Row for Freedom: Crossing an Ocean in Search of Hope

The incredible story of one woman’s record-breaking row across the Atlantic to draw attention to human trafficking and come to terms with her own past.

In December 2011, 31-year-old Julia Immonen and four other women took on a challenge completed by fewer people than have climbed Mount Everest or gone into space: row 3,000 miles, unaided, from the Canary Islands to Barbados. Row for Freedom chronicles that journey, weaving together two narratives: the details of the grueling, peril-filled crossing that broke two world records and Julia’s own story of her search for hope and purpose against a background of relationships scarred by violence.

As Julia’s physical and emotional treks unfold, she highlights the plight of the 27 million victims of the modern-day slave trade, which serves as the motivation for her row. In addition to becoming motivated to play their own part in promoting freedom, readers will be inspired by Julia’s self-discovery and her team’s triumph in one of the most formidable physical quests ever undertaken.