When you're looking for an "I can't put it down" book for ages 8 to 80 plus, I've found it! It's 'Chicken of the Sea' by Neil Barry. What a fun read and what makes it even more fun is that it's about a modern
day sailing family attempting to follow the
circumnavigation voyage of Joshua Slocum. If you're home-schooling (and we know what that's like!) your
kids and you will fall in love with this first book of a trilogy. There's intrigue, mystery, murder...all the components of a super book, but, parents please know the amount of real facts juxtaposed with fiction and an interactive website is what is going to keep your
kids totally fascinated for hours. The sheer amount of researched knowledge is so educational. You'll find yourself Googling and Wikipeding to find out more! Even the adults, who have been introduced to this book, can't put it down.
It's difficult keeping kids entertained on long passages...and sometimes not-so-long passages, but you have instant help with this book. It will be fun for you all to follow this
family with their hardships, storms at sea, tropical island adventures, and foreign cultures, but more exciting as you become part of this family who has to keep ahead of a gang of ill-reputes who are intent on foul play! You'll read the clues of one special fellow: 13-year-old Josh and the burns on his arms. From that point, the clues will begin to come together and that's where YOUR adventure begins!
If you're fortunate enough to travel down the
ICW, Neil Barry, cruising author, lives aboard a 50' sailing
sloop, IMAGINE, at Ladys Island Marina in
Beaufort, SC.