I read 'Powder Monkey' to my son at bedtime and was so gripped by the novel's pace and realism, I couldn't wait to begin 'Prison Ship'. Dowswell is an incredibly gifted writer who combines a rigorous scholarship with a wonderful imagination. My son loved 'Prison Ship' and although some of it was a little over his head, he found the narrative really exciting.
Dowswell's books use a few liberally scattered mild swearwords - probably nothing compared to the original nautical expletives - which my son absolutely loved, giggling naughtily. This had the effect of transforming what could have been a very 'worthy' book into a fun activity.
The end result - both my son and I really enjoyed the story and he now knows a lot more about the period. If all historical novels were this readable, we'd be in clover.