True Adventures of Charley Darwin by Carolyn Meyer
I enjoyed this book. I'd never read anything about him, although I was familiar with his work, On the Origin of Species. This story is told in the first person,

through Charles Darwin's eyes. He is a likable person, and intensely curious about the world around him. Through Charley, I got a real good view of his world; likes and dislikes.

Although very much a part of an upper class family - where scholarly persuits prevailed, Charley preferred to be outside studying and collecting birds’ eggs, feathers, and insects.

Young Charley Darwin hated school - he had reason too; the boarding school within running distance of his home was dreadful. He was pretty conflicted about what his physician father wanted him to achieve.

The story then takes you on his journey around the world at age twenty-one on the H.M.S. Beagle; An exciting journey that took five years. From his studies and the voyage, he gathered indisputable evidence, and set forth a theory on how evolution works, the theory of natural selection.

We learn too of the special bond he had with Emma, his cousin and friend. This was a good read.