Where the Road Leads Us by Robin Reul

WHERE THE ROAD LEADS US by Robin Reul is described as a “feel-good story with depth” by Kirkus Reviews and I totally agree. The main characters, 18 year old Jack and younger teen Hallie, are dealing with grief and end up on a road trip together in northern California. Jack’s father died recently and his Mom is often absent due to her work so no one misses him when he sets out to find his estranged older brother.  Hallie, a cancer patient, is determined to join an online acquaintance to share his last moments. The two paths cross and these young people help each other to cope and to stretch beyond their comfort zones. Reul (My Kind of Crazy) explores themes of friendship, and family dynamics with honest conversations and humor (not to mention car theft and dog-napping) over the course of a day or two – readers will find the trip (told in alternating chapters) to be ending too quickly and hope for more.