Mark Twain's Navigating Early

Navigating Early is a story of friendship, family, and mourning. This story follows Jack Baker on an adventure that he takes with his interesting friend Early Auden. Jack lived a normal thirteen-year-old life until his mother suddenly died of a brain aneurysm. His father, a military officer who was rarely home, then sends him to a boarding school in Maine. When Jack arrives at the boarding school, the headmaster tells him that, “the boys here at Morton Hill Academy are pretty much like kids anywhere. If you want to sit with a group in the lunchroom, they’ll probably let you. If you want to go off and sit by yourself, they’ll probably let you do that, too. So my advice to you, is jump in” (Vanderpool 14). However, Jack does not follow this

During this time, Early tells Jack that Pi, the never ending irrational number, tells a story with its numbers. The character Pi goes on a trip and is lost and has a similar story to Early’s older brother Fisher who died at war. Early believes that Pi and his brother are both lost and that they need to be found.

Jack and Early eventually repair the boat, but Jack cannot paddle well. To fix this problem, Early rides with Jack and tells him what to do. On the day of the race, Jack’s father is supposed to be there to watch the race, but a storm prevents him from coming. Jack ditches Early because he is embarrassed to need a navigator when the other boys do not. The race is a huge humiliation for Jack and he paddles his boat back to shore half sunk. The race is right before the school’s fall break, so they have a full week off right after. Since Jack’s dad did not come, Jack and Early make up so that they are not

Jack decides to go with him. While Jack is on this trip, he does not know it, but he is on a quest to discover what to do with his life now that his mother is gone. On this trip, Jack and Early have a grand adventure. Whatever they discover in their trip, Early tells Jack that Pi also discovers in his story. There is a bounty for a huge black bear that has killed many. Early believes that Pi and his brother will also be with this bear. They eventually come across the bear, and Early’s brother Fisher really is there. Early tells Jack that Pi is also found.

Early’s brother did not die in the war but has PTSD from it so he lives in the woods. Jack and Early return to school and discover that everyone has been looking for them. Jack has his dad talk to Early’s brother about what he has been through and convinces him to come out of the woods. Through this, Jack learns that his father mourns differently than he does. His father says, “I should never have brought you so far from home” (Vanderpool 230). He then tells Jack that they could go back home, but Jack decides to stay at Morton Hill