Wow. This was incredible. I could not put it down and would think about it all the time. Over two nights I read into the small hours. This is a book about surviving childhood, surviving terrible parenting, surviving the sea. It's about the importance of hopes, dreams and goals. Ultimately it's about one girl's determination to escape her parents and knowing that education is the key. I was so inspired at the end of reading this book. For readers of Educated by Tara Westover and The Last Days by Ali Millar amongst others.

I read an extract of this in one of the weekend newspapers and was instantly drawn to the book and it didn't disappoint at all.

What starts as an exciting adventure quickly turns sour and into a multi year nightmare for Heywood. I admire her survival skills and tenacity - the book was edge of the seat reading but as a real life adventure it must have been terrifying. I felt queasy and angry repeatedly reading it.

In a time where "going off grid" is all the rage again this book needs to be read by parents thinking of doing so as a warning.