Road Home

Written by Rex Ogle

Narrated by Ramon de Ocampo

One hot summer afternoon, Rex Ogle’s sexuality is found out and his father gives him an ultimatum: you can be gay, or you can live here, but not both—and you have twenty-four hours to decide. Rex desperately hopes for a reprieve that doesn’t come, and the following day, he leaves. With no place to go, he drives to New Orleans, where he has the phone number of a man he met briefly and kissed once.

This is a story of coming out, a first love that turns to betrayal, assault, and homelessness. Road Home vividly depicts a teenager falling through the net of family and society into a world of hunger, danger, and despair, and reaching a moment of desperate choice on a highway bridge above the Mississippi River. But this is also a story of survival. Intimate, honest, and compelling, it joins Rex Ogle’s award-winning memoirs Free Lunch and Punching Bag in mapping a young adulthood scarred by trauma and illuminated by strength and compassion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892741811

Rex Ogle

Rex Ogle has had lots of jobs. Some involved waiting tables, moving boxes, or cleaning toilets. Other jobs involved creating stories for Star Wars, LEGO, Power Rangers, Minions, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics. Now Rex is a full-time writer and the authorbehind Free Lunch, winner of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. And he’s written the first book in The Supernatural Society series. Why? Because, while it was fun to clean toilets, it is much more fun to write about monsters.

Reviews for Road Home

[danjlaf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good story, sadness at the beginning with an very good ending
Another outstanding book by Lewis

[koglibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Road Home was my first Beverly Lewis book. So I don’t have anything to compare it to. I think if you are a fan, you will like this book. I like the way her character development, but found the story dragging a little in the beginning. The story picked up in the middle and was an nice easy read. The story was sweet, and full of innocence, love and family. When Lena Rose’s when her parents unexpectedly died, she was separated from her siblings. She had to learn to cope with not being able to help them and find ways to bide her time until she could come home at last. You can’t help but hope things turn out well. I liked the ending with its little twist.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes location is a big draw for a book. I will read anything Beverly Lewis writes, but I was tickled pink to see that the novel starts out in Centerville, MI!! This is a place not far from me, and I looked for nuggets of familiarity. I was happy to see that the covered bridge, unusual for this area, merits a mention.I was also happy to see the inclusion of the “Blizzard of ‘78.” Possibly mistimed to fit the story, the blizzard is infamous around these parts for its ferocity and unusual intensity, even here in Michigan. Lewis has a warm, welcoming writing style that pulls the reader into the story and makes her/him feel part of the family or community described.It can be easy to adopt the attitudes of those around you. Indeed, immersed in the world of Lena and her family, I first felt love; then heart-wrenching sadness; a strong yearning for loved ones, and desperation borne of that love. I loved the way that Lena decides, miserable as she is, to “bloom where she is planted.” She has such a positive effect on others around her, even though her heart is breaking inside.In her own gentle way, Lewis weaves her faith message seamlessly throughout the book. It never seems forced, only natural, presented in small, tasteful bites....”Lena wondered if she ought to pray about something so minor. Cousin Mimi likely would. She talks to God about practically everything...” If you like Christian Amish stories recounted by one of the best, pick up your own copy of Beverly Lewis’s The Road Home. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinions, given voluntarily, for which I am entirely responsible. Also, I am not related to the author.

[polarmath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found it interesting to see how Lena Rose was able to work through her grief of not only losing her parents, but being separated from the rest of her family. I am unsure how I would feel about having to move away and begin a new life and have so many changes all at once. I enjoyed reading the book and liked how Lena Rose was able to continue trusting and let thing work out the way they needed to , not necessarily the way she wanted them to. I received a copy of the book from the publisher, the review is my own.

[kimsalyers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved the book like the author i won this book

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis takes us back to August of 1977. Lena Rose Schwartz is eighteen years old and has been courting Hans Bontrager for two months. She lives with her parents and ten siblings in Centreville, Michigan on their farm. Lena is surprised when two police officers arrive in the afternoon to tell her that parents died in an accident on their way home. There is no one relative or nearby family that can take in all of the children, and they are not allowed to stay in their home. Homes are found for everyone except Lena. Harley and Mimi Stolzfus, her father’s second cousin, writes that they can use Lena’s assistance. Lena has never been away from hometown and she has raised her youngest brother, Chris since he was born. It also means leaving her beau, Hans. Lena helps her siblings settle into their new homes and then departs for Leacock Township, Pennsylvania with the hopes that the move is temporary. Mimi and Harley are welcoming to Lena. Mimi has been lonely since their daughter, Tessa married and moved away after a quick courtship. Lena misses her family back home, but her new home has its own enticements. Which path is the right one for one for Lena? She will need to have faith and wait to see what the Lord has in store for her.The Road Home contains good writing and lovely characters. Beverly Lewis is a descriptive writer. Her word imagery helps me to visualize the scenes and characters. There are good messages in the story. The importance of family, friendship and community for example. My favorite being that we must have faith in God and wait for him to reveal the path he has planned for our life (being patient can be difficult). Lena not only has to grieve for her parents but deal with leaving her siblings and the only home she has known. She then relocates to another state with people she has never met. When Lena is presented with a difficult choice, she must decide what to do (I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you). The Christian elements were nicely incorporated into the story (faith, prayer, God knows what is in your heart, trust in God, God’s will). I especially appreciate the message about using the talents/gifts God has given us to help others. The pace of the book was slow in places (those scenes would take me out of the story) and there is some repetitiveness (could have used editing to tighten up the story). The Road Home has an uplifting ending that put a smile on my face. I am giving The Road Home 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).

[grammy57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like to read Beverly Lewis books, and although I liked this book, it wasn't up to her usual standard in my opinion. The storyline was different than ones I've read lately. It dealt with the death and how it affects the loved ones. There wasn't anything wrong with the story, it just wasn't a page-turner or a book you cannot put down. It did get a little long in some places and I did skip a few paragraphs now and then. Overall, I did enjoy the book.It was a Christian book, but not pushy. It dealt with the Amish faith and slightly explained differences within the faith from different areas. Would I recommend this book, yes. I did enjoy it. In full disclosure, I asked to read and review this book and was given an advanced reader copy ebook. This opinion is my own and is not affected by getting the book through netgalley.com.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The premise of this story is so very sad, and yet accepted as it is what faith is based on, but leaving ten children as orphans and then seeing what happens to them is hard.The author has focused on the oldest, a girl Lena Rose, and you will quickly grow to love and respect her, but what a hard road she is put on. She is required to leave her home and family in Michigan and go and live in Pennsylvania and we follow her in her journey.I found myself quickly torn as to where I wanted her to end up, back in Michigan, or with the new life she has found, and the new people who have come to care so much about her.,A really sweet read that will make you think and sure not want to walk in this girl’s shoes, or maybe you will, she is an inspiration.Once you turn the final page you are going to be longing for more, and if only!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

[cheryl6l6b · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A sweet story about a young woman named Lena Rose who is the oldest of 10 children. She faces many challenges following the tragic death of her parents in a traffic accident. Detailed, charming descriptions of the simple life of the Amish people of Michigan and Pennsylvania. I do wish there had been a glossary giving some additional info on various Amish customs and Deitsch [AKA: Pennsylvania Dutch] words & phrases. I would like to read more of the Books by this author [Beverly LEWIS].

[tellen81 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the first book by Beverly Lewis I have ever read. I enjoyed reading it except for the not so normal words. I know it was to be the way the Amish talk but for me reading it I didn't like it. The story line was good and well thought out.

[avonslp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was SO excited to win a copy of this book and I'd like to thank the author for choosing me as a recipient. I have read many of Beverly Lewis' previous works, and it was so exciting to read a brand new one!She is so talented as she describes her characters in depth and the background and it's as if I can "see" the story.