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Odyssey's Child
For fans of Life of Pi and The Alchemist, an unforgettable, spellbinding literary epic, brimming with excitement and magic that will have you laughing and crying in the joy of being alive that is the Caribbean.
When Ethan Carpenter fails to get help for his mother as she lays dying he is blamed for her death, cast out by a father who hates him, and finds himself adducted to a small sailboat in the Caribbean. The man who holds him descends to the darkest of evil with the boy his prey, as dangerous to Ethan as the tiger in Life of Pi. Like Pi, Ethan must find a way to avoid the man and his evil on an extended voyage, a two month, 1,500 mile sail the length of the Caribbean. But unlike Pi he must fight a second tiger within. Selfblame for his mother’s death has taken him so far into himself that the real world seems an illusion, suicide the only answer. As the evil increases he is pushed toward becoming part of the very evil he is fighting. Can he overcome the man while finding a way out of the darkness that is his life? The boy’s odds dim as the voyage becomes a frightening odyssey with the killer ocean storms, predators of the deep, and fantastical and deadly characters on shore as Homer told it of old.
The boy’s only hope is a black sailor who befriends him and tries to protect him. A knock-down physical and psychological battle rages between the two men with the heart and soul of the boy the prize and murder at play. Even in the violence the sailor’s wisdom and humanity shine through, taking the story to an exploration of life’s deeper meaning. And like The Alchemist, the sailor leads the boy through a series of events, each with a life lesson, in a personal journey toward finding himself and his future, a narrative of inspiration and self-realization. Lush, evocative, and totally human the story reminds one that life is worth living and the search for one’s self is the most important search of all.
When Ethan Carpenter fails to get help for his mother as she lays dying he is blamed for her death, cast out by a father who hates him, and finds himself adducted to a small sailboat in the Caribbean. The man who holds him descends to the darkest of evil with the boy his prey, as dangerous to Ethan as the tiger in Life of Pi. Like Pi, Ethan must find a way to avoid the man and his evil on an extended voyage, a two month, 1,500 mile sail the length of the Caribbean. But unlike Pi he must fight a second tiger within. Selfblame for his mother’s death has taken him so far into himself that the real world seems an illusion, suicide the only answer. As the evil increases he is pushed toward becoming part of the very evil he is fighting. Can he overcome the man while finding a way out of the darkness that is his life? The boy’s odds dim as the voyage becomes a frightening odyssey with the killer ocean storms, predators of the deep, and fantastical and deadly characters on shore as Homer told it of old.
The boy’s only hope is a black sailor who befriends him and tries to protect him. A knock-down physical and psychological battle rages between the two men with the heart and soul of the boy the prize and murder at play. Even in the violence the sailor’s wisdom and humanity shine through, taking the story to an exploration of life’s deeper meaning. And like The Alchemist, the sailor leads the boy through a series of events, each with a life lesson, in a personal journey toward finding himself and his future, a narrative of inspiration and self-realization. Lush, evocative, and totally human the story reminds one that life is worth living and the search for one’s self is the most important search of all.
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2022
About the author
John Lockton
2 books10 followersJohn Lockton is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale and graduate of Harvard Law School. This debut novel captures his forty years of sailing and exploring the Caribbean, and records the life-changing Caribbean voyage he made at the same age, thirteen, as did Ethan Carpenter in the book. Lockton had a distinguished career in law and business including as a trial lawyer for a leading Walls Street legal firm, General Counsel for Reuben H. Donnelley Corporation, President of Dun & Bradstreet International, President of Moody’s Investor Services, Executive Vice President of Pacific Bell, President of Warner Amex Cable TV (now Warner Cable TV), and most recently Chairman of startup companies in Silicon Valley. In retirement he has written two books of poetry and has completed the second novel in the Odyssey Chronicles, Pomford, scheduled for publication Fall of 2022. He lives in California with a lovely new wife, a scrappy dog, and a very talkative parrot.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2022
Author John Lockton’s Odyssey’s Child is a voyage of youthful hope and potential in the face of emerging secrets. After witnessing his mother’s death, thirteen-year-old Ethan lives with his abusive father until George van Rosenthal, an influential well-wisher who makes a point of befriending and protecting young boys, invites him on a Caribbean cruise. Under the influence of George and his hired mate Johnson, a wise and well-read sailor who knows the sea and islands well, Ethan begins to emerge from his shell. Still, as George’s prejudices and repressed feelings start to rise to the surface, Johnson must maintain constant vigilance to protect Ethan.
The plot of Odyssey’s Child engages readers with some severe and disturbing topics such as racism, suicide, and pedophilia. Still, the author handles these topics well and at an excellent pace that develops alongside the characters. Lockton’s prose colorfully evokes the Caribbean to create nostalgia for life many will have never lived, but this is ultimately secondary to the excellent characters that drive the novel.
Of the three principal characters, Ethan’s development is indeed a swell of hope as he adapts to his new environment. Yet, at the same time, George is juxtaposed with this as a descent into darkness. Johnson’s character is well established and stable throughout but severely tested as he begins to see George as who he really is, and this tension becomes the key focus of the novel more than the cruise itself.
Ethan, George, and Johnson are forced to struggle with their identities in an odyssey that transcends their physical voyage. Ethan struggles to overcome his past and battles the darkness that ranges inside him from his mother’s death. With the help of Johnson, Ethan learns valuable life lessons and starts to see himself as someone that has worth and a future.
Odyssey’s Child is an emotionally charged coming-of-age novel. Readers will see some of the dark sides of humanity, but through it, they will also see the good that can be found when you look.
The plot of Odyssey’s Child engages readers with some severe and disturbing topics such as racism, suicide, and pedophilia. Still, the author handles these topics well and at an excellent pace that develops alongside the characters. Lockton’s prose colorfully evokes the Caribbean to create nostalgia for life many will have never lived, but this is ultimately secondary to the excellent characters that drive the novel.
Of the three principal characters, Ethan’s development is indeed a swell of hope as he adapts to his new environment. Yet, at the same time, George is juxtaposed with this as a descent into darkness. Johnson’s character is well established and stable throughout but severely tested as he begins to see George as who he really is, and this tension becomes the key focus of the novel more than the cruise itself.
Ethan, George, and Johnson are forced to struggle with their identities in an odyssey that transcends their physical voyage. Ethan struggles to overcome his past and battles the darkness that ranges inside him from his mother’s death. With the help of Johnson, Ethan learns valuable life lessons and starts to see himself as someone that has worth and a future.
Odyssey’s Child is an emotionally charged coming-of-age novel. Readers will see some of the dark sides of humanity, but through it, they will also see the good that can be found when you look.
June 24, 2026
Loved it. Lockton writes with a deft touch and psychological sensitivity, which with the subject matter, is superbly difficult. The plot is propulsive, the emotional characterizations of each person has depth, and though I read it a weeks ago, it’s left an indelible, lasting impression. Much of the sailing terminology was above my head, and I didn’t research into it, but in order to “get” the novel, it’s not necessary to have sailing knowledge or experience. I’d never spent so much time on a boat before lol :-) Newfound, mad respect for everything that sailing entails. I went into the novel with an unusual mindset because before I started reading the novel, I’d read an interview with the author (published elsewhere), where he talks about basing the novel on real events, e.g. his mother dying when he was young and afterward as a part of his healing, sailing over 1500 miles with his Uncle when he was thirteen years old. Knowing the novel is part memoir, the novel is infused with his subjective truth and an integrity, humbling and inspiring. Highly recommend! There’s a sequel, which I’ve not yet read.
October 27, 2023
Beautifully written travelogue of a tour by water of the Caribbean islands. Besides that, or motivating that, we follow 3 males who are trying to deal with inner demons: 13 year old Ethan, thrown into despair and silence after his mother's dying in his arms; Johnson, black Caribbean sailor, dealing with a historical and lifelong plague by white people's actions; and George, rich white person of import in his town, now through terrified discovery unlocking an internal demon he desperately tries to withhold. A gripping tale, the beauty of the environment enriching all three men even as the darkness tries to win.
May 15, 2022
I received this book on a Goodreads giveaway. I wanted to like this book but couldn't. It seemed to be a travelogue on the Caribbean mixed with a handbook on sailing trying to tell what should have been a compelling story. However, there was no tension, no real sense of danger (maybe too much was given away in the description on the back cover) and the characters seemed to be caricatures. I was disappointed.
May 19, 2022
There was nothing wrong with this book, apparently I just have no interest in reading about sailing. My 3 star rating is very much because of personal preference rather than because of a bad book. I received this book as a result of a giveaway in exchange for a review.
The story was very well written and parts of it were engaging. The characters were relatable and easy to love/hate. I would have enjoyed if some of the major events of the story had been expanded upon some.
The story was very well written and parts of it were engaging. The characters were relatable and easy to love/hate. I would have enjoyed if some of the major events of the story had been expanded upon some.
January 25, 2022
If you’re looking for a roller coaster ride that keeps you on your toes, brings your emotions from one spectrum to another, this is the book for you! The story follows a young man whose life is changed in an instant. The poor kid goes from losing a parent to death, then to the other one essentially throwing him away. My heart hurt for him, the uncertainty he had to of been feeling. From there, his journey turns into one chaotic moment after another. I couldn’t imagine fighting for my life while trying to navigate parts of the world so uncharted. He’s running from one situation to another and can’t seem to catch a break. His up and down emotional personal turmoil is mixed with moments of humor, educational snippets really make for such an entertaining read! This kid goes through so much, it blows my mind how he gets through it all. I found myself totally engrossed in the world the author created. It’s a thought-provoking, sometimes 9intense, but always entertaining read. It’s very well written.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews