Freckled: A Reflection on Life and Adventure in the Hawaiian Islands

Crystal Martinat: I loved this memoir! It is beautifully written and I really enjoyed the thoughts as a young child growing, understanding the world around her and just how hard childhood can be. By the end I really just wanted to give the author a hug.

United States on Aug 07, 2023

J. C. Sandoval: I had this book on my reading list for a long time, somehow forgot about it, until I read Toby Neal's cozy mysteries, and revisited my list to see Toby Neal authored this as well. This memoir was well written. I enjoyed how as the years chronologically progressed, so did the writing styles to reflect her maturing. There is sadness, joy, despair, turmoil but also perseverance and resilience in this memoir. In the midst of the turmoil and not-so-nice circumstances, Toby does not pass judgement or hatred on others, but simply pushes through. It is a tale of mixed circumstances, living off the land and off the grid and succeeding when the world can be both forgiving and unforgiving. Bravo for her success and this memoir. I couldn't stop reading it, I'm sorry I forgot about it on my reading list but glad I rediscovered it.

United States on Aug 06, 2023

Patricia T. Harrelson: Your story captivated me instantly. I ran the gamut of all emotions reading about how you grew up and your relationships with your family, the struggles you shared and your determination to become "normal". Girl. You damn sure made the best of everything thrown at you! Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.

United States on Aug 06, 2023

Judy Whetzel: I wasn’t Freckled, but I grew up wild on Maui in the 50’s. This was, in many ways, a trip down memory lane, with the lush, tropical story of kids who didn’t know what they had until they were adults who had experienced the mainland. Remembering what it was like being a minority, a haole, in a jungle of people who didn’t want you messing with their Hawaii, even when you were born there just like they were.

United States on Jul 22, 2023

Amazon Customer: I read it though once and immediately read it again and enjoyed it just the same! Very interesting story of growing up with hippie parents in Kauai.

Germany on Jun 12, 2023

Myazane: I was thoroughly captivated and loved how I felt like I was on this journey with the author.
Her story was heartfelt and honest without sounding pitiful or abusive. Which at times her situation absolutely was.

Canada on Apr 12, 2022

Kirste Roche: This is such a well-written book about a fascinating life. The author, Toby, captures the adventurous childhood of a life lived mainly outdoors in Hawaii, including the magic and excitement seen through the eyes of a child. Her descriptions of the jungle, the sea, and the Hawaiian life are truly stunning.
The fun times she is gifted with in life, however, hardly make up for the absolute shocking neglect on behalf of her parents. While the adventures are there, it is really one horror after another as Toby describes growing up with parents who, quite clearly, had zero interest in being parents. Hating the idea of working full time to support his growing family, her father is a drunk surfer who makes his dislike for children apparent at every possible opportunity. Her mother is usually just "there," looking after some of her children's basic needs while ignoring others altogether. Toby reports few true bonding moments with either of her parents, with most of her memories of her parents being on the painful side, at least the way I read it.
She tells of about living in tents or vans for extended periods, with little protection from pouring winter rains; her mom expressing...

Canada on Jun 03, 2020

WilloughbyReads: Hawaii: this story is as tragic as it is inspirational, and true to the cliche that you can't judge a book by the cover.

The book is honest and full of detail and vivid memories of so many things that happened during the childhood of the author. In each scenario, she doesn't present herself as perfect, nor does she assert that all the other people in her life had all the problems. She presents herself as flawed alongside the dysfunction she observed. She had her own struggles, and she also had her own perseverance. Books became her escape, "a magic carpet of adventure ready to take me away any time I open those big stiff covers with their delightful musty library smell." I like that. I think a lot of readers will connect with that sentiment.

Without a lot of support, she became determined to succeed and fulfill her potential in spite of repeated and consistent setbacks and frustrations. She saw herself as disadvantaged, but she didn't see herself as a helpless victim. She kept pursuing her dreams. But my favorite thing about this book is the tone of the narrator. Spanning the first 18 years of her life, the author speaks appropriately from the point of view of the...

United States on Jun 16, 2019

gva: This is the first time reading nonfiction by Toby Neal. Loved it even more than her other wonderful storylines that have Hawaii as their backdrop. She shares so much about her early life, giving insight into the beautiful woman that she has become. Makes one ponder what goes into developing a wonderful, mature human being. Perhaps it is not all those things we think of as ‘normal’. I loved all the details about life in Kauai a time when it was still in the process of becoming what it is today, before all we tourists invaded. It was courageous for Toby to share some of the intimate details of her family life. The book is a page turner and not one that is forgotten after the finish. I feel like I know Toby and she could be a friend.

Canada on Jan 30, 2019

BevPet: This memoir is by turns, heart wrenching, funny, poignant, and always riveting. The writing is a masterful mixture of storytelling that captures the unique voice and character of feisty Toby and her unconventional upbringing. It seemed as if I were on that Hawaiian island, playing with Barbie dolls in the sun-kissed sand, riding a Palomino pony bareback along the beach…and frantically fleeing from abusers, both familial and strangers. There are sprinkles of social commentary, seen through the perspective of a child, and I was left in awe of her grit and resilience along with feelings of envy, pity and inspiration. Like Jeanette Walls’ The Glass Castle, Freckled is a story of conflict, love and ultimately triumph. A wonderful book.

Canada on Jan 05, 2019