This is an inspiring story about a real life adventure, which still fits into the realm of reality and shows how life can follow different waves if only a person dares to give it a try.

Told in alternating viewpoints between Erik and Emily, the account of the family's adventure on a sailboat for a year is revealed with heart, humor and seriousness. Starting at the beginning, the first thoughts of sailing set in before the family—with five children—decides to turn their life upside down. The nice part about this recount is that the family isn't much different from many others. They weren't exceedingly wealthy, weren't overly experienced in the direction they chose, and their lives before weren't really different from many other American families. But they took the gamble and chased their dreams.

The experiences are told in a very natural form and give an honest glimpse at their daily lives, problems, and fun experiences. The challenges of living together, growing together and working with each other come across clearly. Some times the book moves a bit slow, but the open and honest style draws in and lets it hit home. The book shows that it is possible for a family to take a chance and do something completely out of the ordinary and gain from the experience. It's a great read, especially for parents and those who have considered flipping their own lives upside down and trying something which most wouldn't really try to do.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts. ( )