Captains Courageous is a coming-of-age novel about Harvey Cheyne, a wealthy and spoiled teenager who falls overboard from a luxury liner and is rescued by the crew of a New England fishing schooner. Stranded at sea, he must learn to work hard, proving his worth and developing discipline and courage while on a months-long fishing trip off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The experience transforms him from a pampered brat into a capable young man, as he earns the respect of the rough, but fair-minded, fishermen.