When the warden drops off Emmett at his Nebraska farm after serving for fifteen months in a juvenile work farm, he immediately begins to pack for CA, where he and his eight-year-old brother, Billy, can start a new life together (and also where Billy hopes they can find their mother, who disappeared when Billy was a baby). Their father died from cancer while Emmett served his time. Their Nebraska farm is bankrupt. Nothing is encouraging them to stay in the farming community. To Emmett's surprise, two friends from the work farm, Duchess and Woolly, had hidden in the warden's trunk and ask Emmett to drop them off at a train station so they can head east. Soon the simple trip west to CA becomes a complicated road trip to New York City where adventure and heartache abound.
Mr. Towles is an intentional and superb writer. He masterfully develops complex characters. Throughout the entire novel he weaves in each character's backstory into the main plotline. I found myself wanting to bring each character home to nurture them and to offer them hope. I still do not know if I like how the story ended for Duchess. I was sad about his "lot". I definitely do not like how the story ended for Woolly. He and Billy were my favorite characters . . .although, I my heart ached for Duchess. The characters' worldviews differ drastically from mine (especially their beliefs about God).
The chapters alternate with points of view. Only two characters are first person (very effective choices too!); the rest of the characters are third person.
My friend who works at the library did not like this book. She did not care about the characters. She thought it did not have a plot and that the characters did not accomplish anything. As we talked about it, she stated she doesn't know why she finished it! If the reader values characterization in novels, this novel may appeal to him. If plot is the main reason the reader picks up a book, this novel may not be a good choice.
I loved it. At times the themes were heavy so I needed to take a break and read a humorous middle grade novel!
Warnings/considerations: drug addict, alcohol abuse, lying, stealing, suicide (hanging & drug overdose), Emmett spends the night with a prostitute (not by his own choice-he was tricked/trapped/drugged), parental abandonment, worldviews
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