The Journey Back

Red Kayak

by Priscilla Cummings

A teenage boy faces his past and seeks redemption in the gripping companion book to Red Kayak

Nine months in a juvenile detention facility was the punishment for his crime. After just a month he makes a bold escape that nearly kills him and soon an angry fourteen-year-old Digger is on the run. When injuries stop him, Digger hides at a riverside campground, where he befriends a young boy and a girl his own age. New friends, a job caring for rescued horses, and risking his life to save another make Digger realize that the journey back is not just about getting home. But he come to terms with his troubled past and face what he's really running from?

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

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2012

Reviews

[Madison.02 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was actually really. I did not think that the book was going to be about a kid escaping from juvy and going into a trash truck to run away. This book had many twists and turns. I would re-read this book again. I do recommend this book to people who like books about people escaping places.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well written, but I didn't enjoy it as much as you would think.
The beginning started good, and it was a good sequel. But in the end it didn't live up to what I thought it would. There was only a few of the original characters, and I don't believe I'm gonna read the third book, if there is one.

[Kearden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book it takes place after the events of red kayak. It follows diggers escape from juvenile center for second degree murder. He makes an escape from the area to go save his mother and siblings from his father. He memorable characters with interesting stories. The story progress at a normal paste not leaving you with the question on how he got here or there or how did that happen and that didn't. If you could rate the book up to a 10 it would be a 9.5 for me.

[Cinnapatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

So what do you know? The day after I wrote the review for Red Kayak, I was shelving at the Middle School and found THIS book, which is a sequel to Red Kayak. Just came out in November! What luck! I snatched it and read it all in one day. Yep. That's what happens when your boys go camping with Scouts and you're home alone for an evening.

This book was all about Digger. Digger has had a tough life. He's rough around the edges. He has a temper. He has a drunk of a dad who beats him and his mother so he feels like he's the protector of his little brother and sister. Being in the "Youth Camp" was too much for him so he escaped. This book is the story of his escape. It's a little gritty, but not foul. It's told from Digger's perspective which is fascinating. His reasoning. His way of thinking. He is a product of his upbringing and yet he yearns to be so much better.

Digger is weighed heavily by what happened in Red Kayak. He knows he'll carry that guilt with him forever. He's only 14 now. His experiences are eye opening. The end is satisfying because it's not a fairy tale ending (his dream of becoming a Marine is totally and realistically crushed), and yet it comes full circle and is believable the way he's given a second chance. Rewarding. Mercy and justice again. Loved this book.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set around a central character who aims to do good, but has had a troubled past, learns that he is more than who he used to be. A good, action-packed book in which all the characters help each other out, and end up finding true friendship.

[Reese Bohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a really good book I would read because If you have read the red kayak then it just leaves you on a cliff hanger so this picks up from were the red kayak left off you do not here a lot from brady

[Abby Lattanzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good. Quick read. Don't need to read the first one to understand the sequel.

[Isiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great learning experience. I learned things i didn't know and now I can use them to help myself with situations he went through. The main character was very determined on escaping and when he did he was very brave. My favorite event was when he hid in the garbage truck and ran away. Towards the end he does help out the people around him and gets a job to help pay. This was a slower book that made me feel like he was on many adventures and the explanations of the surroundings were amazing. I liked that he went back and paid his respects and gets a second chance to become someone. Overall this was one of my favorite books I really enjoyed it.

[Amanda Peddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings, this book takes place in a juvenile detention center and ends up in many different locations. The main character Digger was placed in a juvenile detention center for “accidentally” killing a child, which was supposed to be a prank on his much older friend. He quickly escaped the juvenile detention as he said to get back to his family to help and support them. Digger got out through the dumpster traveling through a garbage truck he was afraid he may be squished by the big block, he faces many hardships. While on the run he “borrows” a big rig truck, a bicycle, and a canoe, just to find out in the end he is going the opposite way as his home is in. Digger comes to the conclusion of camping out at a campsite due to the truck overheating (the brakes), and an injured foot. While staying there he makes new friends (Luke and Nora), which leads to him beginning a job for horses. Later one day Nora came running into the campsite screaming of terror because the horses barn has caught on fire, once arrived Digger decided to run into the barn to save the horses that didn’t have the chance to escape two of the three horses that were trapped were now set free. When they finally got back to the campsite Digger noticed the police were there, he went to the conclusion that they were there for him. Luke (Diggers friend) was running as he tried to cross the river he had fallen in Digger made the dashing settlement of going to help Luke. Police briskly noticed that he had escaped from a juvenile detention center and he was to be sent back and due his time, but is stuck with the conclusion of not helping his family, nor knowing what his friends are up to now.
In my personal opinion the book has way too much going on at once and gets quite confusing at times, i had to reread many times to remember what all was happening during that time in the book. I wouldn’t recommend this book because it got to the point where i felt as though i needed to reread the whole book, it goes from one situation to the next, and lastly it will continue to talk about a scene that happened while something else suspenseful is happening.

[Tyler Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a daring escape from juvenile detention, Digger finds himself on the run from the police. He escapes through a garbage truck and steals a big-rig truck. The trucks brakes end up catching on fire and he has to abandon it. Alone and in the wilderness, Digger has to find food and shelter quick. While hiking trails, he finds a dog tied to a tree and he frees him and names him Buddy. When Digger acquires an injured ankle, he is forced to stay at a campsite where he befriends a young boy (Luke) and a girl his age (Nora). As time passes, Digger grows fonder of them and develops a love relationship with Nora. To get money to help support Luke, Woody and himself, he gets a job at a horse farm with Nora where he is paid “under the table.” He saved up $750 and saved it under his pillow. One night before bed he checked to see if his money was still there, but it was gone. He soon realized Woody took it to fulfill his gambling problems. When Woody got home later that night, Digger was waiting to confront him but Woody punched him in the jaw and pinned him on the ground and said he would give him the money back but if he told anyone he’d call the cops. The next morning Nora comes screaming to the camp saying the horse barn is on fire so they drove down there. They got out all of the horses except three but Digger thought he could save them. He ran back in and two more came out but Nora’s favorite horse, Fuego, wouldn't. Later that night, the police were at the tent for Woody but Digger thought they were there for him. He crossed the river and hid behind some large boulders but he saw Luke following him and a police man chasing Luke. As Luke tried to cross the river, he fell in and Digger was forced to make a decision: to save Luke or save himself. Digger chose Luke and as they got to the end of the river, the cops were waiting. They noticed he had escaped from Cliffside and he had to go back and do his time.

[Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Journey Back does a great job of being a realistic fiction novel. The events in this book feel so real. If you read Red Kayak i strongly recommend you read this sequel. You see Michael in a way you didn't see his in Red Kayak, he is now stronger, and bolder. You also get to see a soft side to him when his friendship forms with the young boy Luke.
Michael is a fourteen year old boy who landed him self and his best friend in a detention center for playing a joke that ended up killing someone. The Journey back really captures what he is going through, and how he is dealing with things. There is so much detail you almost feel as if you are the one escaping. In this book you see parts of Michael that make him look like a really bad person, in ways its true but you also see a sympathetic part to him. You see him open up about his feeling toward his family. During his escape from the detention center you see him experience mixed emotions, you will see his scared, nervous, caring, angry, and adventurous.
I rated this book four stars because I think it did an amazing job following Michael and his escape. This is one of the best sequels I have read but I didn't rate it five stars because it didn't really grab me as well as other books have in the past.

[Krista Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this before the first book "Red Kayak", but that was okay. Angry 14-year-old Digger runs away from his court appointed youth facility to "save" his mom and siblings from his drunk and abusive father. But he's really running away from something else - his role in the death of child, which is what sent him to juvie in the first place. I like Digger. He's angry, he's impulsive, he doesn't think about others, he doesn't think about consequences, but he really changes in this book. The ending may be a bit too predictable, but I liked it anyway. We don't often have chances to redeem ourselves, but Digger has a few and he takes them. Good for him. Other characters are also great. Once in a while Digger sounds too much like an adult, especially all the history stuff. Also, his mom is a little bit of a disappointment - hard to buy how she has changed too.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for boys. Survival, hiking, horse-lovers, juvenile delinquents. Follow up story told from perspective of different character than Red Kayak.

[Tyler Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this kid name digger goes to jail and then he falt like his family need be protected. so hr exaped the jail throw the dumpster. and he stoll a simi truck or something close to it and then the brake burn out and then he stell a bike. and then he find this pet dog and this one kid stoll digger backpake. then he was by this lake resting and this kid was spying on him and then they became best friends and this girl lived in the camp grownd and then he fell in love with her and on day the boy was swiming and fell in to a bad curent and almost drown but digger pull him out and saved his life and the police showed up and he went back to jail. two caraters are digger and nora digger is a jail bird that doesnt seem like the person the is a jail bird. digger is just trying to make thing better at home nora is like a punk girl that has persing and a tatto. nora is just trying to get to collage and be a docter. some time in life you have to risk every thing just for loved ones. like digger in the journy back to get to his family again. sometime you just need to live throw the tuff times to get to the good ones. some times in life you dont get to your goal but you fell like you got something more. i really like this book this is the best book that i have read i did not want to put it down it didnt ever get boring it just got more and more exsiding.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy named Digger, has been sentenced to a juvenile detention center for 9 months. Just after about a month or so, he decided that he was going to escape and go back to his family. He was now trying to come up with a plan on how to get out of there, and it hit him. He was going to take the trash out to help the lunch lady. Digger came up with a great plan but it was going to be very dangerous. He threw himself into the dumpster with the trash and got dumped into the truck. Now in the dump truck getting smashed by of all the trash and the compactor thing, he was trying to find ways to stay alive. After awhile the dump truck stops and dumps all the trash at the landfill, then Digger knew that he had to make a run for it without anyone seeing. Now he’s out in the wilderness trying to stay alive and find a place to stay.





The journey is a good book, but I can’t really relate to it because I have never personally escaped from a detention center and I don’t know of anybody that has. It reminds me of a movie called escape plan. Digger is a lot like the guy in that movie, they both think a lot alike. It is very easy to relate this one to the world because there has been many people that have tried to escape from prison or have.

[Jonathan E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Journey Back is the third book in the red kayak series. Fourteen year old Digger is in juvenile detention center because of the hole that he and his friend J.T. drilled in the bottom of a red kayak. This eventually led to the death of a two-year old boy. Digger escapes the detention center, and is on a quest to get back to his parents and help his parents and siblings with chores. The Journey Back charts Digger journey as he he tries to get back. Digger runs into many problems as he journeys back. He must figure out how to travel over 100 miles without being seen by anyone. This is a well written and engaging novel. The reader is hooked throughout the whole story, by the risk taking actions of Digger as he continues along on his escape. “Exhausted and shaking from the cold, I got both my feet on the sandy bottom and hauled Luke up on shore where I turned him on his side. He coughed and sputtered and water dribbled out of his mouth so I knew he was okay.” (pg. 223) This quote shows that Digger is caring and very responsible. When he saw Luke fall in the river, he immediately jumped in to save him. The only part of the book that I did not like, was the ending. The problem was not really resolved, because Digger ended up going back to the detention center.

[Louie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a thriller this is the book for you. This book makes you always wonder what will happen next. It might be the second book of the series, but both books are great. Although this book is fiction it takes place during our timeline. Two boys go to juvie for killing a little child. The main character (Digger) tries to escape juvie by getting taken away by a garbage truck. Once he escapes, he quickly steals a truck, bike, and canoe. Digger's main goal was to go back to his poor family and watch over his brother and sister, but that is not what happens. Digger decides to stay low and not get caught by living with a son and father that let him live with them. After a while of time, it is reported by the cops that Digger has died. That is not the case. Digger starts to panic, so he decides to go on the road again and head for his family. As digger is on the road, a cop sees him and he is quickly arrested. Started but never finished.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie's Picks: THE JOURNEY BACK by Priscilla Cummings, Dutton, October 2012, 224p., ISBN: 978-0-525-42362-1

"'Do you think he's dead?'
"'No. Watch his stomach. It moves when he breathes. See? He's not dead. Why would he be dead?'
"'I don't know. I mean he was starving to death yesterday.'
"'Well, he's alive all right.'
"'What do you think we should do?'
"Lying there, pretending to be asleep under those napkins on my face, I felt Buddy beside me lift his head. I recognized Luke's voice right off. The other voice belonged to a girl.
"'I think he's in trouble because he didn't want me to say anything to my dad about finding him, or making him those sandwiches,' Luke said. 'What do you think he did?'
"'Who knows?' The girl sounded older than Luke.
"'Do you think he robbed a store? Or maybe he killed somebody?'
"'Nah.' The girl was doubtful. 'He doesn't look like a killer.'
"A sudden heaviness sank into my chest. If she only knew."

That "she" is Nora, a girl Digger's age. And to this point in the story, Digger's journey back reminds me of the travails of the weasel getting his comeuppance in the old Arnold Lobel beginning reader, MOUSE SOUP.

THE JOURNEY BACK is a sequel to Priscilla Cumming's RED KAYAK. It has been nearly a decade since I wrote about the trio of adolescent boys in RED KAYAK whose actions and inactions are tied to the death of a three year-old child. Here's a bit of what I wrote about it in 2004:

Brady Parks is a hardworking thirteen-year-old son of a Chesapeake Bay waterman. He and his two longtime friends, Digger and J. T., are waiting for their ride to school one April morning when they see that red kayak go by in the distance.

"Cupping his hands around his mouth, Digger pretended to call out: 'Paddle hard, you sucker!'

"He and J. T. exchanged this look I didn't quite catch, and J. T. started laughing, too.

"But I shook my head. 'He shouldn't be going out there today. When he gets down to the point--he'll fly down the river.' I was sure Mr. DiAngelo didn't know about how the wind picked up once you left our creek and hit the open water. Not to mention the spring tides. Sometimes they were so strong they'd suck the crab pot buoys under. I doubted whether Mr. DiAngelo knew that; he'd only had the kayak a few weeks.

"'Really, guys. We ought to yell something,' I said soberly."

Although he's quite fond of the man's wife and little boy, Ben, for whom he's baby-sat, Brady and his friends are not fans of Mr. Marcellus DiAngelo, who has bought Digger's grandfather's farm, replaced the old farmhouse with a mansion, and eliminated the boys' access to the surrounding lands where they've always been able to play, and which Digger had always used as a getaway from his abusive dad.

"Sneering, Digger stuffed his hands in his pockets. 'Look Brady, if he's stupid enough to be out there today, he can take what's coming. Besides, he deserves it.'"

So they don't call out a warning.

And then later that morning, when his father comes to take him out of school to assist with search efforts, Brady learns that it was actually Mrs. DiAngelo, taking Ben out for a ride, who had been paddling the red kayak in those frigid waters. Thus begins Brady's moral journey through this action-filled page turner.

THE JOURNEY BACK, Digger's story from the next year, is every bit as action-filled and thought-provoking as the first book. Turns out that Digger and J. T. have had to do time for what (unbeknownst to Brady) Digger had done to sabotage that red kayak. Now that Digger has seen for himself on Visiting Day that his mother is still being physically abused by his father, he is determined to take matters into his own hands. Sick of life and strife in the detention facility he's been remanded to, Digger begins his journey back by way of an escape accomplished via dumpster and garbage truck (that almost gets him compacted to death). Things only go downhill from there.

Whatever crap he'd been enduring in the detention facility pales in comparison to what he goes through as he employs whatever means are necessary in seeking to head back in order to deal with his father. By time he reaches the campground where young Luke is wondering to Nora whether Digger is alive or dead, Digger is dealing with a totally-trashed ankle and a case of poison ivy that has swollen up his face so badly that he can barely see. Not to mention the incessant hunger and his having been adopted by Buddy, a stray dog who insists on following him everywhere.

There are no easy answers in THE JOURNEY BACK, which makes it an excellent book for thought and discussion. For instance, how much is Digger's abusive father responsible for his son's anger and behavior and how much should Digger own his behavior? I particularly like how the author sets up a subplot in which an adult character is performing a very commendable service -- running a foster home for abused horses -- while also cheating the government by paying workers under the table. Nora is a pivotal character, being an intelligent young woman who often cuts through the crap. She is seeking a level of understanding about right and wrong that oftentimes seems to totally elude these damaged characters we meet along his journey.

An edgy, high interest, intelligent read for middle schoolers, THE JOURNEY BACK is well-worth checking out.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had great character development and a great message. I loved watching Digger slowly realize that he can't run from the past, but he can change his future. Even though he's made many mistakes, he has a good heart and a bright future. I did not however, like every single part of this book. I felt that Buddy, the dog, just wasn't right. How is it possible that Digger found the perfect dog that does whatever he says and saves his life? Not very. This story would have been just as good, if not better, without the dog. The romance between Digger and Nora was cute, but again, not necessary. But overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading "Cheating for the Chicken Man".

[Cricket Muse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definitely satisfying companion to Red Kayak. Digger escapes the detention center after only serving a month of his sentence. With realistic detail, Cummings relates how Digger lives on the run, but he learns he can’t out run the decisions and consequences of those decisions.
Well-told and even though the ending has some twists, it falls into the redemptive denouement that is inevitable with the arc of the story. However, the big message of living with mistakes isn’t easy and some mistakes can never be undone comes through, which makes this an exemplary novel for readers faced with tough choices.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book better than book one or Red Kayak however,
it was helpful to read that first book to continue the story or understand
the story and the background of the boy.
So this was more of the background of Digger and or the one
boy that had been sent to the juvenile camp.
We learn more about Digger and the fact he wants
to escape or break out of the camp because he believes
he needs to get home to his mom and siblings to protect them from his dad.
So we follow Digger and his adventure of his escape.
What kind of adventure does Digger have?
The last page or so of this book just moved me.
Now on to the third book in this trilogy, "Cheating For The Chicken Man."

[Jackson Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings is a very action packed book that takes you through a journey with Micheal Griswold or as his friends call him "Digger". this book will always has you leaning out of your chair. After every sentence, paragraph, and chapter you just want to keep reading. However, this book does get kind of boring during some chapters. If you want to read this book you must read the book Red Kayak by Pricilla Cummings, this is the first book and you will be completely lost if you have not read Red Kayak before hand. In conclusion this is a very solid book and I would recommend it to teens and up if you like action and mystery.

[Jackson Slotterback · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book published with its companion novels. The story has a really good plot from the start. It starts out with the main character, Digger, escaping from juvie to get home to his mom and younger siblings to protect them from his alcoholic father. Along the way, he figures out why he really was running and stops running to save a little boy from drowning. The story then has an abrupt ending. It wraps up all the loose ends, but it could have said more, explained more, and leaves you wondering a little bit about the other characters Digger met on his journey. All in all I enjoyed this one a little bit more than the other two companion novels.

[Archer K · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Journey Back is a very page turning book. My favorite character in the book is the dog and his name is Buddy because he saves Digger a bunch of times and my least favorite character is the garbage man because he is very stupid. He did not look at the block when it came out of the truck. My favorite event is when Buddy jumps in the water to save Digger. The writing style is meant to be a page turner. The pace of the novel is kind of slow. I cannot make any connections but Iḿ sure if you read the book you would be able to.

[Jolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that continues the Red Kayak book. Digger is escaping from a kid detention center after accidentally murdering a lady and a little boy with their red kayak from the previous book. While Digger is on the run to save his little siblings from their abusive father, he has to avoid cops looking for him. What could go wrong with a teenage boy on the run, hot wiring trucks, and trying to discover who he wants to be? Read this action-packed book with adventure around every corner.

[Gus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it would take to survive by yourself? Or even have tried it? If so, this book is a great read for you. It includes a character named Digger, a boy who grew up in hardship, ending up at a juvenile detention center. In his attempt at escaping Digger faces lots of problems, like getting stuck in a garbage truck and needing to get out alive, or stealing a semi truck to drive away from the detention center. But what I would say the biggest problem Digger faces is surviving by himself. Digger has a unique personality that is perfect for the situation he is in. He is very persistent. He is a stubborn and clever kid who makes do in tough situations. All the obstacles he overcomes creates a captivating story. This book has a fitting intense style. The authors surprising and spontaneous plot twists are great at keeping you reading for hours at a time, getting you lost in the book, imagining the scenarios in your head. I would certainly recommend this book to those who like survival scenarios and a main character that keeps you guessing while he works his way out of difficult predicaments. It will not disappoint.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings because it was a sequel to The Red Kayak and it was cool to see how he broke out of "prison" just to get back to his mom and siblings. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read Red Kayak. The genre of this book is realistic fiction and I have rad this genre before and it's my most favorite because it's the easiest to relate too.

[Michaella · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings a boy named Michael Griswald was placed in Cliffside Youth Detention center for murdering his neighbor’s child. This is an action packed story that contains breaking out of jail, running from the police, and stealing trucks. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and I recommend it to anyone who likes thrilling books. You can find this book on Amazon.

[ESchulze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a really good book about how one of the main characters (Digger) in the first book (The Red Kayak) really went through something that a lot of us don't have the courage to do. In The Red Kayak Digger was this guy who wanted to pull a prank on his neighbors but when it went wrong he was sort of the guy who thought they shouldn't tell the truth. But in this book he is far from it, he is the responsible one, the semi-smart one, and the brave one.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam Davies
5/21/2016
5th Period
Acc. English (Ms. Prilutski)


Imagine that you grew up in a super unwealthy family. Your father is an alcoholic and abuses you and your family whenever he drinks. You soon find yourself going to prison for the murder of your neighbor’s son, when a prank went wrong (you poking holes into a kayak and the son getting into it, who couldn’t swim and drowned and died). One day, you decide that you have had enough with your father beating on your defenseless family at home, so you decide to escape and go home to protect your loved family from your father… Aren’t you dying to hear what happens next? I certainly was when I read this from the first chapter of the outstanding book The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings. Meet Michael (“Digger” our main character’s nickname) Griswald, the main character of this story who actually had to live this nightmare… I believe that you should read this extraordinary book for two main reasons. Firstly, this book is such a touching book. I can't tell you the number of prayers that I have said at night for Digger (the main character of this book) because the author uses him to melt the heart of the reader and make you really feel such strong emotions for him. Finally, I believe that you should read this book because it really shows how much a person can change in life, even when all hope seems lost.

To start off, one reason why The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings is such an outstanding book is because it is such a touching book. In chapter 2, page 16, paragraph 2, Digger remembers, “Whenever my mother would come to visit me at the prison, all I could see was that cheap makeup caked on her face. It wasn’t even the same color as her skin and I knew that she was covering up another bruise from my father hitting her when he was drunk, which meant that it was still going on.” This quote really makes you feel really bad for Digger and all of the stuff that he has to worry about with his family’s safety because he can’t trust his father to not hurt them when he is drunk, which is quite often because he is an alcoholic. The use of the words, “It wasn’t even the same color as her skin” really shows how much Digger’s family needs his help at home to stay safe. example, why I believe that this book is so emotional, is because, on page 65-66 on the bottom of the page, the author narrates, “It was a dog. A little gray dog lying on its side. It was stuck somehow and its tail was flapping up and down.” He then continues and says, “When he heard me, the little dog whined and his tail started thumping like crazy. I crept closer and saw a clothesline had been wrapped around its neck and that line was tied to a small tree which was caught up in the rocks. The dog was drenched to the bone, his tongue was hanging out, and his head could barely move on account of the rope being tied so tight.” This quote truly spoke to me and pulled on my heart-strings because I love dogs so much and could never imagine seeing something like that happen to my dog, let alone any other dog. The use of the words, “When he heard me, the little dog whined and started thumping his tail like crazy” really shows that this dog that Digger has just found really needs someone in his life that won’t betray him like his last owner must have. (Because he was tied to a tree.)

Finally, The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings is such an exquisite book because it shows you that a person can really change, even when all hope seems lost. On page 61, in paragraph 4, when Digger states, “The answer is no. The answer is hell no. I did not ever stop to think about whether what I was doing was right or wrong and what the consequences might be - the if/ then thinking stuff. This quote really shows how much the author wants the reader to think that Digger will never change his ways. The of the words, “I did not ever stop to think.” really show how Digger is trying to change because he is later realizing that after just a couple of moments of thinking that hell no it doesn’t bother me the slightest bit. To then realizing I never stopped to think about whether or not what he was doing was right or wrong when what he was doing was actually really wrong. Lastly, on the first page of chapter 26, Digger tells Mr. R, “‘I’ve learned a lot more than you think.’ I said. ‘I made a mistake taking off like that. I’m sorry I put you through so much trouble.’” This is turning point of Digger’s entire outlook on life. This quote really shows that from not giving a poop about how he made others feel at the beginning of the story, he has changed into really caring about how he treats others and how he makes them feel. The use of the words, “I made a mistake” really shows how Digger taking his time to think before he speaks and before he acts, because of this, Digger has become a completely different person.

In conclusion, Priscilla Cummings has written an amazing book because she writes with her emotions on her sleeve, and she really shows you that anyone can change, even when all hope seems lost. At the end of the day, Digger inspires me and if I had to live in his shoes, I would have done exactly what he had done. (At the end of the book of course!) If you want to know what he does at the end, I guess that you will just have to read it to find out!