Exciting to read about the adventures of a young man on the high seas of life!!
356373
I really enjoyed reading this book. The story is amazing and the sub-stories are moving and entertaining!! A great read!
497171
I know this book is rated "Young Adult", however I think this is a book any age will enjoy reading. I certainly did! It's a great story full of adventure with many surprises. There is so much more to the story though. It's also a story of a young man coming of age, his relationships with family and friendships, and even first love. Some serious issues such as abuse and bulling are touched on too and woven so well into the story. I love how Mr. Wyckoff takes the time to develop the characters. You really feel like you know them, just as he did in his previous book BIRDS ON A WIRE. Also a book I gave 5 stars and recommend reading. Can't wait for the next book Mr. Wyckoff writes!
1702926
Jeanne Duncan has given us a great story about a young man who becomes a fisherman - but that is just the begining. The terrors and good times of his life at sea comes through in this charming at times true life tale.

The author's narrative style draws us a very visual image of the life for these fisherman. It is well written and makes for an easy and entertaining reading experiecne. You will come away with a real appreciation for the life styles of those who go off to sea to earn their living.
4333521
I really enjoyed this book. It can help someone decide whether or not they want to attempt this style of life themselves. The constant pressures and realities of the live aboard life are brought out, not glossed over or ignored. Quite an adventure!
775589
I was captivated by the amazing adventures, stories, gurus, friends, descriptions of mountains, trails, rivers, and ways of lives of the local peoples in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Laos, Goa, and many other places.  There's suspense and some very scary moments in this tale of a young man looking for life's answers far away from America and enjoying each and every moment of it.  I loved reading this book.
4372250
This is a tremendous read that I devoured in one long sitting.  The author does a tremendous job relating his personal tale while also providing very interesting background on the many exotic places that he and his high school friends visited during their adventure.  It is a great pleasure to watch the author transform from a naive surfer dude into a man of the world.  My only criticism is that the author sometimes leaves the reader wanting for more detail regarding some of his adventures.  The book could be twice as long and still hold my attention and interest.
3793369
I read lots of global travel/adventure stories and this one rates very high!  Julie's writing is very fluid and captivates from the opening pages.  She expertly weaves the story of how she quit her secure day job to set out on an expedition with her fiance - in a tiny rowboat, battling hurricanes as they pull on oars and slowly make their way across the Atlantic ocean. I especially liked the descriptions of what it felt like to be alone on the seas, surrounded by the beauty of nature and marine life, and her observant descriptions of how the oceans are being influenced by climate change.
1499527
Excellent seafaring novel! Exciting and a wild adventure!
2174689
I've read lots of amazing stories filled with action over the years, but this was my first book about a boy that undertakes an unforgettable adventure in the sea world.

Even though I couldn't escape the impression it's been written with children in mind at first, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it and there's no doubt I will be picking up the next two books of this trilogy.

Andee is an interesting protagonist and it was fun to read about his struggle to accept the fact he'd been chosen as a guardian of the seas, all the while trying to find his missing parents. However, he's not alone, as he is accompanied by dolphins - quite possibly his best friends - and all kinds of other interesting animals.

No matter if you're reading this book for yourself or to a child, I can assure you that you'll grow to love it. Time to get the second book, then!
109469
Anyone who has ever sailed, or dreamt of a sailing adventure, has no choice but to read this book. Mark Darby has completed an awesome task, tantamount to a dare, by sailing a small boat through some large seas  around a huge continent! His adventures have been well crafted with vivid  word pictures and a descriptive action style which put me in the boat with  him and Sue. I can still clearly see the beautiful Australian coastline,  the memorable people they met and the first reading has left me with a  sweet salt water taste in my mouth and wanting more.
This is, I believe,  a unique sea saga which would encourage any would be adventurer, with  personal challenges and emotions spilling out onto every page. Nine out of  10!
4481422
This literary voyage is so much more than the recollection of a merchant marine.  His story takes you around the world where you and he visit a variety of countries and experience the nuances of their cultures. This story is about geography, the shipping industry, life lessons  plenty of drama, suspense, and humor  and the transformation of a boy to a man. Highly recommended for men and women of all ages!
170622
This was quite an interesting book that I didn't want to put down! An amazing adventure!!
1678376
I couldn't put it down after I got 30% through. I've never sailed but I feel like I could! I learned so much from this adventure. Now I want to see it on the silver screen. The vocabulary and the philosophies, the adventure, the romance, the time period & customs--everything came to life! This is a gripping and worthwhile read!!
4905931
What an adventure!  This is the second book I have read by this author.  His writing flows so well that I find myself reading too fast.  I have to re-read some of the paragraphs to appreciate the beautifully descriptive words and phrases.  I am drawn in by not only the story line but the interesting and well developed characters.
1894785
Another amazing adventure story from Mr Evans.  I couldn't put it down.  I will be reading the series again before the next one comes out.  For reading encouragement for youngsters this is electric!!!
4858394
This book provides an enjoyable fictional account of the historical voyage of the HMS Endeavour, a sailing vessel or "Bark" carrying about 80 sailors, marines, gentlemen, a couple of fancy dogs, a few miscellaneous pigs, a cat who apparently has big feet, and an adventure-loving goat, on a three year voyage around most of the Southern Hemisphere in the late 1700's to find a new continent for His Majesty, the King of England. It is told first-person from the journal of a stowaway boy who advances from 11 to 13 years of age during the journey. Although there are off-ship adventures along the way I really enjoyed the rich detail of day-to-day life onboard and all the many jobs that had to be done, the fish and wildlife encountered and studied by the gentlemen scholars, and the impressive efforts by the captain to keep the crew healthy, productive, and safe during the long trip. It's a neat book that every adventuresome tween, teen, young adult or old codger like me should read in order to get a feel for this interesting time period and very specialized career field that would be otherwise very difficult to learn about. I say read it!
1572892
Excellent read...appropriate follow to Young Mariner, with a bit of added spice !!! Walter does a nice job of illustrating day to day life in the merchant marine industry, orienting the reader to the history and culture of the multiple countries visited....and peaking interest thru mystery, human behaviors and romantic interactions. Look forward to visiting Southeast Asia in the next volume soon !!!