Amazing. This 16 year oldyoung woman by the name of Abby Sunderland is absolutely amazing. When I found time to read this book in small portions I just did not want to put it down when my time for reading was over. Both the main story and the strong undercurrents of controversy were captivating. When I was first considering whether or not I would review this book, someone mentioned that the book did not have very much "faith content". I almost turned down the review because of that comment. I am now absolutely convinced that the person making this statement had not read the book! Or, when they refer to "faith content" they do not have the same point of reference I have. For instance, at least once and maybe twice, the prayer requests that Abby’s Mom sent out through her email distribution were quoted in full. Many times references to faith lessons learned by both Abby and her brother Zac were mentioned or even quoted. Abby herself talks about the changes in her faith towards the end of her book. Abby’s parents are quoted or referenced on many occastions when they talk about their faith and how impacted their decisions. That’s a lot of faith content!
I am so excited about this book because it empowers young people to do really hard things. Young people of our generation are way underestimated. If you believe in young people, and believe they can accomplish great things, you empower them to reach their full potential. For all those who tell a young person how much they can accomplish — many others will tell them they are not ready or not capable. This was certainly true for Abby Sunderland. So, if you are "older" you need to encourage the teens and in your life and do not be the naysayer! And, if you are a young person, don’t be afraid to set big goals and work hard to acheive them.
My Bottom Line: I cannot wait for my daughter to read this book. She is 12 years old, and going on 20. I know the book contains quite a bit of sailing terminology and might be difficult for the junior high student but certainly it is accessible to any high school student and will inpsire adults of any age who choose to read it. There is a glossary at the end. I am so glad I have this book on my shelf, and it is one of those gems I would never have found without the blog review program.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on my blog. Here you have it.
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