Welcome to Litsy!

I cannot imagine what would possess two people to pull their 6&7 year old kids out of school entirely, to sail the wrong way around the world through storms and danger chasing an idea of a ghost of a man, but Sues parents did just that. Her story is, in turns, interesting, terrifying, and heartwarming. A girl determined to escape a life where no one cares through sheer determination, and does just that, managing to find her own life along the way.

This was a fabulous memoir that reminded me of both “Educated“ by Tara Westover and “The Voyage of the Northern Magic“ by Diane Stuemer, It is a story of adventure and lots of interesting places, but also of parental neglect, indifference and misogyny. Sue's determination to get an education in spite of her circumstances led to many confrontations. I realize this is her story and obviously one sided, but it made for a riveting read. 4.5/5!

I love a good life at sea story, and this memoir of a childhood circumnavigating the globe was very compelling. Heywood‘s childhood on the ocean is full of interesting stories about people and exotic locations, about the challenges and chaos of the ocean, and most interestingly about the complex dynamic of her family. It‘s told without excessive sentiment and with a healthy critical lens. A great memoir.