How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn't Called You Back?

by Valerie Hobbs

In 1960, sixteen-year-old Bronwyn Lewis's family uproots itself and moves across the country to sleepy Ojala, California. Bron, used to the street-smart edge of the East Coast, is caught off-guard by the effortless cool of her new classmates. In order to make it in Ojala, Bron will have to remake herself. And so she does, putting aside her studies to drag-race, hang out—and meet men. There is J.C., a devastatingly attractive older racer; and Will, almost too wise and kind for an eighteen-year-old. Bron will have to choose between them—and when your emotions are a speeding dragster, there is always the risk of a fatal collision.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Valerie Hobbs is the author of many award winning novels for young adults including Sonnys War, Tender, and How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadnt Called You Back, for which she was designated a Flying Start author by Publishers Weekly in 1996. Hobbs was the winner of the 1999 PEN/Norma Klein award for an emerging voice of literary merit among American writers of childrens fiction and the Arizona Library Association Young Adult Author of the Year in 2003. Defiance, her most recent middle-grade novel, was given the 2006 most distinguished fiction award by the Childrens Literature Council of Southern California and has been nominated for twelve state awards. "

Reviews

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book affected me more than i thought it could. The ending was shocking and so sad. It made me never want to pick up another book for the rest of my life. I have read many books since then (I got over the initial shock), but I will never be able to forget this book. I don't think i could ever read it a second time. The author did an amazing job of getting under the skin of the reader.

[Sherrie Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really got under my skin! A coming of age story set in the late 50s, the characters in this YA have so much depth. Definitely a good read.

[Marissa • thecriminologist_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that this book was a surprise would be a huge understatement. I expected a cheesy, childish story of teenage love triangles and angst, mostly fluff and without much emotion.

Wrong.

Valerie Hobbs is an absolutely exquisite writer. Her descriptions have that quality all writer's would kill for; a combination of beautiful descriptions, wit, and great character development that never feels trite or like she's trying too hard. Effortless is the perfect word, and effortlessly too is how I read through this book. Bron's journey in her year in Ojala is one that we can all relate to, having once been a teenage girl who doesn't understand or trust herself at every turn. But it's so, so much more than just a "coming-of-age" story, and certainly more than a love story. Truly, it's a story about life: it's betrayals by those whom you should have the most faith in, the rewards, the letdowns, the heartaches, and the joys. Stunning.

[Kelly-Rose Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book like 14 years ago and it is still one of the only books I am absolutely in love with. I remember crying so hard at the end of the book my mom took it away from me... i talked her into going to the book store... i found it... finished it and cried in the bookstore LOLLL she found me like 20 mins later in a corner crying LMFAOOO

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this book. No one ever knows about it, but my freshmen year in highschool we were actually forced to read it. Incredibly moving and powerful.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried whenever I thought of this book after a read it, such a good story that sucks you in and then leaves you breathless.

[Brittany A Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in high school and I still remember how good this was. The ending is just so good. I love this book!

[Kanny]

I , immediately , choose this book because it is about love and teenager. The title of the book really pulls my attention towards it. I am 16 and this book is about a 16 year-old girl that moves to another city and 2 boys like her at the same time. I am a teenager so I would love to read books about teen romance. I really want to know what will she decides to do with her life and her love life as a teenager.

I have continued reading this book but I am not sure if I'm enjoying it. The story moves on so slow and it makes me feel annoyed wanting to know what is going to happen. The girl in the book seems to have a few teenager problems in her life.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly refreshing book. I was expecting a typical young adult book without much substance. However, the author manages to capture a captivating story with original characters and real issues in an atypical bildungsroman. Although a little sad, the story lines are addressed in a fresh and hopeful way. Definitely worth a read.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is slightly sad but has a fairly good ending....I like this one though.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely loved this book. Great story but a very sad ending.

[Cj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I would cry while reading a book and then I read this one. I loved it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

#62
Downloaded on old phone.

FS: "Ojala was, still is, a small dusty town twenty miles inland from the California everybody knows, the California of postcards."

LS:

[Dana (asreadbydana) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

God. My heart's been pulled in so many directions since the beginning of this book, I don't know what to say. Damn.

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Young Adult novel.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1960, Bronywyn Lewis's parents uproot her from her beloved life, school, and friends in New Jersey to move the family to Ocala, California. As expected, Bron has a great deal of trouble adjusting and fitting in to a social situation that is far removed from that in which she grew up. As she comes of age, Bron has many choices to make, and doesn't always make the right ones. This is her story of trying to grow up and figure out the right path for her life.

[Karen Baadsgaard · Rating 1 out of 5]

BORING - DIDN'T READ

[Mekisha Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books to read. I read it 15 years ago and when I feel down I read it again

[Patricia Arcangelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gem of a book I found in the school library. Loved the character development and story line.