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Journey
Journey is eleven the summer his mother leaves him and his sister, Cat, with their grandparents. He is sad and angry, and spends the summer looking for the clues that will explain why she left.
Journey searches photographs for answers. He hunts family resemblances in Grandma's albums. Looking for happier times, he tries to put together the torn pieces of the pictures his mother shredded before her departure. And he also searches the photographs his grandfather takes as the older man attempts to provide Journey with a past. In the process, the boy learns to look and finds that, for him, the camera is a means of finding things his naked eye has missed--things like inevitability of his mother's departure and the love that still binds his family.
Journey searches photographs for answers. He hunts family resemblances in Grandma's albums. Looking for happier times, he tries to put together the torn pieces of the pictures his mother shredded before her departure. And he also searches the photographs his grandfather takes as the older man attempts to provide Journey with a past. In the process, the boy learns to look and finds that, for him, the camera is a means of finding things his naked eye has missed--things like inevitability of his mother's departure and the love that still binds his family.
83 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1991
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About the author
Patricia MacLachlan
125 books806 followersPatricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 31, 2022
Well, it sure does seem as though Patricia MacLachlan often seems to specialise in penning stories about mothers who abandon their children, either by death (as is the case for example with Sarah, Plain and Tall) or by taking off, by deliberately leaving, by going away (as is the case in this here short novel, in MacLachlan’s 1992 Journey).
Basically, in Journey, author Patricia MacLachlan has Liddie (the mother) leave her two children, Cat and Journey (and I really would like to know why Journey is named the way he has been named but we never do get any answers whatsoever regarding this) with her parents and simply, permanently go away. No one knows where she has gone or even why Liddie left in the first place, but her parents (Cat and Journey's grandparents) do obviously fully know that their daughter will not ever return and also tell their two grandchildren (who are now living with them and thus their responsibility) this uncomfortable and much painful truth. And although, periodically, Liddie does send cash for the kids, there are never any letters, never any words of love for Cat and Journey included (which for me also makes those horrid little envelopes of cash rather insulting and almost like a slap in the face, which I think Journey but not so much his older sister Cat painfully realises and must then analyse and work through).
Furthermore, throughout Journey, we as readers are also and actually never told by Patricia MacLachlan how old Cat and Journey are and it is in fact (and for me rather annoyingly so) really hard to make even an educated guess from the textual information provided. For sometimes, in particular Journey acts and behaves really immature and young (like a six or seven year old) but then again he sometimes also behaves and talks akin to an old man as he, as Journey tries to analyse his situation, his memories of the past, and his future, while older sister Cat seems to be like her mother in more than jus her physical appearance, as she very easily and thoughtlessly abandons her flute and the practice of eating meat at the beginning of the story (although none of this is ever textually followed up on, leaving in Patricia MacLachlan's text for Journey and most annoyingly so a huge number of narrative threads that seem to appear quasi out of the blue but then go nowhere and just peter out and mostly vanish so to speak).
And yes, it is precisely the lack of necessary and relevant background information, it is those textual scenarios in Journey that start up but seem to head nowhere (and also the pretty much complete lack of a backstory for basically ALL of the featured characters, and that Cat and Journey's father does not seem to even exist except that we are told he left Liddie just like Liddie later left her children) that leave (in my humble opinion) a storyline so full of frustrating and unsolvable gaps that for me Patricia MacLachlan’s narrative in Journey, it really and truly feels more like a story outline and therefore also an extremely unsatisfactory and thus only two stars tops personal reading experience.
Basically, in Journey, author Patricia MacLachlan has Liddie (the mother) leave her two children, Cat and Journey (and I really would like to know why Journey is named the way he has been named but we never do get any answers whatsoever regarding this) with her parents and simply, permanently go away. No one knows where she has gone or even why Liddie left in the first place, but her parents (Cat and Journey's grandparents) do obviously fully know that their daughter will not ever return and also tell their two grandchildren (who are now living with them and thus their responsibility) this uncomfortable and much painful truth. And although, periodically, Liddie does send cash for the kids, there are never any letters, never any words of love for Cat and Journey included (which for me also makes those horrid little envelopes of cash rather insulting and almost like a slap in the face, which I think Journey but not so much his older sister Cat painfully realises and must then analyse and work through).
Furthermore, throughout Journey, we as readers are also and actually never told by Patricia MacLachlan how old Cat and Journey are and it is in fact (and for me rather annoyingly so) really hard to make even an educated guess from the textual information provided. For sometimes, in particular Journey acts and behaves really immature and young (like a six or seven year old) but then again he sometimes also behaves and talks akin to an old man as he, as Journey tries to analyse his situation, his memories of the past, and his future, while older sister Cat seems to be like her mother in more than jus her physical appearance, as she very easily and thoughtlessly abandons her flute and the practice of eating meat at the beginning of the story (although none of this is ever textually followed up on, leaving in Patricia MacLachlan's text for Journey and most annoyingly so a huge number of narrative threads that seem to appear quasi out of the blue but then go nowhere and just peter out and mostly vanish so to speak).
And yes, it is precisely the lack of necessary and relevant background information, it is those textual scenarios in Journey that start up but seem to head nowhere (and also the pretty much complete lack of a backstory for basically ALL of the featured characters, and that Cat and Journey's father does not seem to even exist except that we are told he left Liddie just like Liddie later left her children) that leave (in my humble opinion) a storyline so full of frustrating and unsolvable gaps that for me Patricia MacLachlan’s narrative in Journey, it really and truly feels more like a story outline and therefore also an extremely unsatisfactory and thus only two stars tops personal reading experience.
March 14, 2024
"What is perfect? Journey, a thing doesn't have to be perfect to be fine. That goes for a picture. That goes for life....Things can be good enough."
—Grandfather, Journey, P. 29
I'm amazed by this book. Journey is a creation of rare and special beauty that shines through from the heart and mind of one of the great writers of her time, Patricia MacLachlan.
The odyssey of Journey, an eleven-year-old boy, is like a photograph slowly developing at its edges to eventually show a complete picture. Journey's story is grounded in the family's sadness over his mother leaving, but given wings to fly by the love that still ties the family together.
Journey ultimately leads the reader to a vital truth: life can't be perfect, and our loved ones aren't either, but the good parts of life can be good enough. Love is good enough even if it's imperfect.
As Grandfather asks, "What is perfect?"
—Grandfather, Journey, P. 29
I'm amazed by this book. Journey is a creation of rare and special beauty that shines through from the heart and mind of one of the great writers of her time, Patricia MacLachlan.
The odyssey of Journey, an eleven-year-old boy, is like a photograph slowly developing at its edges to eventually show a complete picture. Journey's story is grounded in the family's sadness over his mother leaving, but given wings to fly by the love that still ties the family together.
Journey ultimately leads the reader to a vital truth: life can't be perfect, and our loved ones aren't either, but the good parts of life can be good enough. Love is good enough even if it's imperfect.
As Grandfather asks, "What is perfect?"
August 31, 2018
One of those heartbreaking, but beautiful books that kind of makes you want to hug it. Not my favorite of MacLachlan's plot (Simply personal tastes) but very well done none the less.
I can't believe I haven't read more of her stories. I look forward to getting caught up.
I can't believe I haven't read more of her stories. I look forward to getting caught up.
August 26, 2014
Patricia MacLachlan seems to specialise in stories about mothers who abandon their children, either via death or simply going. The home environment the children remain behind in is warm but the ones left there must come to terms with their loss. Journey is no exception to this rule. I suppose one shouldn't complain, as each book is different enough to escape the horrors of formula fiction so popular today.
Liddie leaves her two children, Cat and Journey (Seventies hippy names, anyone?)with her parents and simply goes away. No one knows where or why, but her parents know she will not return. She sends cash in envelopes for the kids periodically with no more than a paperclip--and one assumes she used padded envelopes, or none of it would have made it to destination.
Grandma and Grandpa assume responsibility for the kids--easier to set this story in summer vacation than during the school year, when the superintendent and co. might have a few questions. Grandma and Cat deal with their pain by gardening, while Grandpa tries to get Journey interested in his hobby of photography. We are never told how old the kids are, and it's hard to tell. Sometimes Journey acts like a seven-year-old, sometimes like a little old man as he tries to analyse his situation, his memories of the past, and his future. Cat seems to be like her mother in more than appearance, as she abandons her flute and the practice of eating meat at the beginning of the story (though not another word is said about her choice of vegetarianism, and it seems to be forgotten.
The writing is good, the situation all too common--the young child who feels he must be at fault for his mother to leave him like that. But there are so many gaps. We later learn that their father left Liddie long before (a common scenario in the "free-love" Seventies, and even today) but nothing more is known about him, or shared with the kids by the adults. The grandmother's personality skips and changes from one moment to the next, while Granddad seems to hold the whole family together.
Well written but somehow disappointing. Perhaps it was too short for satisfactory development, or perhaps the author simply published an unpolished effort.
Liddie leaves her two children, Cat and Journey (Seventies hippy names, anyone?)with her parents and simply goes away. No one knows where or why, but her parents know she will not return. She sends cash in envelopes for the kids periodically with no more than a paperclip--and one assumes she used padded envelopes, or none of it would have made it to destination.
Grandma and Grandpa assume responsibility for the kids--easier to set this story in summer vacation than during the school year, when the superintendent and co. might have a few questions. Grandma and Cat deal with their pain by gardening, while Grandpa tries to get Journey interested in his hobby of photography. We are never told how old the kids are, and it's hard to tell. Sometimes Journey acts like a seven-year-old, sometimes like a little old man as he tries to analyse his situation, his memories of the past, and his future. Cat seems to be like her mother in more than appearance, as she abandons her flute and the practice of eating meat at the beginning of the story (though not another word is said about her choice of vegetarianism, and it seems to be forgotten.
The writing is good, the situation all too common--the young child who feels he must be at fault for his mother to leave him like that. But there are so many gaps. We later learn that their father left Liddie long before (a common scenario in the "free-love" Seventies, and even today) but nothing more is known about him, or shared with the kids by the adults. The grandmother's personality skips and changes from one moment to the next, while Granddad seems to hold the whole family together.
Well written but somehow disappointing. Perhaps it was too short for satisfactory development, or perhaps the author simply published an unpolished effort.
June 23, 2008
I love this book. Even though it might be classified as a children's story, I read this as an adult and still return to reread it again and again. Maybe it's because it weaves a story with photography as a cathartic character in the story, or maybe it is just because it's a lovely, well-written, beautiful story about love and family. Thanks, Mark, for introducing me to this book!
August 3, 2008
I actually first read this many years ago, probably after I read "Sarah, Plain and Tall" and went in search of more books by Maclachlan. I came back to it after reading a review of a bindup of "Journey" and "Baby" in The Horn Book Guide. It's a beautiful little novella, the hard subject of abandonment dealt with a lightness of touch and a sweet compassion. And a perfect companion to "Baby".
May 19, 2021
Who would believe that 82 pages could pack such a punch! Journey is a little boy left with his grandparents. He has a lot of questions regarding his mother's abandonment and the pain it's causing in his life and his sister's life. I was abandoned by my parents and it surprised me how close this story was to feelings that I experienced as a kid. Journey's grandfather encourages him to pursue photography as a way to understand. His grandparents don't shirk away from the pain, but help both of their grandchildren (and themselves) deal with it the best way possible.
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October 28, 2019This is so sad and sweet! I'm going to be reading more of Patricia MacLachlan's books. ❤️
August 6, 2013
Journey is a young man who is very angry. He and his sister were placed with their grandparents when their mother decided to journey away.
Promising to send money, that is all she did! The envelopes contained no return address, nor was there a message for the children.
Journey's anger is throw all over to each person who enters his space. Particularly, his grandfather is the target.
With a love of photography, his grandfather teaches him the beauty of capturing the right moment that matches the feelings happening inside the person photographed.
Slowly, through his grandfather and his love of photography, Journey learns to accept that his mother is not returning and that the love of his grandparents is a strong tree with many branches to firmly hold on to.
I very much liked this book and highly recommend it. The author is wonderful at capturing the emotion of hurt, anger, sadness and then the joy of moving on and accepting the good of life.
Promising to send money, that is all she did! The envelopes contained no return address, nor was there a message for the children.
Journey's anger is throw all over to each person who enters his space. Particularly, his grandfather is the target.
With a love of photography, his grandfather teaches him the beauty of capturing the right moment that matches the feelings happening inside the person photographed.
Slowly, through his grandfather and his love of photography, Journey learns to accept that his mother is not returning and that the love of his grandparents is a strong tree with many branches to firmly hold on to.
I very much liked this book and highly recommend it. The author is wonderful at capturing the emotion of hurt, anger, sadness and then the joy of moving on and accepting the good of life.
October 4, 2010
Eleven year-old Journey lives with his grandparents and older sister in a rural farmland. Journey is desperately trying to cope with his mother's abandonment. Through photography and the love of his family he begins to accept his circumstances and realize that coming to terms with his past is the only way he can look forward to his future.
Audience/Age Level: 9-12 yrs
Instructional Ideas:
This book would be great to use in an ELA classroom when exploring the genre of Memoirs. After discussing the importance of photos to a family's history, students could examine photographs of their own, and write about the memory attached to it.
Audience/Age Level: 9-12 yrs
Instructional Ideas:
This book would be great to use in an ELA classroom when exploring the genre of Memoirs. After discussing the importance of photos to a family's history, students could examine photographs of their own, and write about the memory attached to it.
December 10, 2007
I enjoyed that this book explores how perspective changes relationship. I also liked the Grandfather character. He is quirky and has not given up being interested in and learning new things even though he is old. He also has a good understanding of his grandson's pain and how to help him in it without just taking it away from him. The book has a little twist at the end.
April 15, 2008
I actually used this novel in my class. It's a very quick and easy read, but it seems to have a deeper meaning to it that my students just couldn't seem to pick up. Grandfather reminds me of my mom, always taking pictures to capture the memories.
September 27, 2023
I liked this more than I thought I would from how the book starts, where the main character (Journey... no, really) complains to the grandfather that there's nothing on the farm worth taking pictures of. Like, boy, you got FAMILY. Take THEIR pictures, and your own!
Of course, that's exactly what the grandfather does, in spades. Grandpa even goes so far as to try to teach Journey to drive (well under the legal age) so he can take pictures of literally anything he sees as they drive around. Slowly, Journey starts to do the same, and one of Grandpa's favourite photos is one of Journey's friend's baby brother with Grandpa, even if it isn't "perfect." Grandpa points out that perfect isn't everything, and sometimes good is good enough.
The star of the book is the stray cat (Bloom) who adopts Journey by coming up and tapping on the window at him. Of course, Grandma won't have any of that, since she complains that cats kill birds, but sure enough, Grandma and Bloom are best buddies in no time. Even better that she's pregnant and has four healthy kittens, haha... I want one. :(
It's a good read but not terribly exciting. This is one of the most "slice-of-life" slice-of-life stories. It captures how families can be, and the heartbreak of when family members just decide to leave for seemingly no good reason. Also, just the being a shutterbug really resonates with me! (Luckily, these days we have phones, rather than the clunky old thing on the cover, haha.)
Of course, that's exactly what the grandfather does, in spades. Grandpa even goes so far as to try to teach Journey to drive (well under the legal age) so he can take pictures of literally anything he sees as they drive around. Slowly, Journey starts to do the same, and one of Grandpa's favourite photos is one of Journey's friend's baby brother with Grandpa, even if it isn't "perfect." Grandpa points out that perfect isn't everything, and sometimes good is good enough.
The star of the book is the stray cat (Bloom) who adopts Journey by coming up and tapping on the window at him. Of course, Grandma won't have any of that, since she complains that cats kill birds, but sure enough, Grandma and Bloom are best buddies in no time. Even better that she's pregnant and has four healthy kittens, haha... I want one. :(
It's a good read but not terribly exciting. This is one of the most "slice-of-life" slice-of-life stories. It captures how families can be, and the heartbreak of when family members just decide to leave for seemingly no good reason. Also, just the being a shutterbug really resonates with me! (Luckily, these days we have phones, rather than the clunky old thing on the cover, haha.)
July 21, 2025
" - Le cose non sembrano uguali, viste attraverso la macchina fotografica - dissi. - Non sono come nella realtà. Il nonno, mettendosi la cinghietta della macchina attorno al collo, fece una pausa e poi si raddrizzò. - Qualche volta. - Piegò la testa da un lato e parlò alla propria immagine nello specchio. - E qualche volta le foto ci mostrano le cose come sono davvero. - Come? Com'è possibile? - domandai. Il nonno alzò le spalle nel suo modo caratteristico, poi disse qualcosa che non era da lui. - Non saprei, Journey. Forse è per questo che le persone fanno fotografie. Per vedere cosa è vero e cosa non lo è".
Questa breve storia di Patricia MacLachlan racconta di Journey e di sua sorella Cat, che sono stati abbandonati prima dal padre e poi dalla madre e che vivono coi due nonni materni. Journey non riesce a farsi una ragione di questo abbandono (e non è un caso che sia proprio lui, il cui nome significa viaggio, a rimuginare su chi va via e decide di non tornare), cercando nelle fotografie del nonno un barlume di speranza, mentre invece troverà la consapevolezza, proprio grazie all'obiettivo fotografico.
Un libro molto delicato su un tema estremamente doloroso come solo questa autrice riesce a tirar fuori.
Questa breve storia di Patricia MacLachlan racconta di Journey e di sua sorella Cat, che sono stati abbandonati prima dal padre e poi dalla madre e che vivono coi due nonni materni. Journey non riesce a farsi una ragione di questo abbandono (e non è un caso che sia proprio lui, il cui nome significa viaggio, a rimuginare su chi va via e decide di non tornare), cercando nelle fotografie del nonno un barlume di speranza, mentre invece troverà la consapevolezza, proprio grazie all'obiettivo fotografico.
Un libro molto delicato su un tema estremamente doloroso come solo questa autrice riesce a tirar fuori.
February 1, 2024
Not my first time reading this. Journey is introspective and his emotions are palpable. It's amazing that MacLachlan can describe photographs in such a way that we "see" them and more than that, we feel the goosebumps as if we were the character actually seeing the photo and making the visual-emotional connection. Astonishing. As is her use of timeline. Time seems to pass effortlessly, almost not at all, as it did those summers when we were tweens. Her writing has a real sense of weightlessness, carrying the readers along for the ride. A quick read at only 80 pages, but one you'll want to linger over.
October 24, 2019
This was one of those "took a chance on buying it at the thrift store because I like the author's other books" books. I'm glad I did, because it's a poignant look at family and love and what it all means. It's not long, but MacLachlan fits a lot of emotion into this slim book. I've read it several times, because Journey's story reminds me that even in tough times, things can turn out all right.
May 1, 2019
Poignant story about an eleven year old boy coming to terms with his mother’s abandonment. Patricia MacLachlan is an outstanding storyteller. Published in 1991 but the story, themes, and voice, are timeless.
May 24, 2019
Some good simple but profound quotes in this book. “What is perfect? Journey, a thing doesn't have to be perfect to be fine. That goes for a picture. That goes for life....Things can be good enough.”
August 21, 2019
Some children are smarter than their parents and some are wiser. What would the world be like if parents didn't hurt their children but loved them sacrificially and unconditionally and were committed to them.
November 13, 2019
Yes. The theme of abandonment can me a difficult one to approach. But it’s important to make the family traditions we want in our families of choice. I loved the father photographer.
And the cows ;)
Or maybe the cows were only in the other book- Fly Away. Hmmmmmm
And the cows ;)
Or maybe the cows were only in the other book- Fly Away. Hmmmmmm
November 27, 2019
Journey is a young boy who is being raised by his grandparents and who is trying to come to terms with the fact that his parents have abandoned him without explanation. His grandfather uses photography to reveal life's truths to Journey.
April 14, 2021
I read this in a collection with MacLachlan' s Baby, and this didn't really compare to it. I think it was that I didn't fall in love with these characters as much as I did with the ones in Baby, whom were very lovingly brought to life while certain characters in Journey just succeeded to annoy me.
June 1, 2024
A short story set I assume in rural America in the 1950s.
The story of a boy, Journey, and his family. The boy and his sister are staying with their grandparents after their mother just up and leaves.
The story of a boy, Journey, and his family. The boy and his sister are staying with their grandparents after their mother just up and leaves.
June 30, 2017
A really great book for upper elementary/middle school readers . . . a sad story about trying to understand why your mom would leave you, and realizing your anger is misplaced.
August 15, 2017
You definitely need to be in the right mindset to enjoy this book but luckily I picked it up when I did because I really enjoyed it
January 21, 2018
She switches tenses for no reason I can see, which is the main reason the rating is so low.
June 7, 2018
This was an interesting read, and not as dated as I thought it would be. An interesting look at family, feelings of betrayal, and different strategies for coping. Interesting.
January 3, 2019
A children's book that most children will take years to really understand. Beautiful language, remarkable insight. All I wanted to do was make sure my 11 year old knows how much I love him.
February 13, 2019
It was simple and powerful.
August 31, 2019
Yes, it sugary sweet but it’s so needed sometimes! MacLachlan takes tough subjects and tempers them with wonderful characters..another gem in the canon!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews