Unsinkable

Author: Abby Sutherland and Lynn Vincent

Genre: Non-fiction, biography

Series: None

The stirring narrative of Unsinkable** tells 16-year-old Abby Sunderland’s remarkable true story of attempting to become the youngest person ever to sail solo around the world.

More people have flown into outer space than have sailed solo around the globe. It is a challenge so immense that many have died trying, and all have been pushed beyond every physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual limit. In Unsinkable, readers follow Abby Sunderland into those depths. This biography delivers a gripping and evocative firsthand account that starts prior to her departure, travels through her daring (and sometimes near-death) encounters on the open sea, to her dramatic rescue in the remotest corner of the Indian Ocean, and the media explosion that happened upon her safe return to dry land.

I had thought this book looked interesting, and it was… kind of. I found it all-around pretty mediocre – Yes, Abby did an incredible thing, and you know that it took bravery and guts. Her feat was incredible. But the book isn’t really worth the money.

Ages: 14+

2 out of 5 stars

Book curtosy of Booksneeze.com

Life in Spite of Me

Author: Kristen Anderson

Genre: Young Adult/Biography/Christian/Non-fiction

Kristin had everything she could have wanted. She grew up in a church-going family. She had friends. She was fairly popular. But her life took a steep downhill turn for the worse, and finally one day she decided to end her life.

But God had other plans.

This book was really amazing, faith-strengthening, and eye-opening. Kristen tells her story with raw honesty, displaying the power and glory of God on every page. I highly recommend it for older teens. I won’t even bother displaying Positive Elements for this one – the whole thing is about one real girl’s journey to God.

Negative Elements: Kristen does drugs and smokes, tries to commit suicide, suffers from deep depression, and is raped. This is all before she becomes a true Christian, by the way. The rape scene really wasn’t one – I was kind of worried about how it would go, but it was written with extreme tact and privacy. The actual act isn’t even mentioned, and is a very small part of her story.

Ages: mature 16+

5 out of 5 stars