"Addiction, identity and fractured family dynamics are sensitively handled in this gripping YA road-trip novella."
The grown-up themes of Sarah Holding’s Road to True North are handled with empathy in an edgy, edge-of-your-seat coming-of-age story that sees a troubled father and son undertake a life-changing road trip around Iceland, where dramatic landscapes serve as a metaphor for the emotional journey of its protagonists.
“Of all the places in the world, why had his father brought him to this desolate place?” Such is Olly’s first impression of Iceland as the plane lands and he wishes his dad had taken him to a more exotic work trip location to “photograph aberrations in the earth’s crust”. Haunted by the recent events of a festival, and suffering from depression, Olly “hated that they were here in this stupid hotel in this stupid country. But more than anything, he hated himself.” At the same time, Olly’s dad is wrestling with his own demons, including alcoholism, which means father and son are drifting apart, much like the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates they visit.
In time, though, Olly starts to find his feet and courageously ventures beyond his comfort zone. But then explosive news comes from home ahead of a succession of troubles on and off the road. Building to stirring climax, Road to True North feels authentic as it also offers hints of healing and hope.
On the brink of adulthood, Olly's life has fallen apart after a disastrous summer of failed exams and first love, resulting in a police warning and a mental health diagnosis.
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On the brink of adulthood, Olly's life has fallen apart after a disastrous summer of failed exams and first love, resulting in a police warning and a mental health diagnosis. Olly's father, Sean, decides to take him on a road trip to Iceland in order to 'fix' him.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Road to True North and determined it is suitable for children aged 15-18 years old
Road to True North features in the following genres: Featured Books for Young Adults, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, PSHE: Family Issues, PSHE: Health , PSHE: Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem and Wellbeing, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Drugs and addiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Physical and mental health conditions, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Body and health
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Road to True North was written by Sarah Holding and published by Firehorse Enterprises Ltd
Road to True North has 192 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
