The year is 1946
and World War II is history. Troops return home, the country shifts from
war production to consumer goods, and national patriotism runs high. On
Bainbridge Island, near Seattle,
Washington, the Puget Sound Naval Academy, a private boys' school, prepares
for a bumper crop of cadets while in northern Arizona, a widowed mother
makes the decision to prepare her only child, a small sheltered boy, for
the realities of the world.
She enrolls Charlie in The Academy.
Charlie's freshman year is a nightmare. From his safe and comfortable surroundings he finds himself thrust among street wise boys, all bigger, stronger and aggressive. He is introduced to strict military discipline, rigid schedules, inspections and small classes from which he can't escape his instructor's constant attention. A seventh-grade student bullies him until finally, backed into a corner, Charlie earns himself a small amount of respect. Lonely, homesick and desperate, he writes a damning letter to his mother triggering an investigation of the school by the National Geographic Society. Sent to the office by his peers for his masturbation papers, having his packages of cookies from home decimated, add to his frustrations.
As his sophomore year progresses, he slowly becomes a card-carrying member of the cadet corps. Promotions and friends help pave the rough road he's traveling. By his junior year, he makes the track team, and calling upon his young body to give more than he thought possible, wins his coveted school letter. He also meets Jill, a local island girl, and discovers the wonders and delights of a young and innocent first love, in an era where chewing gum in class was a most serious offense.
Charlie's senior year puts him on top of the world. Midnight strawberry raids, purloined chickens, exploding herring ... and an officer at last! Isn't this what school's all about? He finds himself in charge of the auxiliary engine room of the school's 136-foot minesweeper, which the cadets sail to Portland, then get lost on the return trip. And finally, on graduation day, he experiences the bittersweet victory of having conquered, and in the same moment lost, his school.
Forty years later, he revisits The Academy and finds out why you really "can't go back."
Here's what a few readers have to say about The Academy:
"Thoroughly enjoyed your "Academy" book -- warm memories, smiles ..." M.V. WA
"The Academy is wonderful! And even brought tears to my eyes at times ..." P.F. CA
"I really enjoyed your book -- it was very good!" D. & K. S. WA
"Thank you for the signed copy of your book ... found it to be quite interesting." A.R. AZ
"Thanks for a rare glimpse into someone else's life ... If I had a thousand tongues I could not say enough in terms of praise." J.L. WA
"Congratulations ... you've written a very enjoyable book." C.W. AK
"Many thanks for The Academy which I have read and want to congratulate you on a masterful picture of PSNA. I could not put it down unti I had read the entire thing." B.V. WA
"... received The Academy and have been enjoying it. I compliment the author for his easy read." G.E. WA
"Well done! The Academy was fantastic. Once I got into it I could not put it down." G.R. WA
The novel, The Academy, was self-published and is available through mail order. Please send check or money order for $14 plus $1.50 shipping and handling to: Charles W. Lindenberg, 59 Tarte Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. (Washington state residents please add $1.10 state sales tax.) The book will shipped out immediately.
For an online history of the Puget Sound Naval Academy, click here.
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