Far from Home

by Ouida Sebestyen

After the death of his mother, 13-year-old Salty goes to take her place working for the Buckley Arms Hotel where he begins to learn about the complexities of love and family.

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Ouida Sebestyen, nee Dockery, was born February 13, 1924, in Vernon, TX. She married Adam Sebestyen in 1960 and had one son. She attended the U. of Colorado. She began writing at age eighteen, but did not publish her first book, Words by Heart until 1979. Part of this novel had originally appeared as a short story in the magazine 'Ingenue' in 1968. The book was well received, and Ms. Sebestyen has continued to write fiction for young adults. She draws her inspiration, and often her setting, from the American West, especially its contrasting harshness and beauty, and the demands it places upon an individual's survival. While not all her novels are set in a sharply defined Western setting, throughout all of her books she focuses on characterization and detail, with an emphasis on human emotions and development. Her work is noted for its honesty and provocative story lines that do not always provide a conventional happy ending.

Reviews

[Jane Fujiwara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I vaguely remember reading this book when I was in Jr high or high school and I now realize that a lot must have gone over my head at that point. It’s a simple story, possibly depressing, but I liked the developed characters, the simple yet engaging plot, and the honest look into history.

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave it 5 stars