Jules Verne's book "The Fifteen-year-old Captain", I like it because reading it, I do not freely begin to empathize with Dick Sand and am proud of him, his courage, bravery, fearlessness and dedication.
It seems to me that the mere fact that Dick, at the age of fifteen, was not afraid to enter into an argument and confrontation with a man much older and more experienced than him, an insidious and ruthless criminal who presented himself as Negoro, can already be considered courage. I believe that without such a captain as Dick Sand, the passengers and crew of the Pilgrim would have expected either slavery or death. I'm sure Dick has done a lot more than people his age do.
But from my point of view, we should not forget about the other participants in the novel, because it was Hercules who guessed that the "America" to which they arrived was actually not America, but Africa. And in general, all the people who were on the "Pilgrim" helped each other as the most loyal and devoted friends: firstly, when Dick was overcome with doubts, everyone supported him; secondly, when the gang of Negoro captured them, people fearlessly fought back; thirdly, when there was an opportunity to escape Hercules helped his comrades to carry out this plan; fourthly, when there was the last, decisive battle, everyone fought together and selflessly, to the victorious end, no matter what and thinking only about saving his comrades, even Uncle Benedict did not look at what he could not see without his glasses, which he was smashed by a false conductor. Even the dog that the people of the "Pilgrim" saved from death helped them, and remained faithful until the end of his life. I read this book and perceived every character who was able to help others in spite of everything as very strong and courageous people. In Jules Verne, all the characters seem to come to life, it is very interesting to read and it is easy to understand who is negative, who is positive, who is the standard of a strong and persistent person.

Кузнецова Анастасия, ученица 8 В класса МБОУ «Лицей № 4 Многопрофильный» г. Пскова

Учитель английского языка: Ерёменко Елена Петровна.