Lanier Phillips grew up in a horrible time in the US. As a child he lived with the KKK on the attack, and as an adult longing to be free, he ended up instead a military serving boy. He had dire hopes for his country or ever doing what he truly wanted to do until a tragic shipwreck that claimed every other POC on board. Being stranded for a bit in Newfoundland made him realize that not everyone was biased against a colored man, and that he could be what he wanted to be, because caring people existed. I really liked this story, but wish it would have gone further to tell how Lanier got into sonar school, instead of ending at Newfoundland island. But the story is still lovely and the illustrations are unique and beautiful.