Adrift

By Julie Burtinshaw

At fourteen, teenager Jack Garrett finds himself living in an unhappy household. His mother is acting strangely, retreating to bed, refusing to cook and pleading for time alone. Meanwhile, his father buries himself in his work and makes excuses for her "illness." But when his mother is checked into an institution for clinical depression, Jack and his ten-year-old sister Laura are shipped from Toronto to their Aunt Jenn's home in Desolation Sound, British Columbia. When it looks like their situation might be permanent, Jack and Laura are dismayed and decide to rebel. They steal a dinghy and head for the deserted caves on Dragon Island, intent on calling their father's bluff. But a stormy sea and an accident on the cliffs soon turns their defiance into desperation -- and suddenly their "crazy family" is the only hope for rescue. This is a gripping adventure story that also deals with complex issues of mental illness, family breakdown and the ties that bind parents and children.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551924692
• ISBN13: 9781551924694
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Raincoast Books
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 11 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 9

Customer Reviews

AdRifT

Adrift is about 14 year old David and his 10 year old sister Laura whom David takes care of. The reason why David cares for his sister is because 5 years ago his mother became SERIOUSLY depressed and his father and mother separated. They used to be a happy family but now the cant even talk to their own mother that they live with and their father lives farther away. The during the family vacation with their father the children find out that they will be shipped to Vancouver to live with their Aunt Jennifer while their mother can stabilize. (They all learn this after they meet their dad's new girlfriend). So Laura and David go to Vancouver and spend time with their aunt and start to learn how to be children again and having fun. Later on their father decides to come and visit them in Vancouver and 2 days later David overhears his father and aunt talking about things concerning his mothers depression and the family and David decides to make a decision that can and will affect his and his family's future. A book that I think everyone should read. I am definantley going to buy this book.