Raised in Ruins: Growing Up in the Burned Ruins of a Remote Alaskan Cannery

by Tara Neilson

An extraordinary memoir of a woman's unconventional childhood growing up in the Alaskan wilderness, on the grounds where the burned remains of a cannery that once stood.

In the 1980s the Neilson family moved out on a floathouse to the remote site of a former cannery in Southeast Alaska that had burned to the ground before WWII. They were miles away from any neighbors, surrounded on all sides by wolves, bears and other wildlife, entering the world of subsistence living on the most uninviting land of dangerous weather and storms; yet the Neilsons were able to make themselves a home where few others would have found possible. Led by a jack-of-all-trades handyman for a father and a mother who was afraid of everything in the wilderness, Tara and her four siblings cleared the rough terrain to build atop the blackened, rusty ruins a new way of life that was completely their own.

From a young age, Tara learned that anything was possible, so long as one can imagine it and then make it happen. When given her mother's impractical design of a six-bedroom house, her father picked up his tools and crafted it into a reality. To reach the closest community, they built a wooden boat sixteen feet long for the rickety journey on the water. The Alaska wilds required independence and self-sufficiency from the family, and in return it provided a natural landscape that inspired romantic passion and unlimited dreams. With endless forest on one side and the wide ocean on the other, Tara embraced the lonesomeness of the burned cannery ruins that she called home, and often wondered what it once was with its people inside, their stories, where they went, and what happened to them.

Beautifully poignant and completely original, Raised from Ruins escapes into the wilderness to discover a piece of Alaskan history wrapped in an incredible family adventure fueled by love, strength, hard work, endurance, and boundless imagination.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Adult

260 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir chronicling the author's childhood in the Alaskan wilderness, not an easy life! I wish the author had played a bit more with the structure to better incorporate some of the research she added on at the end, but it was still an interesting read.

I had copy of Raised in Ruins from the publisher through Edelweiss; it came out April 14, 2020.

[Nina Romano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from WEST MARGIN PRESS for a sincere and honest review. I'm giving it the five stars it richly deserves. I read it in a few short days, and I'm a slow reader!

On page 8 of this most interesting memoir, the author Tara Neilson, intelligently explains that the “way the book is written might feel jarring” because it is not in the usual linear fashion that most memoirists employ. Personally, it wasn't conventionally written and that what I found charming about this memoir. It's such a worthwhile read! First of all the title and premise snagged me like a hooked salmon ready for the cannery that was such an imposing and dominant feature in this book.

I wandered right alongside Tara Neilson as she traipsed through woods, was “skiffed” to school by her Dad, listened to music, ditched her homework when she thought there might be inclement weather and she wouldn’t be able to attend, and how, when she was faced with a sunny day would have to go without her assignment finished led her a built–in distrust for weather-casters!

Just when I thought that Neilson was going to wrap the book up tightly, she expanded it and gave this reader a delightful insight to three of the men who had worked at the cannery before it was destroyed. The very cannery that her parents, siblings, and she had scavenged to use for parts to build an uncommon float-house and a life surrounded by Nature in Alaska’s vast and untamed boundaries.

I loved, loved, loved this memoir! I think the Neilson family is a brave unit of adventurous people. They are individuals whose lives intersected with the natural waterways and forests of Alaska to become enriched in unique ways, as the forest duff enhances the growth of the wilderness. Thank you, Tara Neilson, for penning a part of your untethered youth.

[HR-ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara the author recounted her life in the Southeast
Alaskan wilderness w/ her parents & 4 sibs. She was
the 2nd oldest and described herself as the 'peace-
maker.'

Gary, the Dad, had carpenter skills & could make any-
thing. He held logging & other jobs, always a steady
worker. His spouse Romi excelled at art and literature.
Gary served as a helicopter mechanic in Vietnam and
was awarded/ but did not accept the Purple Heart. He
struggled w/ PTSD. He had exacting expectations of
others.

Gary and family & other families (who backed out)
seriously considered buying/ rehabbing a burned out
(post WW2) old salmon canning factory. It was near a
salmon-spawning creek. Gary and family would later
contend with bears and wolves. He taught his 3 oldest
offspring how to use a gun when they moved their
floathouse near the old factory. Gary eventually de-
signed and built their 6 room dream home closeby.

Tara taught us about floathouses which another boat
needed to push from behind to move it where the owner
wanted it before he secured the floathouse to the shore
(houseboats had an engine),the supply/ conservation of
food and fuel, mail system, educational set-up, their faith,
their ingenuity (the radio and so on) and coping with
severe storms. Tara poignantly shared how her maternal
uncle Rand drowned while out in a huge storm in his
commercial troller. So severe even the Coast Guard could
not make it through.

Other than burning tree limbs etc. how did the family
dispose of their man-made garbage? Why did Tara call
their piece of Alaska a rainforest when this area was
non-tropical?

A fascinating place to visit, but I couldn't live in the
wilderness. More power to those who can.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Neilson grows up on a floathouse near the burnt out remains of a cannery in remote Alaskan wilderness. There they build a home on the ruins, amid wildlife, ever-changing weather and little access to supplies.
The best parts are Tara's recollection of the interaction between her and her siblings, often humorous anecdotes to go along with the daily struggle to thrive in a harsh envorinment.

[Carla Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of us have dreamed of escaping the stressful demands of our current life with the wish for a simpler one, surrounded by a breathtaking view. For most, it is a fleeting thought at the least or a recurring gnaw at our hearts at the most. For fewer still, it is more than a dream. It becomes a burning desire that sinks into their souls and cannot be quenched without moving forward. Such were the desires of Romi and Gary Neilson when they relocated their family of five young children from the Lower 48 to a burned-out, abandoned cannery in Southeast Alaska. Tara Neilson authentically shares how her family stepped into this new world with no illusions of an easier life in her memoir, Raised in Ruins.

Whether living on their floathouse in a land of unpredictable weather and seas or a cabin with visqueen windows between them and wolves and bears prowling the wilderness they all shared, the Neilson's love of family and their surroundings was always constant. While life was tough and work was hard, the family played just as hard. Their creativity was unlimited. Another adventure was always waiting around the next rusting skeleton of equipment or massive tree in the rainforest of Southeast Alaska. Music, art, books, theatrical performances, and fantastical play were also parts of their daily lives, and Neilson makes her readers feel as if they are another cousin come to visit and play among the ruins with her and her siblings.

Tara Neilson has the unique ability to focus her writing through the lens of a microscope into the thoughts and hearts of her loved ones, helping us to get to know each one and the importance of the role they play in the survival of their pioneering family. Just as easily, her perspective zooms out, giving us a birds-eye view of the magnificent natural beauty and then transcends time to when the cannery was a vibrant community. Her curiosity and connection to those who came before her family lead her to discover who some of the individuals were who worked and played equally as hard in the very spot, decades before the Neilsons landed on their island.

I give this heart-warming and honestly written book which is full of joy, laughter, heartache, and lessons of survival, 5 Stars. I predict your only regret, like mine, will be when the book comes to an end. I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from West Margin Press for an honest review and all thoughts are my own.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Nielson's wildly fascinating memoir explodes off the page with her vivid recollections of her life growing up with her family at the site of a burned-out cannery in Southeastern Alaska. Loosely chronological, Tara tells of her and her siblings' exploits amidst the dangerous landscape and the ways they entertained themselves when often they were the only humans for miles. She also includes photographs of her family, which I wish I could see in color! (Note to publisher - when this book takes off, consider a second printing with the photos on glossy color paper in the middle or at the end). It is evident that Tara and her family are highly intelligent, making the most of their mostly unsupervised home-school education, being impressively innovative in art, music, engineering, cooking and imagination-based play. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of their attempts to use their sometimes limited food stores to come up with creative snacks. Whoever heard of mixing instant potatoes with Tang? Not I, but I'm strangely compelled to try it.
I thank Tara for sharing her family's story with us, and hope she's compelled to continue with another memoir as it seems she still lives in Alaska and I'm sure has continued to have adventures. I was going to say, the only thing this book could have benefited from would be an epilogue where she lets us know what Gary, Romi, Jamie, Megan, Chris and Robin (and Shawn, Lance, LeAnn, JoDean, Linda, Marion, Rory...) are up to now. Oh, and also (mini spoiler, going to be vague - I now hate US Steel and wish I could punch that realtor in the face) .
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in memoirs, Alaska, family stories and unconventional upbringings. Cheers, Nielsons!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed visiting Alaska on cruises through the Inside Passage so I was interested in this memoir. I loved this book! Tara made me feel the wild danger of the storms and see the sunlight glinting through the dark forest. The poetry of her words adds further magic to these amazing stories of living on a floathouse in the wilds with bears and wolves. I learned so many interesting things about life—and death—in remote Alaska. Most of us in the Lower 48 have no clue. Tara grew up with her siblings among the ruins of an old fish cannery, and I appreciated notes at the end where she found stories about the lives of a few of the men who had worked there. I enjoyed the adventures in Raised in Ruins—from the safety and comfort of my living room. I was able to get an Advance Reader Copy of this book and was wildly fascinated from the start.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for this book.

I think this was the longest shortest book I've ever read (258 pages). It took me 5 days for me to read it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it.

It was interesting to learn how this family of 7 (5 kids and their parents) lived in Alaska in an old cannery w/out the modern amenities and how they built everything themselves and learned to love it. They only had each other and used their imagination in playing among the cannery ruins. In this day and age, I don't see many people or children living like this. They did have schooling and their own little schoolhouse and eventually got to go to a real school but not sure for how long. Two of the kids left home when they were 15 and 16 to live with a friend somewhere in Alaska.

I'd love to know where the family is now and what they are up to.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting memoir of a childhood lived very much off the grid. Tara's parents moved the family to what was essentially a burned out cannery in Alaska. It's an unforgiving landscape and lifestyle but this group thrived very much against the odds. They built a house, they built a boat, they built a life. I liked this for the details of their life, as well as for the writing. Neilson warns up front that this isn't a linear memoir and it's not but it's got great style and writing. I was also most intrigued, as she clearly was, by the stories of the men who had worked in the cannery. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This one will transport you.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found parts of this memoir fascinating, like the details of daily life for this family roughing it in Alaska, but there were also parts that were tedious, like the author’s frequent attempts to describe her fascination with “time”.

[Gail Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow author Tara Neilson on Twitter, and had been looking forward to reading Raised in Ruins from the moment I heard about it. Tara's Twitter posts on her life in Alaska are fascinating, and I couldn't wait to read about her childhood growing up in the remote ruins of a burned-out Alaskan cannery with (for the most part) no one but her family members around. Tara's upbringing couldn't have been more different than mine, yet I found so much of her story resonated with me. To me, this is one of the major strengths of the book. It's a memoir, not a "me"moir. And with such an unusual story, that's not easy to achieve. Tara's writing is very visual, and reading the book was almost like being there and experiencing it right along with the Neilson family. When I finished it, I felt sad. I felt as if I'd just come to know Tara and her resilient family, and now had to say good-bye. Raised in Ruins provides a realistic, day-in, day-out picture of what it really takes to live and survive in the Alaskan wilderness. I'm definitely not cut out for it, but I was curious enough after finishing the book to pull up that area of Alaska on Google, read some articles, and learn more about the topography, history, and culture of the towns mentioned in the book. I also loved the addition of a separate section on three of the cannery workers. Growing up in the ruins Tara thought a lot about time, and the different ways in which her family's time at the cannery was a continuation of its former life and the lives of the people who'd gone before them there. It was interesting to learn something about the people who'd worked at the cannery - what had brought them there, and how doing such difficult work in such a remote place influenced their later life and work. It was an effective way to bring the story full circle. I highly recommend Raised in Ruins to readers who enjoy memoirs, have a love for or curiosity about Alaska, like adventure stories, or want the experience of really being transported into someone else's world.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorely disappointed

I was hoping for a non fiction about a family living in the Alaskan bush with the trials and triumphs that go along with that. The adventures of That journey as in other books of the same kind I have read. My favorite kind of book to dive into, normally finishing in 2 days. This was not that.nyes a family moves to remote Alaska, they have the typical sort of thing occured that you would expect. What I didn't expect is the absolute distinction, seemingly mental illnesses and trauma these children actually lived with. The father is singled out a the one with the issues but the mother seems bipolar, the oldest son is physically and emotionally abusive to hi siblings and this is portrayed as a funny quirkiness rather then narcissistic abuse. I waited for the telling of him killing a family member or one of the numerous dogs that really weren't properly cared for. Then there was the pages of insignificant and totally boring descriptions of insignificant events like building a box or moving an item. I had to skip through most of that. And the ending was, well I just say total bizarre. So if you want an enjoyable book on the Alaskan adventures this isn't it. I found myself hoping these people ended up doing ok but who knows because the book abruptly ended speaking of totally different characters. I wanted to stop reading part way through but really wanted to see how these poor neglected children turned out, that never happened. Also want to add I have never given a review this bad on any reading material.

[thewanderingjew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raised in Ruins: A Memoir, Tara Neilson, author
It was 1980, when the Neilson family decided to move to an uninhabited part of Union Bay, Alaska, to live in an area once occupied by a cannery that had been destroyed by fire. Originally, they were supposed to go there with others to create a community, but the others backed out. Gary and Romi stuck to their dream and took their five children, none older than 11 down to the youngest who was 4, and began to live a very different kind of life, isolated from society and with only basic amenities.
The author, Tara, was 9 at the time. Her memory is astounding as she relates the story of the years she spent in that remote area, using her own childhood notes to assist her. The encounters with wolves, bears, hunters and strangers fill the tale and boggle the mind, because it is true. The resilience of the children who were able to adapt to a life of such minimalist existence is remarkable. The story rings out with their adventures, and their cavalier approach to danger seems unbelievable. Their carefree attitude is obvious as they wildly explore their wilderness, raise their animals, mourn the loss of some, forage for wood, clear the land, plant gardens and assist in the construction of the buildings which serve as a school and a home. The story is inspiring and terrifying at the same time as they manage to survive against all odds, at times.
Romi is a woman with a great imagination and Gary is a Vietnam War veteran who suffers from PTSD. Compulsive, he is driven by a need to complete whatever he starts, and that quality makes his efforts successful. He often seems superhuman. He works as a logger during the week and returns to their home at the ruins of the cannery on weekends. Like a demon, he works to build whatever structures they require and seems to instinctively know how to create and build what they need. The mere fact of wanting to create something is inspiration enough to inspire him to keep on trying. He never gives up. Every weekend, if at all possible depending on weather, he comes home from his logging job bringing with him all the necessary supplies they need to exist.
The lifestyle the children experience affords them with opportunities to solve their own problems and to grow strong and confident. They thrive and seem happy and content to do without the luxuries others seem to require, and they seem not to miss them, almost as if they never knew them to begin with. Creature comforts were not something any of them demanded. They adapted easily and appeared to suffer very little stress. They ran barefoot around the ruins of the cannery, exploring and making up games, laughing and enjoying the many dogs and cats they acquired. They were each other’s companions, and except for the mention of the eldest brother, Jamie, whose behavior sometimes seemed too violent and mischievous, they shared a harmonious existence.
The courage and camaraderie of the children and the parents tells a story of survival with out material things that is admirable. Their great talent for creating pleasure together, satisfied their need for socialization. Their mother gave them rules they often broke. She was not a helicopter parent. Actually, she was quite the opposite, often laughing with them when they planned pranks that shocked her. Because their father suffered emotionally from his war experiences, they generally walked on thin ice around him, though he sometimes surprised them with his occasional affection. He worked hard and expected the family to work alongside him.
Romi and Gary seem to have raised their children to become responsible, independent adults. On the whole, they were a very happy family. Although there are many novels written about families that attempt to leave civilization and live in the wilderness, this true story made me feel that for this family it was especially worthwhile for all of them.

[Anon Uk · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than just a memoir...

The author of this book immediately gripped my attention and sparked my imagination as she took my hand and led me in through a time-tunnel, stepping out at the other end into a whole other world full of fun and exciting adventures. Sound familiar? - it's not. It is, for me at least, so much deeper than that.

Many a time I laughed out loud, and many a time my heart sank with raw sadness. I experienced fears of things alien to me and yet my perception of control and of time began to morph as I found myself intrigued by new concepts, and wanting to soak it all in, absorbing not just the thrills and adventures but this whole new way of thinking.

For me, Tara demonstrates not that anything is simply possible or achievable, but highlights throughout the book the mindset to make it so, for oneself. This is something that ordinarily does not come easy, is outside of ones comfort zone and, in these global times in which I write this review, reaches and inspires me on another level.

As much as I loved the thrills and adventures, and the highs and the lows, the memoir as a whole filled me with wonder, opening up both my mind and my imagination long after I'd finished reading the book. The concepts of Time, the interconnections between past, present and future, the connections with history which, can also repeat itself. The ability to laugh in adversity and overcome life challenges, the qualities of each person and what made them and, the varying connections between people both present, and past.

To almost step inside the authors mind, and her world, has been a unique honor and experience, and one that acts as a tool in life should we be brave enough to dare ourselves away from the world as we know it, and embrace a fresh perception, and lean not on our false crutches but to return to trusting in our own mind and capabilities, in turn, slow down almost to actually and fully appreciate the true wonders of our world that we live.

[Christine Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Neilson’s Raised in Ruins is a memoir like no other, which I very much enjoyed. Like all memoirs, they have a theme and although the author stated it was Time, for me it was Choices. Most notably, the choices parents make for their children and how these choices influence the children’s adult self.

The writing is clean, fluid and easy to follow. I loved the descriptions of the natural environment and the images created of the family living and working outdoors, often to the soundtracks of their favourite music. I also felt the blending of the author’s childhood experiences with her later knowledge (e.g. of her parents’ different mental health issues) gave a balanced view of events. This gave an almost journalistic view of why things happened the way they did, without apportioning blame or judgment.

Having said that, I’m a great reader of character driven fiction and I longed to know the hang-ups, grudges and gossip behind their family dramas. I was itching to know more about any ongoing tension in the family. There were tasters of this, but I had to respect that the author’s view was paramount (it’s her memoir, after all). What did come through clearly was her deep respect for the remote Alaskan wilderness and a love of isolation. Take away the bears and storms and you have an introvert’s fantasy!

The photos and stories of cannery workers were an excellent addition, giving the memoir added depth. It did make me wonder about the author’s view of the indigenous Alaskans and pre-colonial habitation of the area, however. From a time perspective, the last couple of hundred years seemed a little restrictive, but then again, it’s a memoir, not a study in anthropology and the stories certainly piqued my interest in this part of the world.

Neilson’s memoir was accessible, interesting and caused me to reflect on the impact of industrialisation on our environment. I note she is working on a second memoir and I’m delighted the story is not yet over. I’d highly recommend reading this book.

[Melissa Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what it would be like to be raised in a temperate Alaska rainforest, alone in the woods with only your closest family members, this book is for you. The Neilson family already lived remotely as bush Alaskan residents in Meyer's Chuck. Compared to the cannery in Union Bay, Meyer's Chuck was the big city.

The distance from Union Bay to Meyer's Chuck would be similar to being across town in most places in the country, but for Tara and her family, it was a long, rough skiff ride away. As with most remote Alaskans, the Neilsons knew how to do without or repurpose what they already had to meet their current need, as we learned throughout this well-documented book.

I feel a special connection to this story because, for two decades, I lived and raised my family closed by in Thorne Bay. I wandered Sandy Beach on Prince of Wales Island and looked over Clarence Strait to Union Bay, where Tara Neilson and her siblings had played barefoot in the forest a decade before my time. I didn't know about the family in the woods when I stood at the water's edge, waving to cruise ships and listening to bush planes off in the distance. As a teacher in Thorne Bay, the town's history fascinated me, and I thought about the loggers who walked the same streets, Tara's dad being one of them. I was a teacher in the same district when Meyer's Chuck School closed its doors.

The image of children running barefoot through the forest and across the beach of Union Bay near the old cannery with the stereo blaring as they played is fascinating. The historical aspect of the book is outstanding. Not only are the Neilson family's life experiences documented, but so too are three intriguing cannery workers from decades ago at the end of the book.

This book should be in all the schools in Alaska and available as supplemental content for the high school Alaska history course. A fabulous, captivating read.

[Anita Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is so engagingly written it could almost be a fiction book. Author Neilson, who records her early life growing up in a remote area of Alaska, explains early on why she chose not to write in a chronological way. Initially I thought that would be confusing, but actually it works beautifully, and soon I felt I was getting a privileged close-up view of all the seven members of her immediate family. Ms Neilson's mother tended to take any family photographs, and we get a glimpse of not only significant events, but their everyday life – which is pretty extraordinary by most people's standards. We learn about the logistical difficulties of isolated living (in the ruins of an abandoned salmon cannery), including the various methods of home schooling that the five children experienced. Fixing up living quarters in a precarious climate and remote location was a hazard in itself. But this family had the same wants, needs, joys, triumphs, and sorrows as any other family – just all made many, many times more difficult due to where they lived.

Author Neilson has a very warm, readable writing style that drew me in immediately and towards the end I felt quite emotional that there would be no more to learn about the family. The book concludes with a spotlight on three individual men who lived and worked in the cannery many years before it was abandoned. Growing up, author Neilson often imagined the people who inhabited the buildings and what their lives were like. After researching the history of the cannery and contacting surviving family members she gives us a perspective on the lives of the 'ancestors' in whose footsteps she trod, so many years later. This rounds off the memoir beautifully as we have learned, through her writing, how Ms Neilson has been impacted by the whole concept of 'time' and how it has affected her outlook on life. Raised In Ruins is a memorable book, one that I found deeply affecting, and a highly recommended read.

[Cynthia Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raised in Ruins is an absorbing adventure. From the first page of the intro, we are invited into a chase scene involving the author, her brother, and a bear. Having just read “Where the Crawdads Sing,” I couldn’t help drawing correlations between the world of the “Marsh girl” who grows up at the water’s edge of North Carolina, and the world this author paints of life on the water’s edge of Alaska. Though the stories and cultures are vastly different, each story provides a tale of youth within a hidden world at the literal and figurative edge of America.

Although set a world apart, Neilson’s childhood tales are relatable. The cannery ruins, which feature prominently in the story, are almost like a grandmother’s attic or a story-telling uncle. The ruins provide an ever-present sense of intrigue, history, legacy as well as unanswered questions.

Maybe it’s because I’m a mom, but by the end of the book, I found myself awed by the author’s mother, who continually worked to protect her children while her husband was away logging.

If you enjoy stories from hidden and rugged American cultures, or if you’re curious about how a family manages to preserve itself against many odds, you will enjoy Raised in Ruins.
(Excerpted from a longer review on my blog).

[Pookie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is disturbing. Not a wilderness story but the story of a dysfunctional family that happens to live in Alaska at a burnt out cannery. The father suffers from PTSD after enduring Vietnam, an abusive childhood and is absent all week. A mother who suffers from her own mental problems and mostly tunes out her children. Despite wild, dangerous animals around them she refuses to use or carry a gun. They are taught almost no survival skills at all. An older brother who bullies, terrorizes and threatens the other children and anyone who doesn't obey him. Including their mother. Wow! I feel sorry for Ms Neilson. They could have lived more off the land but the Mom is too afraid to venture out. I wonder why they moved here. It seemed to have more to do with the father's PTSD. More then halfway into it I had to stop. Couldn't read another chapter about the bully older brother and his recent reign of terror or how they built a fort. There's lots of good Alaska books, this is not one of them.

[Erin Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating memoir of a young family braving the wilds of Southeast Alaska homesteading an old burned out cannery during the 1980's. This family has grit! They never give up and they are all tough as nails. The authors dad, Gary is a Vietnam vet with terrible PTSD and is prone to depression and rages. (although not physically abusive, thank God) I appreciate that the author didn't try to sugar coat any of this and was very honest about this troubled man. The mom, Romi, was a dreamer and prone to depression as well. Artistic but impractical she was a wonderful mom in her own way. She loves her kids! Their lives in Alaska are quite an adventure, one that I know I would not do well at. They are quite an impressive family. This is a wonderful memoir of survival, exploration, love, creativity and tenacity. I'm so glad the author Tara Nielson took the time to write it all down. I loved it. Very highly recommended.

[Nancy Guess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about love, family, adventure, isolation and the elusive concept of time. Meet the Neilsons: a father who is a Viet Nam war vet with PTSD and a real-life MacGyver; a young mom of 5 kids who is tasked with protecting her children from the dangers of the wilderness and both parents ensuring that the children have childhoods. This is not a book to devour, but one to savor because you will spend time thinking about this extraordinary family both during and after reading it. The writing is sublime. She is able to transport you to her childhood wishing that you are the 6th kid. Very appropriate reading during our stay-at-home pandemic experience. The ending is genius. I highly recommend this book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read. I laughed, cried and like yeah stick it to him. Tara gives a glimpse of how her and her family lived when she was growing up through happy and sad times. She also brings you into her family and you feel like you are right there next to her well she is telling you her story.


I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to have an idea of living in the wilderness of Alaska might look like even today.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eileen Wells’ niece wrote this book about growing up in Alaska.

[Ron Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable interesting read. Thanks Tara for sharing your Alaskan wilderness childhood. High recommended.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great inside glimpse of a brave unfettered family growing up in Alaska.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meditative, beautifully descriptive, thoughtful

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating memoir.

[Robyn Obermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good reading! A way of life way different than than mine..... Love getting to know the family and true stories, and images!

[Lisa]

Was interesting but I couldn’t finish

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF