Heading Home

by Rick Telander

In Heading Home, Robby Denwood, a lonely but resourceful 11-year old, and his eccentric Vietnam-vet Uncle Floyd, set out together to find Robby's runaway dad. Robby, who met the basketball superstar Jasper Jasmine in String Music, now dreams about reuniting his mom and dad and restoring peace to the Denwood household. This picaresque tale follows the pair as they meander through the South to blues hamlets, fishing towns, and finally to Key West in their search for Robby's dad. When tragedy strikes Uncle Floyd, will Robby, who has a special affinity for animals and nature, as well as a guiding best friend named Kathy back home, be able to continue his crucial quest? Rick Telander's blend of lyrical nature description, sensitive evocation of a young boy's inner world, and insight into the rough-and-tumble of real life beyond the sunny clichés makes this a powerful story for young readers.

228 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Happy to be an author. Happier to have readers! Let me know if you'd like me to talk about anything from my books. I think I remember most of them. (joke)
I went to Richwoods High School in Peoria, got a football scholarship to Northwestern University, and started writing for money (mere pittance) after graduation in 1971.
If you need to know more, let me know. I can go on and on. PS-- I once scored 108 points in a men's league game in Bridgeport, Chicago. Six-foot and under league (I'm, a little over 6-1), four-on-four, gym (McGuane Park) so tiny you had to put your foot against the wall to take the ball out. Henry's Bait Shop (us) vs. Seemo's Schnozzles (all short and mostly drunk). Scorer ran out of room in book. FYI.