Dirt Road Home

Alabama Moon #2

by Watt Key

The story of of the orphan boy Moon, begun in Watt Key's award-winning Alabama Moon , continues with Dirt Road Home

After his recapture, gutsy 14-year-old Hal Mitchell is sentenced to live at Hellenweiler, an institution that is more like a jail than the boys' home it's supposed to be. Hal could walk out in just a few months if he keeps out of trouble. But in a place like Hellenweiler, the more he tries to avoid the gangs and their violence, the stronger Hal's fellow inmates try to make him fail. This title has Common Core connections.

"Key does a fabulous job of keeping his readers involved in the story and vested in the characters. Even reluctant readers will most likely find this one hard to put down." -- VOYA

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Survival, Fiction, Adventure

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2010

Reviews

[Demetrios · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because I have watched and read the prequel, Alabama Moon. The first story was phenomenal, so I naturally wanted to read the sequel. It's about a tough kid named Hal Mitchell who is stuck in Hellenweiler, a home for boys that's actually a corrupt penitentiary. Hal is stuck there for various offenses, but if he stays out of trouble and his daddy stays clean, Hal can move back to the clay pits at his father's trailer. Hal has a serious dilemma - the guards allow violence, and write lies in their reports, to keep the place running. He also needs to pick out of the two gangs, the one he wants to join, the Hell Hounds or the Death Throw Ministers, but he can't if he wants to get out. My favorite quote is when a boy named Leroy tells Hal "You're gonna make enemies whether you choose sides or not." This turns out to be true for Hal as he tries to stay out of trouble. I can also relate in real life. The author had a writing style that pulled me in with a first person point of view. I definitely recommend this book to people who are into adventure and read about teenage struggles out of the urban lifestyle.

[smoreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

every bit as enjoyable as a teen prison drama is allowed to be (corrupt situation, a steadfast hero, and the much-needed redemption). i loved the friendships, loved paco's philosophizing, and pumped my fist @ the feel-good ending. (i must admit to being relieved when hal finally addressed caboose's athlete's foot as well, that poor kid.) this one made me wonder, "when do boys consider themselves to be men?" (which, of course, then made me wonder about girls/women, but that's besides the point.)

[Leah Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary
Life has been good for fourteen year old Hal ever since his young friend, Moon Blake, broke them out of the boys' home Hal once ruled as a bully. He's been living with his dad again, living life however he wants. But now he's turned himself in to help Moon clear his name. It was the right thing to do, but the consequences are more severe than Hal imagined. He knew Heilenweiler, the home for older boys, was going to be rough, and he's determined to stay out of trouble. The problem is, trouble seems to be the only ticket to survival. As staff members turn their backs and barely bother to fake ignorance, the boys inside Heilenweiler pick sides and fight for dominance and survival. Hal is stuck in the middle. No mans land. The only question is, can he stay there long enough to get home?

Thoughts
Like Alabama Moon, I first read this book back in 2009. While Alabaman Moon is primarily a story about surviving off the land and learning about the real world, Dirt Road Home dives deeper into the all-to-frequent reports of abuse in reform schools and group homes.

Hal is a compelling character. His time with Moon and his father has helped him get his priorities straight, and now he just wants to stay straight and get home. If that means being a punching bag in the no-mans-land between two gangs, so be it. His fight to make the right decisions and, maybe...just maybe, inspire a few others to follow his example, makes this story as hopeful as it is grim.

Content
Language: PG-13 level swearing throughout.
Romance: Hal acquires his first girlfriend just before being interned at Heilenweiler. He remembers her putting her hands in his pockets and sharing a kiss with her.
Violence: Violence is frequent but not gratuitously in detail. Hal vomits after being kicked in the stomach and passes out after being attacked in the bathroom. Details of a gruesome fight are glossed over due to low lighting, but later one boy is hospitalized and another is found bleeding in his bed. One boy contemplates murdering the guards after he's released.
Religion: None that I can remember.

[Dylan]

By Dylan Lussier
9/27/19

I am reading the book Dirt road home by Watt Key and it is about a young boy named Hal Mitchell who is 14 years old and has been sentenced to live at hellenweiler which is a boys home for troubled kids but for hal it's more like a prison than anything.
This book has a lot of gang activity in it I would say that part of the theme might haft to do with gangs because for a big chunk of the book there are these two gangs that are trying to get Hal to join them. Also this book really goes into detail with some things like for example when Hal talks about the horrible smell that he comes in contact to every night as he lays in bed before he goes to sleep. This book is really great especially for people that can relate to the childhood that Hal had and I would recommend this book to everybody.

[Ludwig Reicherstorfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch fällt deutlich hinter seinen Vorgänger "Alabama Moon" zurück. Hal als Figur ist interessant, könnte aber noch tiefer ausgeleuchtet werden. Leider verliert sich die Handlung zwischenzeitlich etwas in den Rivalitäten der Gang-Mitglieder. Die Auflösung am Ende kommt auch etwas plötzlich. Alles in allem sicher keine Zeitverschwendung, das Buch zu lesen. Die Erwartungen, die man aber vielleicht hatte, nachdem man "Alabama Moon" gelesen hat, werden nicht erfüllt.

[Lilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hal Mitchell is senteced to live in Hellenweiler to live in a jail for boys he could get relesed if he kept out of trouble and his prison friends try to make him fail to stay out of trouble.

[Kelsey Dangelo-Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hal is sent to a Boy’s Home while his father recovers from alcoholism and he has to prove himself reformed so he can go home. But here, there are two gangs and neither will allow him to stay out of trouble, beating him for refusing to join either gang. He makes friends with Caboose, former leader of one of the gangs, who, after losing his brother, vows revenge on the corrupt men who run the home (who don’t stop the fights or report the injuries). Despite the hopelessness of his situation, not being able to fight his reputation or file or the boys that beat him, Hal befriends Paco who helps him take down the warden.
This is a good middle grade book with high interest for older readers, particularly as it deals with complex issues of reforming and redeeming who you are and finding hope and a future for yourself in tough situations.
The problem is that this is a sequel/companion to a book I never read. That and that the characters were not developed enough to be really interesting. Also, it reminded me of the far superior Holes. Granted, Holes was not as gritty or realistic as this, but that was because Holes was equal parts fairytale and symbolic poem and middle grade book about overcoming obstacles and racial prejudices. This book faces the problems of violence and the justice system of presuming guilt for juveniles and stacking the system against those in poverty. But it doesn’t necessarily do it well. It isn’t necessary to read the first book, but this book isn’t exactly well written or anything extraordinary in that realm. The characters are bit hard to grasp. But, it is a good book for a middle reader, and it faces good and challenging topics. Grade: B

[Destinee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was intense, yet heartfelt. The book itself was interesting even at the beginning and just pulled me into it even more as it went on. The way this child went through his childhood, reminds me of some people I know today. Realizing what it takes to get through what he went through is tough. Mitchell went through beatings and mental hurt just to get through his time. The sadness of his dads alcohol abuse problem, doesn't help settle his mind, but it sort of helps him get through the time in the boys home. It kind of made me realize how lucky I am that I never have to go through like this because of the environment I've been raised around.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirt Road Home is a companion book to Alabama Moon. Not really a sequel, it picks up on the story of Hal Mitchell, one of Moon’s friends. Hal has been sentenced to Hellenweiler, a boy’s home that is more like a jail than a boy’s home. The judge told him that if his father stayed on the wagon and if his behavior was good at Hellenweiler, there was a good chance he would be released to his father’s custody. Life is very hard for Hal at Hellenweiller. The school is run by two gangs and the officials turn a blind eye to the violence.
This is truly a heartbreaking book and I hate to think that such institutions exist. There were a few rays of hope and happiness in Hal’s story and he is fortunate that his father loved him a great deal and was able to overcome his alcohol addiction for him.

[Ruby Rivais · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, a follow up to Alabama Moon, keeps one interested in each day Hal faces his worse fear.

This book is interesting as it takes you on a journey to a place one would never wish to be. It restores hope and friendship.

[Stacy Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel to August Moon, but I didn’t know that when I read it. Hal is sent to a really dangerous juvenile detention center, and tries to stay out of trouble. It was a lot of cat and mouse and violence. This book would appeal to teenage boys.

[Lily Hillbilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a good book, but it wasn't always to realistic and I was disappointed Moon was not in it. But I recommend it to everyone who liked Alabama Moon.

[Shelby P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but not as good as Alabama Moon.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

read after reading Alabama moon

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying the book think its an amazing book about a boy in prison

[Ms. Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the sequel to Alabama Moon. The story of H as l was riveting as nd eye-opening.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you don't like to read this is a good book

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking

[Diane Sugars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally able to sit down and read this sequel to Alabama Moon. Great story line full of pain, sadness and just plain meanness, but the ending was wonderful!

[Dana Crook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Alabama Moon

[Terry]

BTSYA Adult Reviewer (41): The Dirt Road Home is very interesting and thought-provoking. It grabs your attention immediately and keeps it to the end.

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great follow up to Alabama Moon.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool story on how the kid is being bullied but then stood up.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the main character Hal.

[Emery Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have me outsider vibes, really enjoyed

[Ella Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably more of a 3.5 but it was better than I thought originally.

[Karli Addisyn]

is a good book

[Violet Lucia]

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

[Haylee Squarestartenticles · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG LOVE IT

[Ronja Kindler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannende Geschichte, tolles Jugendbuch!