Adrift

Darleen R. Golke is a high-school teacher-librarian in Winnipeg,
Manitoba.

Sixteen-year-old Annette Dube’s life is shattered on a stretch of
winter highway that almost kills her and robs her of her beloved
Matthew. In an attempt to alleviate her depression, Annette’s parents
send her to Venezuela to stay with their friends, James and Louise, who
spend their time pursuing adventures aboard their yacht, Andiamo.
Annette reluctantly embarks on a trip to Bermuda with James and Louise.
The sometimes perilous voyage serves as a catalyst for her coming to
terms with her loss and embracing life.

Annette’s story is told with sensitivity and compassion. The
author’s own sailing experiences enrich and lend authenticity to her
descriptions of the beauty, dangers, and excitement of life on the open
sea. Although the prose is occasionally stilted (probably as a result of
the translation from the original title, La derive), the narrative flows
and the characters are appealing and realistic. Recommended.