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    Roam
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    Roam
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    Roam
    Ebook369 pages4 hours

    Roam

    By C. H. Armstrong

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Seventeen-year-old Abby Lunde and her family are living on the streets. They had a normal life back in Omaha but, thanks to her mother’s awful mistake, they had to leave behind what little they had for a new start in Rochester. Abby tries to be an average teenager—fitting in at school, dreaming of a boyfriend, college and a career in music. But Minnesota winters are unforgiving, and so are many teenagers.

    Her stepdad promises to put a roof over their heads, but times are tough for everyone and Abby is doing everything she can to keep her shameful secret from her new friends. The divide between rich and poor in high school is painfully obvious, and the stress of never knowing where they're sleeping or where they’ll find their next meal is taking its toll on the whole family.

    As secrets are exposed and the hope for a home fades, Abby knows she must trust those around her to help. But will her new friends let her down like the ones back home, or will they rise to the challenge to help them find a normal life?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCentral Avenue Publishing
    Release dateFeb 5, 2019
    ISBN9781771681520
    Unavailable
    Roam

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    Reviews for Roam

    4/5

    17 ratings4 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I’m just coming off my season of Hallmark movies and in a way this book read like one- so of course, I loved it. Like most YA books the girl has a secret and doesn’t tell her boyfriend which causes a problem. Abby’s family is recently homeless and on top of that moves from Oklahoma to Minnesota in the Fall in search of jobs. They have trouble finding full-time employment so while Abby begins her senior year of high school they are mostly living in their van. It’s cold, and the four of them (Mom, Step Dad, Abby, and little sister) struggle with the close quarters, lack of food and showers. It’s rough, and this book doesn’t sugar coat it.

      I felt like the situations that this family was exposed to were realistic without being dramatized at all. So often we may think someone isn’t “trying” hard enough to get out of a bad situation when in fact we make it incredibly difficult for people to get the help they need.

      Abby and her family slowly succeed thanks to some caring people in their new community who go out of their way to help them. I’d hand this to anyone aged twelve and up. Bonus points for the inclusion of a gay friend in a healthy, regular kind of way.
    • 3/5
      Abby and her family live in their van after the mom loses her job (snapchat image of her in a clinch with the gym teacher... grounds for firing?!? not sure...) In a new town they ricochet from the van to a homeless shelter to a group home. All the while, Abby tries to live the life of a normal 12th grader. The setting is poignant and when the book sticks to their "situation" it's fine. The book goes off the rails, however, in attempting to show "real" high school life. On her first day, Abby meets the (gorgeous, of course) football star quarterback who (of course) falls for her (despite being homelessness for days? ahem) Abby's "best friend" is the cliche'd gay pal. Abby makes an enemy, Trish, when she takes T's seat in class (really?!) Abby gets invited to Homecoming by the football star, finds a hand-me-down dress that just happens to fit perfectly (of course). Finally, Abby joins the school choir and (of course) has a voice like Adel. The ending is cathartic but too little, too late. There's just too much formulaic drama for this reader. Less sophisticated readers who don't mind (or won't recognize) cliched writing will find the book interesting.
    • 4/5
      Seventeen-year-old Abby and her family have been left homeless because of a mistake made by her mother. They are forced to move to a new town, live in their car until a temporary shelter comes available, and to eat their infrequent meals at the local church. It also means changing schools for Abby and her sister but, even though she'll know nobody, at least they won't know about what her mother did. Maybe things won't be so bad after all.I have mixed feelings about Roam by C.H. Armstrong. On the plus side. I appreciate how she treated homelessness. It is an issue that rarely gets positive treatment despite the fact that it is becoming all too common for too many people through no fault of their own. On the other side, though, the story is a bit too unrealistic for the topic - within a couple of days of arriving at her new school, Abby makes some very close (and rich) friends who are willing to accept her immediately while never asking her about her background; starts dating the extremely rich and handsome star quarterback, and is picked by the teacher to be the solo singer for the choir. Not to say I didn't enjoy but it just seemed a bit one dimensional given the issues involved. Still, I am not the target audience of the story and I suspect, after reading other reviews, that it will work much better with young readers. Thanks to Netgalley and Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
    • 4/5
      I like this book because the subject matter is so relevant. The problems faced by this family are way more common than anyone cares to admit. It's a survival story. It's a testament to finding happiness regardless of where you are. Money may not buy happiness, but it buys food and shelter and a tiny sense of safety. Those things go a long way toward happiness and contentment. Those with money tend to forget that it keeps them safe and take it for granted. That's not true contentment. Truly, it's knowing you have nothing now, and likely, will have nothing in the future, yet you are okay with that. This was a very good thoughtful read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.