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Showing posts with label Road Trip Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Road Trip Novels. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
MG Road Trip Novel Warm, Entertaining, and Illuminating
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
G'ma has always been a spitfire, but as they travel, Scoob starts to notice behavior that's strange even for her. Is there a reason she's constantly ducking Dad's phone calls? Is her spur-of-the-moment road trip really about teaching Scoob about the Civil Rights Movement and his own history? Or is G'ma up to something a little more ... criminal?
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone is a warm, enjoyable novel that asks readers to consider a serious question—how far has America really progressed when it comes to race relations? Through the experiences of Scoob and G'ma, which mirror those of G'ma and G'pa in 1963, we can come to our own conclusions. It's an unsettling but important question that all of us, regardless of ethnicity, would do well to ponder. Despite its weighty subject matter, Clean Getaway is a funny book as well as a surprising one. There's plenty of humor as well as mystery and adventure to keep it interesting and appealing. Of course, it's got thoughtful, poignant moments as well, all of which combine to create an engrossing, moving read. In addition to powerful lessons about racism, the book also teaches kids about the importance of knowing your own history and learning from grandparents while acknowledging the messiness of family life as well as the fact that there is always more to a person than what we think we know about them. It's an illuminating book in many ways and one I very much enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of When I Hit the Road by Nancy J. Cavanaugh)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (racism, parental abandonment, death, etc.) and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Snowy Thriller Doesn't Quite Live Up to the Promise of Its Premise
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A student at a special arts high school in San Diego, 18-year-old Mira Hayes is heading home to Pittsburgh to spend the holidays with her mother. Christmas Day will be the first anniversary of her mom's twin sister's death and Mira knows her mom's anxiety and depression will be through the roof. Mira needs to be there for her. As her plane descends into Newark, however, Mira gets some bad news: worsening winter weather has grounded all flights out. Phoning home only increases her worry about her mother's mental health, so when Mira's glamorous seatmate from the plane offers her a ride home in the car she and some friends are renting, Mira accepts.
It doesn't take many hours on the road for Mira to realize that something is not right with the situation. Not only are her four fellow passengers not friends with each other, but they're actually complete strangers. As the weather grows increasingly stormy and important items—like cell phones and laptops—go missing from the car, Mira finds herself more and more cut off from the outside world with people she's finding harder and harder to trust. With no way to contact her mother or anyone else, she's not just nervous, she's terrified. Discovering alarming secrets about each of her traveling companions only increases her fear. Although the storm outside is nasty and threatening, it's nothing compared to the danger Mira faces inside the car ...
The premise of Five Total Strangers, the newest YA novel by Natalie D. Richards, is a simple but compelling one. When I first read the plot summary, I knew I had to read this book. Unfortunately, the promise of the premise didn't pan out as well as I wanted it to. The novel is definitely atmospheric, with a tense, unsettling vibe that makes the story deliciously suspenseful. That's what kept me reading. It certainly wasn't the characters, who are almost wholly unlikable. As far as plot goes, the tale is engrossing and compelling, even if a lot of it feels contrived. Not all of the plot elements make logical sense—some of them go nowhere at all while others never come full circle. In spite of these irritants, Five Total Strangers sucked me in and kept me turning pages. I didn't end up loving it like I wanted to, but I liked it well enough to keep reading. Overall, it was just an okay read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of No Exit by Taylor Adams)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Five Total Strangers with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Wingate's Newest Engaging and Moving
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a first-year English teacher, 27-year-old Benedetta "Bennie" Silva knows she pretty much has to take what she can get in terms of job placement. Still, she doesn't quite know how she's going to manage her first assignment at an all-black junior/senior high school in little Augustine, Louisiana. The kids, most of whom are impoverished and jaded, are just as skeptical of her as she is of them. In a desperate effort to engage them, she begins researching the history of a nearby plantation called Goswood Grove. When she discovers an incredible story about three young women who set out on a remarkable journey, Benny becomes obsessed with the tale, especially when she finds a connection between it and one of her students.
Over one hundred years earlier, in the days of Reconstruction, a trio of teens from Augustine hie off for Texas. Hannah is a freed slave searching for her mother and siblings, all of whom were sold off when she was only six. Lavinia is the spoiled daughter of Goswood Grove's master, who disappeared without a trace, leaving his plantation and family destitute. A mulatto, Juneau is Lavinia's Creole half-sister, who goes along reluctantly to keep Lavinia from getting into too much trouble. Along the way, the unlikely road trip companions will deal with perils of every kind. Can they learn to rely on each other? Will each of them find what they're looking for? Will any of them?
The Book of Lost Friends, Lisa Wingate's newest, has been criticized for being slow and lacking depth. While I can understand these complaints, I actually really liked the novel. It introduced me to a piece of Reconstruction era history that I'd never heard of—"Lost Friends" advertisements that helped families torn apart by slavery find each other again. Not only did I find this aspect of the novel fascinating, but I also enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Lavinia, and Juneau. Their journey to Texas and into their own pasts had enough drama and intrigue to keep me reading. All in all, I found The Book of Lost Friends to be engaging, interesting, moving, and thought-provoking. I loved it.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Book of Lost Friends from the generous folks at Ballantine Books (a division of Penguin Random House) via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, September 03, 2020
Exciting Apocalyptic Novel Timely and Affecting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After leaving the doomsday cult in which she's been brought up, 22-year-old Wynter Roth is learning how to navigate a strange new world populated with things she's always been taught were evil: television, rock music, skin-bearing clothes, etc. Just as she's beginning to get a handle on things, a strange virus sweeps through the U.S. The disease acts swiftly and causes a terrifying type of early-onset dementia, which leads to confusion, violence, and fear.
Even though Wynter was never a hard-core New Earth believer, she's not entirely surprised to discover the Prophet's revelations about the imminent collapse of society coming true. The End he always raved on about is happening before her eyes. And she's just as helpless as everyone else when it comes to stopping it. Then Wynter's older sister, the Prophet's wife, shows up on Wynter's doorstep. Sick with the virus, she shoves a carrier full of tissue samples into Wynter's hands, begging her to take them to a veterinarian in Colorado. Even though the government is warning people to shelter in place, Wynter knows she has to get the samples to someone who can help eradicate the virus. And she has to do it now.
As Wynter flees Chicago in a desperate race against time, she encounters Chase Miller, an ex-Marine who promises to help her travel across the country. Wynter can't tell him what she has in her possession and Chase is keeping plenty of his own secrets. Can Wynter trust her newfound road trip pal? Can she get the samples to Colorado in time? Can anyone save the population from descending into complete and utter madness?
Although we're in the middle (at the end?) of a global pandemic, I still enjoy reading novels like The Line Between by Tosca Lee. After all, disaster/survival scenarios are way more fun to contemplate in fiction than to experience in real life! I've read loads of these kinds of books and, honestly, The Line Between doesn't bring anything super unique to the table. And yet, it's one of the most memorable apocalyptic novels I've read in some time. Why? Well, it features likable characters, an exciting plot, a timely premise, and solid writing. What's different about it is that it's cleaner and more uplifting than most books of its ilk. Yes, it deals with difficult, disturbing subjects. However, it does so in a way that is thoughtful and faith-promoting without being cheesy or preachy. While The Line Between is technically a Christian novel, it doesn't feel like one. It does ruminate on religious subjects, which—as a person of faith—I found both refreshing and thought-provoking. Statements like this one stayed with me long after I finished the book: "It occurs to me that none of us should have entered these walls. That we have never been 'in but not of the world' here but in another world completely. That this was never faith, but seclusion in a place so safe that faith need never be tested even as we lived our lives of duality" (388). This element of the story may turn non-religious readers off, but I hope it doesn't because The Line Between really is an engrossing, affecting read. I loved it.
(Readalikes: its sequel, A Single Light by Tosca Lee; also reminds me of Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams and The Hallowed Ones and its sequel, The Outside, by Laura Bickle)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, non-graphic references to disturbing subject matter (rape, sexual abuse, forced marriage, etc.), and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Line Between from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, April 09, 2020
Oregon Trail Adventure/Romance Novel Gives Me All the Feels
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a short, disappointing marriage, 20-year-old widow Naomi May is ready to move on with life. Her restless spirit longs for adventure, which is exactly what she gets when she and her family embark on a journey along the Oregon Trail. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love. Even though Naomi knows a match between her and John "Two Feet" Lowry, a half-Pawnee muleskinner, would be considered scandalous even in the wild, wild West, she can't help but be drawn to his quiet strength. As the two trek along the trail with their company, they experience problems of every kind—illness, inclement weather, theft, broken wagon parts, animal stampedes, contention among the travelers, etc.—but when the worst happens, Naomi's heart is ripped in two. Abducted by hostile Indians, her baby brother ripped from her arms, she fears she'll never see those she loves again. Will she ever be reunited with her family? What about John? And what about all the happiness and prosperity they were hoping to find in Oregon? When everything else has been stripped away, where does one find the hope to carry on?
Perhaps it's my own pioneer ancestry or the fact that I grew up along The Oregon Trail, but I love me a good wagon trail story. Where the Lost Wander (available April 28, 2020) by Amy Harmon certainly fits the bill. It's an epic, expansive road trip novel that offers adventure, excitement, romance, heartbreak, and joy. Harmon's vivid prose helped me put myself in my ancestors' place and really feel these characters' emotions—everything from boredom with the monotony of walking the trail to frustration with slow wagons and nasty weather to fear of attack by man and beast to the excitement and wonder of first love and childbirth to the sorrow of loss and grief. Harmon doesn't romanticize the pioneer experience, but she does capture it in all its glorious triumph and agony. I loved Naomi and John, with their respective family and friends. While none of them gets an entirely happy ending, our leading lad and lady do receive a satisfying and hopeful one. If you can't tell, I loved this book, which swept me away, making me laugh, cry, and celebrate the indomitable strength and spirit of my own ancestors, who—like the May Family—risked their lives to find a place of safety and refuge far away, in the West.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder; Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee; Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry; The Gold Seer trilogy [Walk On Earth a Stranger; Like a River Glorious; and Into the Bright Unknown] by Rae Carson; and The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Where the Lost Wander from the generous folks at Lake Union Publishing via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, October 05, 2017
Cash's Second a Tense, Gritty Page Turner
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although they're not technically orphans, 12-year-old Easter Quillby and her little sister, Ruby, might as well be parent-less. Their mother is dead and they haven't seen their good-for-nothing father in years. When Wade Chesterfield shows up out of the blue with plans to break the girls out of their group foster home, Easter is shocked. She barely knows her dad and isn't sure it's a great idea to ride off into the sunset with him. Not that she really has a choice.
As the Quillby sisters' ad litem guardian, ex-cop Brady Weller is naturally concerned about the girls' disappearance. It's even more worrisome that they're with Wade, who Brady discovers has recently been involved in a multi-million dollar robbery. Brady's not the only one on their tail. A bouncer with a score to settle, Robert Pruitt is also tracking Wade. With both men hunting him, it won't be long before his freedom ends—one way or another. Will two frightened little girls get caught in the crossfire? Or will Wade's dream of starting over actually come to fruition? What would be best for Easter and Ruby? Will they live long enough to find out?
This Dark Road to Mercy, Wiley Cash's second novel, tells a tense, gritty story that will keep you turning pages until you get to its surprisingly hopeful end. Although none of the adults in this tale are particularly likable, the Quillby girls are certainly sympathetic characters. Overall, their tale is a sad, depressing one. It has a satisfying, redeeming conclusion, however. In the end, I didn't love this one, but I liked it well enough.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little bit of The Talented Ribkins by Ladee Hubbard)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and depictions/mention of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, September 01, 2017
The Talented Ribkins Deeper, More Contemplative Than It Appears (With a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The Ribkins Family has always been a "blessed" lot, even if their particular talents aren't all that impressive. During the Civil Rights Movement, members of the African-American clan tried to use their skills to save the world. That endeavor didn't go so well, so Johnny Ribkins and Franklin, his much younger half-brother, turned their sights on more practical matters—making money. With Johnny's ability to map anything and Franklin's Spiderman-like climbing skills, they formed a successful burglary venture.
With the glory days behind him, 72-year-old Johnny Ribkins runs an inherited antique shop, where he sells the spoils from his former exploits. He's not making enough, however, to pay off the $20,000 debt he owes a formidable "businessman." Johnny's got a week to pay off the debt or he'll be sleeping with the fishes. With two henchmen following his every move, the thief sets out on a road trip to dig up the treasures he's buried all over northern Florida. Along the way, he acquires an unexpected passenger—not Franklin, who's since died of a drug overdose, but his brother's 13-year-old daughter, Eloise. Eloise never knew her father, so it's up to Johnny to show her the Ribkins' dubious legacy. As the duo drive from hidey hole to hidey hole, visiting family along the way, Johnny encourages his niece to embrace her own talents and use them to do good. Realizing the irony of his advice, the elder Ribkins must take a hard look at his own behavior. How far has the great Johnny Ribkins fallen? Very far, indeed.
As his deadline quickly approaches, Johnny has to decide if he's got the guts to take one last, desperate shot at redemption. With armed thugs hot on his tail, a young girl to protect, and his reputation as a Ribkins to uphold, it's time for Johnny to put his money where his mouth is in order to save himself, his family, and the last shred of his dignity.
The plot summary for The Talented Ribkins, a debut novel by Ladee Hubbard, makes the book sound like a zany comedy about a road trip gone hilariously wrong. Not so. The story's a much more thoughtful one than its premise implies. There are some funny parts, sure, but overall, The Talented Ribkins is a serious, contemplative tale about retrieval and reparation. It's about remembering who you are at your core. It's about acceptance, loyalty, and love. It's about making things right, even if it's too little, too late. While I found the novel to have surprising depth, in the end, it was just an okay read for me. I didn't adore it, but I did find it a compelling, satisfying read.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything, although the jacket copy says the book is inspired by an essay called "The Talented Tenth" by W.E.B. Du Bois.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Talented Ribkins from the generous folks at Melville House via those at TLC Book Tours. Thank you!
--
If you'd like more opinions on The Talented Ribkins, please visit the following stops on the book's blog tour:
Tuesday, August 8th: Lovely Bookshelf
Wednesday, August 9th: Wildmoo Books
Friday, August 11th: 5 Minutes for Books
Monday, August 14th: Jenn’s Bookshelves
Wednesday, August 16th: Lit and Life
Friday, August 18th: Book Lover Book Reviews
Monday, August 21st: Books and Bindings
Wednesday, August 23rd: Too Fond
Friday, August 25th: Broken Teepee
Monday, August 28th: Reading Reality
Wednesday, August 30th: Must Read Faster
Thursday, August 31st: Kahakai Kitchen
Friday, September 1st: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Tuesday, September 5th: All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Wednesday, September 6th: Book Nerd
Thursday, September 7th: Read in Colour
Monday, September 11th: Suzy Approved
Wednesday, September 13th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Friday, September 15th: Thoughts on This ‘n That
Would you like a chance to win your own copy of The Talented Ribkins? If you live in the U.S. or Canada, use the Rafflecopter form below to toss your name into the giveaway hat. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Clean, Compelling Adventure an Exciting Start to a Golden YA Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"When there's gold to be had, you can't trust anyone. Not a single soul" (15%).
Like a dowser is drawn to water, Leah Westfall can sense gold. It's a handy skill to have. And a dangerous one. Although her peculiar magic helped the Westfalls buy their large Georgia homestead, Leah has to keep her abilities secret. If no one knows what the 15-year-old can do, no one can exploit her.
Then, Leah's parents are brutally murdered, their home ransacked. It's obvious that someone knows about the Westfalls' secret stash of gold. But who? When Leah's oily Uncle Hiram conveniently appears on the scene, Leah can't contain her disgust. She can't prove he's responsible for her parents' death, but that doesn't make it any less true. With Hiram as her guardian, Leah knows she'll never be free. She refuses to become his gold-finding pet.
Disguising herself as a boy, "Lee" takes off for sunny California, where she hopes to blend in with other prospectors hunting their fortunes. In a place where gold lust prevails, she should be able to camouflage her secret skill sufficiently. Leah's best friend, Jefferson McCauley, is somewhere along the trail; she prays that, somehow, fate will allow them to meet up again. In the meantime, she must fend for herself on a long, hard journey filled with dangers of every kind. With Hiram hot on her tail, it's a desperate run for her life. Can she escape her uncle's greedy clutches? Will she make it to California unscathed? And what of Jefferson? Can she find the boy who's always loved her in the vast wilderness of an untamed land? Anything can happen on the long, perilous trek—especially to a girl with a priceless, golden gift.
I love books like Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first novel in Rae Carson's Gold Seer Trilogy. Starring a brave, hard-working heroine, it's a story brimming over with action, adventure, romance and, most important of all, heart. Who cares if it's not the most original tale in the world? I loved it from start to finish. The story is engaging, the characters endearing (with a few exceptions), the historical details intriguing. It's an excellent novel that will appeal to teens and adults, while being clean enough to hand to tweens. Did I mention that I adored it? Well, I did.
(Readalikes: Like a River Glorious and Into the Bright Unknown (coming October 2017) by Rae Carson; also reminded me of Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee and Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Walk On Earth a Stranger from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at Edelweiss. Thank you!
Saturday, November 05, 2016
Whistling Past the Graveyard A Compelling Family Drama with a Side of Southern
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Starla Claudelle has already been on restriction twice since school let out. If her Mamie finds her sneaking out of the house on the Fourth of July, the 9-year-old will surely be grounded for life. Not willing to risk that fate, Starla makes good on the threat she's been taunting her grandmother with for years—she runs away. She can't appeal to her father, who works on an oil rig in the Gulf. He'd side with his mother anyway. That leaves Starla's mom, who left six years ago to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Surely, she's a rich, famous crooner by now, one who will graciously welcome home her long-lost daughter.
Before she gets anywhere close to Nashville, Starla is picked up by Eula, a black maid traveling with a white baby. Little James isn't the only thing Eula's hiding. Pretty soon, all three of them are on the run, hoping to find safety in Tennessee. Along the way, they'll encounter plenty of trouble, redemption, and, maybe, a little of the salvation of which all of them are in need. Marked by adventure, hardship, heartache, and joy, it's a road trip that will forever change Starla's life.
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall is a warm Southern novel set in 1963 that explores the many meanings of family. Starla is a bright spitfire of a girl, a mischievous heroine who's pretty much irresistible. Her spot-on narration, plus an engrossing plot make this novel an enjoyable read. Although the story brings up some hard issues, for the most part Whistling Past the Graveyard is an upbeat, heartwarming tale that will appeal to anyone who enjoys family dramas with a side of Southern.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of Signed, Skye Harper by Carol Lynch Williams and The Help by Kathryn Stockett)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, and disturbing themes (child abuse, racism, attempted rape, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Whistling Past the Graveyard at Target with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Redemptive and Real, One By One Is a Gem of a Novel
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A single mom, Jess Thomas struggles every day to make ends meet. Her husband, from whom she's been separated for two years, fights depression and is unable to hold a job. The little money Jess makes from working two part-time jobs has to stretch far enough to support herself, her 10-year-old daughter Tanzie, and her moody teenage stepson, Nicky. So, when an incredible educational opportunity for Tanzie, a maths prodigy, arrives, Jess is heartbroken that she doesn't have the funds to take it. A competition that could solve the problem provides a bit of a silver lining, except Jess isn't sure how she's going to transport her family all the way to Scotland. The unfairness of it all is breaking her already battered heart.
Enter Ed Nicholls, an arrogant 33-year-old tech millionaire, who's also one of Jess' cleaning clients. Under investigation for insider trading, he's watching his posh, successful life go down the drain. In a move completely inconsistent with his personality, an unselfish act he doesn't quite understand himself, Ed agrees to drive Jess, Tanzie, Nicky, and their stinky dog, Norman, to Scotland. Disgusted with the motley crew assembled in his luxury vehicle, he's sorely tempted to leave them all by the roadside. But something about the eternally optimistic Jess and her desperate situation touches his stone cold heart. As the miles slip by, his own troubles take a back burner, and he finds himself warming to the quartet in his care.
But, what will happen when the road trip bubble bursts and reality seeps in again? Will Tanzie win the competition, thus gaining entrance to the elite school she so desires to attend? Will Jess be able to carry on? Will Ed go to prison? The closer the group gets to Scotland, the more the tension builds. When everything blows up in their faces, as it inevitably does, what will happen to our heroes?
Warm and authentic, One By One by Jojo Moyes, is a gem of a novel. It's funny, it's sad, it's real, it's redemptive. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I cheered. Seriously, I loved this book for so many different reasons—its engrossing, compelling plot; its complex, sympathetic characters; its upbeat, affable tone; etc. Really, everything about it. I've heard many readers rave about Jojo Moyes. Now, I'm adding my voice to theirs. Moyes is brilliant and I can't wait to read more from this talented English writer.
(Readalikes: Moyes' writing reminds me of Liane Moriarty's, although the former's has a little bit more of an edge to it.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Alcoholism and Abuse in Amish Country Make For a Surprisingly Ho-Hum Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
To the Plain people in his Fold, the Deacon stands as an example of the Amish ideal—he works hard, cares for his flock, and listens closely to the God with whom he has always communed. Only Joshua, the Deacon's 11-year-old son, knows the truth. Only he sees the hungry slurps his father takes from jars of pungent "communion wine," only he witnesses the rage that ensues, only he receives the Deacon's vicious beatings. No one else knows—not his mother, not his four sisters, not any of their Plain neighbors. The family's lives look perfect from the outside. It's not until a scuffle between Joshua and his father turns deadly that the truth begins to leak out.
Unable to stay in Pennsylvania, Joshua makes a run for it. He's heard about a distant California city, Monte Rey, where the sun always shines. Perpetual summer sounds infinitely better than whatever awaits him at home. The naive boy, who's never lived among the "English" before, stumbles into every kind of danger along his decade-long journey to the West. Having learned some excruciating lessons about life and love, an adult Joshua yearns for one thing: home. He longs to return to the Fold, but how can one so tainted go back? Especially when doing so means confronting the abusive father who never wanted him in the first place.
Miriam's life changes forever on the night of the fire. Not only is Joshua, her oldest child, missing—presumed dead—but her strong, stalwart husband is burned so badly he can barely move. So severe are his wounds that Miriam knows the Deacon will never be the same again. It will be up to her to tend to his injuries, care for the children, run the farm, and keep hope alive despite the unbearable strain. Despite the years that pass, Miriam refuses to believe Joshua is dead, even when everyone begs her to let go. Exhausted and worried about her crumbling marriage, that hope is the only thing to which she can cling.
While tension mounts for both Joshua and Miriam, their reunion grows ever closer. But will it be the sweet homecoming of which Joshua dreams? Or will his family Shun him as the sinner he's become?
When I think of the Amish people, sweet, gentle adjectives come to mind. Abusive and alcoholic not being two of them. Since Plain folks are as human as the rest of us, it stands to reason that even the most peaceful of communities has its dark secrets. E.B. Moore, a sculptor and author with Amish roots, would probably know. Loosely based on her grandfather's early life, Moore's second novel, Stones in the Road, addresses some of these issues. Joshua, whose tumultuous relationship with his father makes him instantly sympathetic, is a compelling narrator. His mother's plight makes her equally so. Because of this, the reader can't help but root for their reunion. Still, it's a slow journey, one that gets dull—and downright weird—in some places. Although Joshua and Miriam's various adventures kept me interested enough, I wasn't racing through the pages to see what happened next. The story is ultimately hopeful, but it's also almost overwhelmingly depressing. I did, however, appreciate its important message of making your own peace, even when (especially when?) others cause you unbearable pain. Still, I found Stones in the Road to be only a so-so read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Stones in the Road from the generous folks at Penguin Random House. Thank you!
Friday, September 25, 2015
Heart's Journey Tells A Familiar, But Overall Enjoyable Pioneer Tale
(Image from Amazon)
A wealthy city girl, Rachel Hamilton knows nothing about trekking through the wilderness. And yet, she's doing just that. She can't let her older brother declare their father—who left Toronto five years ago to open a gold mine in British Columbia—officially dead until she knows it's true. It's been three years since Rachel received a letter from him, but she refuses to believe he's no longer living. She just needs to see him with her own eyes.
At Fort Garry, Rachel joins a company of rough-and-tumble miners heading west. Feeling satisfied with her progress, she settles in for the long, arduous journey to Bellefontaine. They haven't gone far before one of the men scares Rachel. She runs off, soon finding herself hopelessly lost in the flat, endless prairie. Without food, water, compass, or any survival skills whatsoever, Rachel realizes for the first time how helpless she is and how foolish she was to embark on such an impossible quest. If she knew which way to turn, she'd stomp her way right back to Toronto, where she belongs.
When Rachel is rescued by an enigmatic cowboy who promises to escort her to the nearest fort, she's grateful. Peter doesn't say much, although he makes his annoyance with Rachel well known. With his educated speech, she knows Peter is more than a crusty cowboy. As the pair, along with Peter's young charge, make their slow way across the plains, Rachel tries to pry away his secrets without giving away any of hers. Will the two learn to trust each other as they make their way toward B.C.?
Rachel wouldn't have chosen Peter as a travel companion, but the more time they spend together, the more afraid she is of having to say goodbye to him. What will happen to them when they reach their destination? Will Rachel find both her missing father and the love she never knew she was missing? Or will the journey leave her empty-handed still?
As with most road trip novels, Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry, is less about the character's destination and more about what she learns along the way. Rachel, who's lived a privileged, but confined life, discovers just how big the world really is and how very little she understands it. Her hike across Canada also shows her the many things she can do without—and the one thing (person) she can't. Although its setting is not the American West, Heart's Journey tells the typical pioneer story, complete with all the usual trappings—inclement weather, threatening wildlife, Indian trouble, mind-numbing exhaustion, desperate hunger/thirst, and blooming romance (in spite of everything else). While both Rachel and Peter are likable, neither really stand out as unique. Their adventures keep the story plodding along, but the novel feels overly long. Rachel's plight seems too easy, as she gets rescued almost every time she's in trouble, instead of finding her own way out of difficult situations. Although the story gets dull at times (there was rarely a point when I couldn't put it down), overall, I enjoyed this clean, hopeful tale. I wouldn't call it memorable, but it's a decent read.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of other pioneer-ish tales, like In the Company of Angels by David Farland, These Is My Words by Nancy Turner, Borrowed Light by Carla Kelly, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, scenes of peril, mild sexual innuendo, and vague references to prostitution
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Heart's Journey from the generous folks at Covenant in exchange for participating in the book's virtual tour. Thank you!
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Other stops on the Heart's Journey book tour:
*21st: http://www.
*22nd: http://www.
*24th: http://
*25th: http://
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