This upbeat memoir takes a look at two powerful and opposing forces — the need for security versus the desire to explore new territory. After being laid off from her job on a Gulf of Alaska salmon boat, city-bred Carole Gibb ends up on a wild, barely populated island. She isn’t keen on dogs, chainsaws, or the feeling that a bear could come around the corner any second. But this unique setting works a certain magic on her. She gets friendly with a chainsaw, fishes for her meals, and falls for a personable dog. Her funny, wise neighbors help her conquer fears about bears, finding work, and, most distressing of all—the uncertain supply of chocolate. For those with travel lust, or just a curious heart, Fishing for Courage is a ticket to a quirky corner of Alaska, and a story about the exhilaration that comes with letting go of what we know, to learn what we can be.