Shakedown Cruise – The Adventures of Yacht Boy

Nothing could have made Adrian more frustrated and upset than having to give up soccer, his friends from school and online gaming to spend a year trapped on a boat with his older sister, parents and thirteen strangers –for a whole year! Unaware that the best water toys imaginable and months of outrageous homeschooling await him, he boards the vessel with a surly, suspicious attitude. Oddly enough, there isn’t one textbook insight, but Adrian and his sister Grace are too busy to notice because a year spent at sea is the equivalent of many years spent at school.

A rescue at sea involving nefarious treasure hunters turns mysterious and complex. Adrian believes his intuition is telling him there is more to the story than meets the eye, but the captain isn’t convinced.

A surprise visit from school friends at Christmas time ignites a week of fun power-touring on the island of Antigua as five teenagers leave the adults behind and roam the island seeking adventure and thrills. His friends are curious about the unsolved treasure hunter puzzle and offer new insight that leads Adrian to an exciting discovery about the case.

Will Adrian return to a life of screen time or embrace all that a physical life-at-sea has to offer? Will he solve the mystery surrounding the treasure hunters or have to let it go, as the captain suggests? Join Adrian Abercrombie and his family aboard a 66m superyacht that has its own pool and gym, for many epic adventures at sea.

Could you give up your life, as you know it, to travel the world for a year? How and where would you fit in?

Welcome aboard M/Y Arabella … your adventure at sea awaits!

Annie Peterson-Kolatkar is a 3rd generation native San Franciscan. She spent her youth sail racing SF Bay and cruising the California coast and inland waterways as a sea scout and achieved the top rank of Quartermaster (Boy Scouts of America Sea Explorer Program). An avid traveler and adventure seeker, the world provides inspiration for the many oil paintings and stories she creates from exotic destinations. When she is not writing or helping others heal their consciousness for optimal experiences, she spends her time with her husband and two young children in Los Angeles. To learn more about her work, please visit www.CenterforConsciousAwareness.org

A Pleasant Surprise In Lessons In Consciousness

I contend this book is not just a children’s book. Any adult who has a love for being out in boats on the water would love this and it is a gentle way to digest and consider examples of maturing into consciousness. It is easy to read yet lesson abound and is an enjoying story.
-John Hobbs, VA
5 star Amazon Review

Other Amazon 5-star Reviews

Rollicking Adventure of A Young Boy In A Life At Sea
Well written book for young (or young at heart) A lot of life’s lessons spelled out in these few pages. Can’t wait to read the next one. -Ian Mcfall

A Delightful Reading Adventure for Children and Adults Alike
This brings back the sense of adventure and wonder that we all need! This is about a young boy whose parents take him on a wonderful adventure on a boat in the south seas. Such refreshing fun! This book should surely expose us all to the adventure of travel and exploration and fun. I am buying this book as my gift to children and adults. It’s time to get out in the world! Read all about it! -K. Connelly

Better Than A Rom-Com! You’ll Forget All Your Worries As The Pages Practically Turn Themselves
Forget Hallmark. This is fun for children and grown children. I learned so much about living at sea, dealing with emotions and conflicts, and the book has the best glossary of terms so anyone can learn.

Powerful & deep the story sweeps you off your feet.

Award winning San Francisco fine artist Jon Tocchini brilliantly and beautifully illustrated the story and the book has some fun “Easter eggs” here and there. Be sure young readers find all the cool details. Tocchini’s cover is an actual oil painting; that is rare in books these days where publishers and authors cut corners with computer graphics. He really captured that tropical lighting you only find in the Caribbean. He is a noted portrait artist and illustrator.

Kudos to both author A. M. Peterson and illustrator Jon Tocchini. An ideal team for bringing story to life.

I can’t wait for Book 2 in the series! What will Yacht Boy Adrian discover next!?! -Dream Hiker

Jon Tocchini, Illustrator

Jon Tocchini is an artist born and raised in San Francisco, California. He received his B.F.A. degree from the Academy of Art University, Fine Art School, San Francisco, CA, USA. He is a member of the California Art Club (CAC) and Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America (OPA).

Learn More At Young Navigator Books

Founded in 2021, Young Navigator Books LLC is a small boutique publishing company creating conscious global leadership books for young people self-navigating life through empowered states of being, with an emphasis on learning self-leadership through releasing the fear-based thoughts that create conflict and triggered states. We aim to inspire and encourage both homeschoolers and teenage readers, who are reluctant to pick up a book, to enjoy novels that expand their world.