This is one of the few Ballantynes that is written in first person narrative. This book follows a penniless, fatherless boy as he goes to sea to make money for his mother. It includes several educational parts about the harvesting of oil from whales. (Goodreads)
Robert Michael Ballantyne (24 April 1825 – 8 February 1894) was a Scottish author of juvenile fiction who wrote more than 100 books. He was also an accomplished artist, and exhibited some of his water-colours at the Royal Scottish Academy. (Wikipedia)