Although Gray covers the important events throughout Penn's life, she devotes half the book to his childhood and young adulthood. This proportion reflects the author's focus on matters with which young readers can easily identify, such as Penn's relationship with his father. Gray's straightforward style suits young readers.

Also in an effort to make Penn's story accessible to young readers, Gray emphasizes outer rather than inner conflict, showing Penn clashing with authorities in the streets and in the courts. The resulting high drama clearly delineates the issues and themes, but neglects an examination of Penn's motives and inner struggles. Admiral Penn's inner conflicts, interestingly enough, receive more attention than do his son's. Gray's reluctance to speculate about the characters' motivations perhaps reflects her desire to keep her book firmly grounded in historical fact.

Historical background contributes to the settings, which play important parts in the story...