The Road To Delano by John DeSimone

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Jack Duncan is a high school senior whose dream is to play baseball in college and beyond, as far away from Delano as possible. He longs to escape the political turmoil surrounding the labor struggles of the striking fieldworkers that infests his small ag town. Ever since his father, a grape grower, died under suspicious circumstances ten years earlier, he’s had to be the sole emotional support of his mother, who has kept secrets from him about his father’s involvement in the ongoing labor strife.

With their property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it so he and his mother don’t become homeless. On the road, an old friend of his father’s shows up and hands him the police report indicating Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is compelled to dig deep to discover the entire truth, which throws him into the heart of the corruption endemic in the Central Valley. Everything he has dreamed of is at stake if he can’t control his impulse for revenge.

While Jack’s girlfriend, the intelligent and articulate Ella, warns him not to do anything to jeopardize their plans of moving to L.A., after graduation. Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, a star player on the team, to help to save his mother’s land. When Jack’s efforts to rescue a stolen piece of farm equipment leaves Adrian, the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez, in a catastrophic situation, Jack must bail his friend out of his dilemma before it ruins his future prospects. Jack uses his wits, his acumen at card playing, and his boldness to raise the money to spring his friend, who has been transformed by his jail experience.

The Road to Delano is the path Jack, Ella, and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.

my thoughts:

The Road To Delano by John DeSimone is a riveting story about growing up and the ugly realities that life can throw at you.  

Jack and his mother are struggling. His father died in an accident some time ago, so it's just been the two of them ever since. He's on his way into to town to sell an old combine when he runs into one of his father's friends. This man tells Jack that his dad was murdered. Shocked and confused, Jack decides that he must find out what really happened to his dad. His girlfriend, Ella, doesn't want him to do anything. She just wants them to leave town - a plan they have had for ages. So, he asks his best friend Adrian to help him. Unfortunately, things go haywire and Adrian winds up in jail. Now Jack is tasked with finding out the truth and getting his best friend free. Talk about a stressful to-do list. 

DeSimone has written a terrific story that showcases his top notch writing skills.  We have real life events and people interspersed throughout the story, which adds a layer of depth and history.  We also have characters that you can't help but root for and long to know more about. This is one book that will captivate you, and also inspire you to seek out more information about Cesar Chavez, farmworkers, and farming history. The Road To Delano is a book that I would be happy to recommend to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read. 

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!