This is such a beautiful collection--not to mention a fascinating story. Barbara's life is equal parts inspiring and haunting. I am particularly fond of the letters to her fellow shipmates (the girl had guts!) and "ADR." Barbara had such a striking voice and is a modern figure in so many ways. She traveled all over the world by sea, traversed part of the Appalachian Trail, and published a novel at twelve. Stefan Cooke, the collection's editor, has such a gentle touch, offering introductions and explanations to Barbara's letters when necessary. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the outdoors or an intriguing, occasionally confounding story about a young girl searching for the best way to live.

Cheers to Mr Cooke for putting together this collection of letters from this important and fascinating author. Barbara’s letters not only reveal her character and genius, they also bring the reader incredibly close to her side, as if we were a frequent visitor to the household. I have an inkling now what it must have been like to talk with her, perhaps even to be among those very lucky adults with whom she maintained a regular correspondence. These letters make clear that by the age of ten Barbara had developed of mastery of expression that places her among the best of writers of any era. Such vivid, discerning, joyful, and honest descriptions of the natural world as Barbara provided with apparent ease deserve to be known to the world and lauded as examplars of what our English language can accomplish when wielded by a truly gifted author. A memorable and moving read.

Amazing book! Reading the letters from Barbara, especially the early ones, you really get a sense just what a genius she really was, which makes what happened all the more a tragedy. I hope this book, along with all the recent interest in Barbara's life help keep her work alive long after she left us. Stefen Cooke did a great job of letting Barbara come to us through her words, without editorializing or injecting his own armchair psychoanalysis. He just gives us well researched and nuanced context that helps us understand.

One can't help wondering what Barbara might have given the world in other circumstances.