Call It Courage
Call It Courage is a book written by Armstrong Sperry.
The book was originally published in 1940 and has had several printings since then. In 1941 it was awarded the Newbery Medal.
Call It Courage is a coming of age story set in the Pacific Islands. It chronicles the journey of Mafatu, the son of the island's chief. Mafatu is afraid of the ocean, which makes him a shame to his father. One night Mafatu takes a dugout canoe and sets sail into the ocean without knowing where he will end up. He lands on a deserted island, which he discovers is deserted because cannibals visit it and make sacrifices there. It is on this island, with only his faithful dog and a friendly Albatross as companions, that he must survive and find a way to get home.