Lifesaving Lessons: Notes from an Accidental Mother

by Linda Greenlaw

Linda is not a woman who shies away from a challenge--the only female swordfish boat captain in the country and a survivor of the real Perfect Storm, she is also a New York Times bestselling author. Through hard work and determination, she had created the peaceful, independent life she craved, living on a rugged island off the coast of Maine. It was all finally coming together.

Then came Mariah.

A troubled fifteen-year-old, Mariah arrives on Isle au Haut to stay with her uncle, a newcomer himself and seemingly a normal guy. The entire community is rocked to its core, however, when they discover that Mariah is suffering terrible abuse--at his hands. And they do what a small island community does best, coming together to take Mariah in as one of their own, protecting her from further harm. But Mariah needs a stable home and a legal guardian. The island nominates Linda.

While Mariah is a typical teenager in many ways, she has also been uniquely damaged by this horrific experience, and Linda struggles to help her overcome the trauma, to heal, and to begin a new life.

Linda will do battle with the gale-force winds of life with a teenager, help Mariah navigate a tremendously complex legal system to bring her abuser to justice, and learn what it means to be a mother--to a girl for whom it really matters. Both Linda and Mariah will struggle to come to terms with their ferocious and stubborn independence (like mother, like daughter--accidental or not) as they learn to trust each other and forge a new relationship that they both reluctantly realize they need.

Linda Greenlaw's fans will be delighted by her trademark candor and down-to-earth style of storytelling, and will see a side of Greenlaw that she's not revealed before. New listeners, and any parent of a teenaged daughter, will find much to empathize with in this brave and heartfelt new memoir.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Book Club

7 pages, Audio CD

First published March 21, 2013

About the author

Linda Greenlaw's three bestselling books about life as a commercial fisherman -- THE HUNGRY OCEAN (1999), THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES (2002) and ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS (2004) -- have climbed as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She is the winner of the U.S. Maritime Literature Award in 2003, and the New England Book Award for nonfiction in 2004. Time Magazine called her 2005 RECIPES FROM A VERY SMALL ISLAND, co-authored with her mother Martha Greenlaw, a "must-have cookbook".

Before becoming a writer, Linda Greenlaw was the captain of a sword boat, the career that earned her a prominent role in Sebastian Junger's THE PERFECT STORM and a portrayal in the subsequent film. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Today, CBS Sunday Morning, The Martha Stewart Show, and National Public Radio. She now lives on Isle au Haut, Maine, where she captains a lobster boat.

When Linda Greenlaw confessed a desire to write fiction, readers responded with an enthusiastic "Please do!" At last, she satisfies their hunger with SLIPKNOT, a sharp-witted, compulsively readable mystery, the first in a series featuring marine investigator Jane Bunker. As she proved in THE HUNGRY OCEAN, no one knows the sea like Linda Greenlaw. And as she proved in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, no one has a better way with the telling details of Maine village life. SLIPKNOT delivers everything readers want: a great setting, wonderful characters, an authentic and original detective -- and a story that will keep them on the edge of their seats. (from the author's website)

Series:
* Jane Bunker Mystery

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. And for some of it, I did really enjoy it. The writing was decent, if scattered, and the story and insights were, for the most part, interesting though lacking somewhat in depth. But the narrator irritated me too much by the end to get four stars. She takes too much credit for being a mother to a really incredible resilient young woman, when actually it doesn't sound like they were together all that much. Maybe a really great mentor, but not really a mom. I was frustrated by her ignorant portrayal of the foster system as evil, when she essentially was a foster parent. I was also disturbed by how much detail of her daughter's abuse she was willing to share with the wide public. Yes, she changed names, and yes, I'm sure her daughter agreed to it, but there was a lot of information shared that should not have been made public. It wouldn't be hard for anyone to connect the dots to figure out who her daughter is, and that's problematic.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this memoir without having read the Linda Greenlaw oeuvre -- I'd heard about her and her sword fishing and life on Isle au Haut, but not read the earlier works. Rather, I picked up this one because of the subject: single woman becomes legal guardian to abused teenager, lives life on tiny Maine island with only about 40 year-round residents. And mostly it was interesting. I thought the writing was spotty, however. At times Greenlaw is great; at others I sort of felt like she was phoning it in. She's also just a little bit hokey, too much for my liking. But as an account of out-of-the-ordinary family formation and life on Isle au Haut, it was pretty interesting. And reading it in Maine, as you listen to the tide coming in yourself, sure doesn't hurt.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Greenlaw's previous memoirs. This one fell flat for me for a number of reasons. In her quest to protect the privacy of her young charge, much detail around the girl's backstory is positively impenetrable. I don't know if she was trying to fill up the book with other things to disguise this, or if she's just gotten really boring- but I barely made it through the interminable bit about rescuing some chunk of fishing gear. Turns out I could have skipped that whole section, because it never comes up again. There are a lot of little dangling story bits throughout, and some of the most important and compelling sections of the story are merely alluded to in passing. It was mostly a frustrating book.

[BookSweetie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will acknowledge up front that I jumped at the chance to see and hear the now 50-something-year-old Linda Greenlaw speaking in early 2013 about her recently published ninth book, the memoir LIFESAVING LESSONS: NOTES FROM AN ACCIDENTAL MOTHER, and that I heard follow-ups to the story not in the book itself,

but first, I must admit that some years ago I read a fondly-remembered memoir-style book of Greenlaw's called LOBSTER CHRONICLES that happily still graces a bookshelf at home;

that in general I enjoy reading about author Linda Greenlaw's corner of the planet-- Maine -- given that my family history for generations has had roots to the Pine Tree State, inland and coastal communities both, including ties to small coastal towns in Down East, Maine, not far from the author's beloved island home base of Isle au Haut, where, she says, winter residents these days number only around 40 souls;

that currently I am only a now-and-then visitor to, and not a resident of, Maine;

that I do know a number of the locations mentioned in her book, yet I have never set foot on Isle au Haut itself, nor am I likely to do so, but that doesn't matter -- that I am still interested in what she has to say and grateful that she continues to be willing to share her own and her island community's stories in down-to-earth language for the rest of us;

and that I am a mother who was fascinated by the particulars of a community's sense of responsibility towards a fifteen year old child in its midst, a child who needed someone to step up and provide adult support and caring when the girl's own family & guardian support unexpectedly fell short of adequate, and by the accidental way that that support and caring fell to the at-the-time unmarried, writer/fisher-person Linda Greenlaw for what she assumed to be a temporary basis because she was the island person with a spare bedroom!

I like that Linda loves her island home, yet by writing openly about her world she does not falsely present island life as a utopian paradise. Some folks could mistakenly fantasize that all their problems would be solved if they simply escaped to an isolated island life in a scenic natural setting, forgetting the implications of the popular saying, "wherever you go, there you are."

Linda Greenlaw's latest book makes it clear that human problems find their way even to remote spots. After all, humans and communities of humans are flawed and contain inside themselves the seeds for sorrow and suffering. Importantly, that is not the whole story. Humans and communities of humans also contain the seeds of caring, joy, and healing and that will also be clear to readers of LIFESAVING LESSONS.

The 15 year old girl in LIFESAVING LESSONS is called Mariah, although that is a pseudonym to help protect Mariah's privacy.

Some information related to the book learned during the book talk: Linny, as the author is sometimes called, is now married -- NOT to the Vermont Simon who appears in a supporting role in the book, but to a boatbuilder who does not appear in the book...

and that Mariah, whom Linda refers to as her daughter, is now in college, aspires to be a social worker, and remains in a family-relationship with Linda and Linda's new husband who had, like Linda, been childless before the nearly grown Mariah entered his life via Linda.

Mariah was given the manuscript to read and comment upon before it was published; Mariah supported the publication of the story and hoped it might be of help to anyone else in similar circumstances.

The author writes a lot about her chosen careers of fishing and writing. Readers who have followed her books and story may be aware that she attributes her writing career to the Sebastian Junger book THE PERFECT STORM and the popular movie that followed. They had created an opportunity for her to write and find an audience. This Greenlaw states freely. What she does not state is the obvious: Greenlaw has kept that audience on her own merits.

Note: I love the cover.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker (& proud of it), for non fiction books about personal struggle, redemption, forgiveness, people who are "different", and just regular people making their way through the world. It fills me so full to read of the odds some folks have overcome, and the profound insights that they come away with.

Recently, I heard about a new book by Linda Greenlaw, describing her "accidental mothering" of a terribly abused young woman who arrives on Isle Au Haut, where Linda Greenlaw lives (winter population ~ 40...).

The journey that they both travel, the struggles they endure, and eventual blossoming of a fuller life for both of them is, well, inspiring seems too trite a word, so I will just leave it that I started it when I got home last night @~1730, and finished it @~2330.

What a gift she and her daughter have given to all of us who have the chance to read this book.

[Melanie Neale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda is just plain awesome. And this is a great story. Because her style isn't quite what I like (lots of adverbs and plenty of scenes that don't really move the plot forward--it took way too long to get into the meat of this story), I found it a bit slow at times. But it's an amazing story that deserves a book. And I'm still one of Linda's biggest fans!

[Bri369 · Rating 3 out of 5]

True story, a little slow in the beginning, lots of hope and healing throughout the story.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lifesaving Lessons Notes from an Accidental Mother by Linda Greenlaw
Isle au Haut is 7 miles off the coast of Maine and Linda lives there, living off the land and sea and is also an author, making money at it.
I have a connection to a similar island and love getting over there as often as I can. Fitting in takes time. The book starts out when Linda meets Mariah and takes her on til school starts in the one room schoolhouse on the island.
Linda has her own boat and traps and hires Mariah to paint the buoys and after watching Linda do a chore she mimics it.
After the island sends her off island to school they go about their normal days of preparing for the winter. With other schemes up their sleeves they pursue them and when it fails due to unforeseen circumstances there is still some time to lobster.
Love hearing about all the plans and things done in timely fashion to get ready for the different seasons and how the island goes about its business.
With the return of summer and the people that come there are town meetings and the talk is of the parcel that is for sale. There is so much of it one could buy it and build condos.
Linda has made new friends during the winter that run their own cafe during the summer months and take orders for chocolates. Also the place to be for gossip and hot coffee and donuts freshly made.
In August things change and the islanders band together to help... Unimaginable things occur that leave Linda to even lock her door for the first time ever and to load her shotgun while Mariah is in her care til the authorities can do something.
Things heat up as the time gets closer but everything and then some all go wrong...
Now the tough part of being her guardian and all they endured...her parents were back for the summer and her sister lived on the mainland and along with the female population on the island there is support.
Love how all the pieces are brought to their end. I can truly relate living on an island 3 miles by 1 mile wide.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I registered this book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12548984

I give Greenlaw loads of credit for stepping up to "rescue" a young woman who otherwise had no good place to go. Fifteen-year-old Mariah is staying with her uncle on a remote island off the coast of Maine when it becomes known that he has treated her, and others, badly. The islanders are a close-knit group, and they think maybe their local celebrity, Linda Greenlaw, can help. Perhaps she can let Mariah stay at her place for a short while as legal issues get cleared up. Greenlaw, who loves her solitude, reluctantly says yes.

The short time is extended. More than once. And as Greenlaw gets to know Mariah and her past better she becomes more invested in her. Thus she actually fights for her, and becomes "mom" to a brand-new teen.

Greenlaw was the star of the perfect storm immortalized by Sebastian Junger, so she is no stranger to difficult conditions. But this is a different kind of storm.

I'm all for real-life stories of hope, but I wasn't all that impressed with this one. Greenlaw's prose is pedantic and uninspired, and I couldn't help but get a sense of self-congratulation, perhaps some false modesty. It's hard to write a book about something you did that's selfless and life-affirming, without letting a bit of "yay me" in. Easier if it isn't about you. I also took away the message that these islanders are better than the rest of us, down-home just folks that they are. Obviously many others have loved this book. I hope it finds more enthusiastic readers than I was.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason that I am familiar with Linda is because of the movie, The Perfect Storm. Other then this little fact, I am not that familiar with Linda. In Lifesaving Lessons, I got a brief over view of Linda and how she got started in the business. I think she is a good woman. She has earned her respect. It is not easy to find a good balance of tough and just still being a woman. I could see how Linda struggled at first with the idea of suddenly becoming a mother. Not only a mother but a mother to a teenager. At least when Linda is on the boat she does not have to worry about the sea creatures talking back to her or going over on their minutes due to texting.

While I could understand why Mariah was rude towards Linda in the beginning, I still thought it was not called for. Linda was just trying to be nice and help teach Mariah how to work hard. What Linda had Mariah doing on the fishing boat was not bad. I knew how the phone call was going to go when Linda learned the truth about Mariah and she called her mother to inform her. Still I was hoping that Mariah's mother would have reacted better. Mariah ended up with a better "mom" in Linda. Again glad that Linda stepped in to care for Mariah but this is not a book where you will learn any valuable lessons on how to become a mom or better parent. This is just Linda's story of how she became a mom. I am glad that the details of what happened to Mariah was briefly hinted at and not gone into detail.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small island community of Isle au Haut is shocked and challenged to action by the revelation that for three years they has lived unaware with a pedophile who hss day by day been destroying the life of the young girl in his charge.
Linda is very much a loner, but is drawn into this by the fact that at the moment of need she is the only one with the room to house this traumatized teen while they wait for help to remove the out-of-control "uncle" from the island. As events unfold they find that things are much worse than the uncle falling off the wagon, going to receive treatment,and soon returning to their community. Linda's side step into the life of this teen leads her to medical and counseling programs -all off the island. The day to day living with a teen is difficult enough and the mistrust this girl has been raised with runs deep. This touching story shows both real sides of the story, the ups and down of the victimized teen and the struggles of the reluctant guardian as they find their way through a minefield of trauma.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow to get into. Probably more interesting to someone who is affiliated with or loves the ocean and/or fishing, although the focus of the book eventually came down to being a memoir of a single woman taking in a 15 year old girl who had been rejected by her biological family, taken to live with an alcoholic pedophile who was said to be her uncle-- although that was not true. Interesting issues that came up were the inappropriate behaviors that the teenager had learned and did not know were inappropriate; the capacity of a pedophile to manipulate and control the abused child; the difficulties of gaining and keeping the trust of a child who had repeatedly been abandoned. The book is well written, but so much of it was focused on the author's desire to "do her own thing" of fishing, boating and being alone that I struggled to finish it. Will offer it to other members of our book club or give it to the local library.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad that I stuck it out through the first few chapters of this book, which were full of unrelated, jargon-filled fishing stories that made me want to stop reading, initially. Once the book got into the real story, it was an engaging and moving true account from the vantage point of someone who helped the person going through the tribulations; this is the first thing that differentiated this memoir from others in its genre, which are often told by the "victims" themselves. Hearing it from Greenlaw's perspective showed that she had a lot to learn, in terms of how best to support "Mariah" as things progressed. The book also provided a sense of comfort and closure that is often missing from other similar books. I understand that can't always be done with true stories, but it makes the whole thing more motivating for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest review of personal fears, aspirations and emotions on the road to helping a damaged person join the sunny side. Greenlaw illustrates well the hard work and pay offs along the way.

[Barbara]

Listened to audio. Really enjoyed it.

[Heather]

Wow. Another wonderful memoir by Linda Greenlaw who is a most gifted writer. Clever turns of phrase bordering on comical-- except this book deals with the most serious of topics, child abuse/molestation/neglect.

Linda inadvertently rescues a 15 year old girl who is a transplant to the Isla au Haut. "Mariah" has lived on the island for a few years with her uncle. Only the uncle is not her uncle biologically...which nobody knew. Through a series of events it is discovered in this book that the Uncle "Ken" is a serial child molester/pornographer to the highest level. His victim for years has been "his niece" Mariah. When it is discovered he is a child molester on this small island the year round residents are truly shaken, horrified and aware of how islanders deal with situations. Notably the truth has to be hidden until the authorities can be involved as Mariah had several girls sleep over at her house under the Uncle's care and the other parents are wondering if their own daughters have been creeped upon?

I did not read the full book jacket when I picked this book up at the library. Therefore, I had no idea this was the subject of the book. When the book took a most extreme turn from dealing with a bored / mopey teenage girl who worked for Linda within a fishing summer job and it is most obvious that the youngster has no ability of cheer or a smile on her face on a daily basis-- I was truly stunned.
The book suddenly (to this reader) morphs into a path of a young woman dealing with years of molestation and abuse from this predator. I didn't see it coming. I could not put this book down as Linda always writes such compelling chapters. She shines a beacon of light on what happens when innocent children are raised by parents who don't value them and aren't interested in thinking about what is best for a child. Neglect, neglect, neglect. Such as not having a child sleep in a bed with a fully grown man (a "step uncle"). A mother who had Mariah at 19 and has been a mess apparently her entire adult life. Tales unfold of how Mariah was never looked after with protection by the mother and unfortunately her young life is then basically sacrificed into a most twisted experience based upon this step uncle's deviant desires.
The reader (me) almost has to stop for air at points because the reality of truth is just so very dark and horrifying.

Kudos to Linda Greenlaw and her family and the female group of friends on Isle au Haut who immediately and responsibly step up to protect this young woman Mariah from the predator. In addition, other interested parties (school administrators, the legal system, mental health counselors) who step in to provide an oasis to a severely emotionally and physically abused young person. Linda had no idea this was how her life would be redirected by this young woman suddenly and unexpectedly entering her life and reading Linda's descriptive chapters is quite eye opening.

Regardless of subject Linda Greenlaw is always such a talented writer that her books are a gift to people who enjoy memoirs. Her stories are generally funny at times. She is so clever of turn of phrase worked within humor and true oddball characters at times. This book does have humor in it in her descriptive phrases despite the serious subject matter. Linda is obviously capable of dealing with serious drama in a most mature, thoughtful and caring manner. She became an advocate for a young person who truly needed one and is to be commended for this.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. One chapter I'd be slogging through the most boring descriptions of pulling up lobster traps and going bait fishing and the next it would be tension-filled rehashes of Mariah's story filled with far too much intimate and personal information about a young woman who may have agreed to have her story told for fear of rejection from Linda. While there was definitely a story to be told, Linda vacillated between being a devoted, loving "mother" (her word, not mine) to a non-involved, self-indulgent beyotch. A real mother would never have written this book.

[Emily Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first learned of Linda Greenlaw when I read 'The Perfect Storm'. She was a swordfish captain that survived the storm and so reading a book about how this tough sea captain became a mother caught my eye. I am glad I read this book because it was a wonderful mother/daughter love story.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rare story- of individual courage and character. And, on Greenlaw's island, the story proves that it takes a village to raise a child. The "raising"of Mariah is the beautifully, honestly told story of this book. It is one of my favorite books of all time.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Linda Greenlaw book I have read and she is a wonderful writer. Very down to earth and honest about her relationship with her "daughter." I love her nontraditional way of living and her views on life and relationships. I will be adding many more of her books to my list.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

meandering but heartfelt

[Dean Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Linda Greenlaw is an inspiration and true role model for everyone.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad her daughter signed off on this story because it is very personal. Very raw.

[Jacklyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the heartwarming story of author Linda Greenlaw who suddenly becomes the legal guardian of a 15 year old girl with a troubled past. Through all of the ups and down, bumps and bruises, Linda does not give up on her new daughter. After a few years her love and support, along with the support of many others, transforms "Mariah" into the young women that she was meant to be.

[Rita Andres · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The author tells very many details of her unexpected journey into motherhood. I was impressed with the effort and the work and the generosity of the author. It was a good read, and a good ending. Reading about the author and her life as a fisherman, living on an island off the coast of Maine was really amzing. This was a gift from Kitty for my birthday.

[Bucket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda Greenlaw tells the story of how she came to be the legal guardian of Mariah, a 15-year-old teenager who suffered terrible abuse at the hands of her uncle. Linda struggles with the big emotional and life commitment it takes to be a mother, as well as with the details of how to deal with a teenage girl, particularly a troubled one. She has a lot of support from her community and family, but everyone is shell-shocked by the abuse that occurred under their noses.

Linda is also struggling with her semi-romantic relationship and coming to terms with the fact that she won't likely be a wife and mother in the traditional sense. She deals with the social aspect of her life on the island, realizing that friendship, especially female friendship, is more important than she ever thought before.

I was less engaged by this book than I was by Greenlaw's other book I've read (Seaworthy). Many sections of text felt superfluous (the long story about the disastrous attempt to catch herring, for example). It was as though the author was nervous to delve into her story and was babbling to talk herself into taking the plunge.

That said, I was impressed, once again, with Greenlaw's honesty about her feelings and thoughts. I was also impressed by her insight into herself - she is very aware of her social tics, stubbornness, and competitiveness, for example. It was clear that mothering is not something Greenlaw is experienced with or remotely good at, and her record of her stumbles and lessons was very raw and compelling.

Unlike fishing, Greenlaw was out of her element here and admitted it, allowing her attitude towards her new daughter (which errs more on the side of expecting her to push herself and do her best than it does on compassion) to be understood.

Themes: Maine, fishing, rural community, abuse, motherhood, family, relationships, life changes

[Elaine Burnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was an accidental reader of this book--it was in the condo where I stayed recently on vacation. I'd brought books with me, but I like Greenlaw and the topic hit home. I devoured it, to say the least. There is some slowness to the beginning as she builds up the story of this tight-knit community. That pays off when the kid comes into her life and it really does take a village. She gets repetitive about motherhood and her other relationships, but the drama of this teenager's abuse and resilience makes up for any writing clunkiness.

Here's what really hit home for me: we spend a lot of time worrying about women and girls in other countries, but right here in our own backyard a child was basically handed over to a pedophile. You think this case was unique? When I squirmed at Mariah's story being laid out so bluntly--the poor kid had already lost all privacy--I was comforted that she wanted the story told so that other children might be saved.

This small community didn't see it happening. How can the rest of us hope to be able to help. But we must. Someday, somehow, we have to come to terms with what it takes to keep kids safe. All of us.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I just grabbed it from the table at my local library (I hardly ever go into the stacks anymore) which holds suggested reading, both fiction and non-fiction. I've read some of Linda Greenlaw's earlier books and enjoy her fluid writing style, her memories of her experiences. and found this one as easy to read as the others.

But the topic of this one is different: she became the guardian of a teenager originally from Tennessee with a very dysfunctional family. She happens to live on the island with her 'uncle', who is an alcoholic and abuser. (He ends up in prison.) Of course, this story has a happy ending in that the girl completes high school, turns a bad attitude around, completes college and so forth and so on.

What interested me was how Greenlaw, with no parenting experience, manages the highs and lows (which are many more than the highs) of parenting a sullen teenager with a family history of abuse and neglect. of course, this is her memoir, so everything sounds peachy-keen. But I find Greenlaw an interesting person and this story equally so.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Greenlaw's previous books and have enjoyed them all....We are the same age so I share a lot of her sense of humor, especially when relating to men and the generation gap...Most of her stories focus on living the life of a female sea captain..A rarity in that world...She is a quintessential tomboy I can relate to..This book has a different focus...A more serious tone on the joys and sorrows of being a foster parent to a neglected and abused teenage girl...Greenlaw didn't plan to have this happen in her life, it just sort of dropped in her lap, like many things in life...It was interesting to hear how she comes to terms being a foster parent and adjusting her life to include that of a needy teen..She examines her own feelings and desires as a mom at mid life...Like everything else she tackles in life, she makes this book work as a testament to faith, hope and love...And how living with child changes her for the better..

[Chaynyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent memoir about a woman who is rather thrown into a "surprise! adoption!" situation. Unfortunately, the author spent far more time talking about her life fishing and about the small town she lives in than about the teenager she's thrust into guardianship of. It also doesn't feel like she and the teenager really connected well, nor did she seek out resources to help with connection. It's very honest, which is a relief from the tendency for memoirs of this sort to sugar coat and inspiration-porn the tough act of adopting someone into your life and family. It didn't thrill me -- less for the author's personal choices (I don't get a say in that) -- but more for the problem that while it's supposedly a memoir about mothering, the mothering focused content is much less than half the narrative. And that's a bit jarring going into it expecting a narrative to be focused on a duo and ending up with mostly solo content.