All The Way Home

by Natale Ghent

Nat and his sisters are adjusting to their family's move when their mother becomes sick. Realizing they may be removed by social services, Nat sets out with Smokey, the family's pony, to find his father.

Genres: Canada

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Natale Ghent has been writing stories since she was six. Her first books, written and illustrated, revolved around a family of circles: a momma circle, a papa circle and two baby circles. The momma circle wore a fur stole, distinguishing herself from the papa circle, who wore a fedora, naturally.



Natale graduated from writing about circles to writing and illustrating stories about a small fairy, and later, to stories about talking guinea pigs and eventually humans.


When Natale was very young, she wanted to be an archeologist, a ballerina, a veterinarian, a singer and a magician, but not necessarily in that order. Later in life, she realized she could be all these things and more through her writing. She says, "I never set out to be a novelist in the way that so many do these days. All I knew was that I had a voracious curiosity about life and that I loved telling stories. I simply stumbled along until writing took me by the hand and refused to let go, though I recognize now that there were many signposts guiding me along the way. I come from a long line of consummate story tellers. It just never occurred to me that I could tell stories for a living. And now I can’t imagine doing anything else."


Of NO SMALL THING she says, "The story is based on true events from my childhood. I carried it in my heart for years until it begged to be put on paper. I wrote the book for my family and for anyone, young or old, who has struggled for something they believe in. I never imagined the story would mean so much to so many children. I’m humbled by the letters and stories these children send to me."

Reviews

[Tian Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nat's father him and his family when Nat was young and life without his father is really tough because the family doesn't have enough money so Nat's mother sells the house so they have enough money to board Smokey, their pony, at a stable. They moved to a apartment but right after they settle in Nat's mother get sick and has to be taken to the hospital. Nat and his two sisters, Cid and Queenie have to take care of each other but if something happen to their mother they know they would be taken to the Children Aid where they would be separated. Nat sets out to find his father knowing that it is their only hope left.
I chose this book because when I read the back I the words cast a spell on me, because it make me think about their life and how tough it would be without a father and that their mother is in the hospital.
I finished this book because when I read the book it pulls me in and it feels like I am in the book and I feel how the character in the book is feeling and I don't even realize that I'm that caught up with the book
I would recommend this book to Eleos because I know that she would enjoy the book as much as I did considering that she enjoyed the book 'Better Than Weird'.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. It actually was a sequel to an earlier book, but I didn't know that when I picked it up. I enjoyed reading it, the writing was fine etc, but it doesn't really stand out for me.

I picked it up mainly because it had similar themes to a story that I've been developing in my head. (Turns out I was wrong about that too).

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am having a hard time getting into this book. I would not recommend it to a reluctant reader.

[Kennedy Priest · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading the first book... I was kinda disappointed with the sequel. I found the plot uninteresting and the characters somewhat annoying. My advice... Stop at "no small thing."