I started this book feeling a little unsure. A child rowing across the Atlantic on their own? I mean, come on. But then I suspended my belief, misgivings and overprotective parent hat and ended up loving reading Lucy's adventure. I really couldn't put it down once she set sail. I found the narration at the beginning hard to believe but once Lucy was on her adventure the author's first hand experiences really came through in a way that only someone who has completed such an incredible feat could. The story was inspirational and fascinating. I liked how Lucy's own diary entries from her voyage were interspersed with the narrative, along with examples of homework about oceans from her classmates back at school. This is great book for inspiring adventure, a love of our oceans and a lesson in how anyone can think positive and show true grit & determination to achieve a dream. A good companion to an oceans topic in school for boys and girls alike.

Having read the bikes series, I was intrigued to read a sailing-themed book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the exploits of Lucy as she navigated the Atlantic Ocean in her boat. I really enjoyed the combination of story interspersed with the non-fiction homework assignments completed by her class mates. I can't wait to share this with my class.

The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean by Alastair Humphreys is a wonderful children's novel that will delight readers of any age. It is a follow-up to The Boy Who Biked the World trilogy.

Lucy is seeking an adventure and decides that she will row across the ocean on her own, all the way to Barbados. It is a massive undertaking, but with lots of preparation and her family's help, and with her classmates at home following along, Lucy embarks on the biggest challenge of her young life. Learning about the ocean, marine life, and the growing crisis of plastic pollution, Lucy navigates her way purposefully toward her goal, gaining skills and confidence along the way.

I highly recommend this book to children and adults alike, and to anyone who is looking for an uplifting tale that educates and entertains in equal measure. I will be adding The Boy Who Biked the World to my TBR.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC.