What do you think?
Rate this book
Chrome Road
99 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2024
4 people want to read
About the author
Erica Rowan
6 books12 followersErica Rowan is a visual artist and author currently living in St. Petersburg, FL. She enjoys energy drinks, spending time with loved ones, and traversing across space and time. Oh what horrors has she seen? What joys? You'll just have to read to find out. Recently, she's been into deconstructing her trauma through fiction and acrylic paint and she hopes that you'll enjoy the weird journey with her. You can find her art and cats on instagram @ericarowanarts - no appointment necessary. Any and all business inquires should be left with one of her seven cats, or the dog, but he's less reliable. Meow once for writing, twice for art.
She hopes you'll stick around because there are big plans in the works! We've got worlds to explore, pain to heal, and a whole lot of puns to write. She hopes you're ready!
She hopes you'll stick around because there are big plans in the works! We've got worlds to explore, pain to heal, and a whole lot of puns to write. She hopes you're ready!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 6, 2024
Martin is such a precious protagonist! The kids are just as sweet and funny and REAL as in book one. The Witch is sooo cool to see on page again. Martin’s got the most poignant story arc as he deals with food insecurity, neglect, too small clothes, worry for his sister and then ALIEN ABDUCTION!
How does Rowan manage to make such a heavy topic as child neglect (with the otherworldly additions of a centuries-old witch and visiting aliens) feel cosy? I am COMFORTED by Rowan’s writing of heavy things. Martin making his sister dinner and collecting scrap metal had my heart in my throat. I actually set this down several times to digest some of the chapters. This is still a fast read. The author packs a lot of development and story into a shorter narrative. IT IS IMPRESSIVE.
Thank you for addressing the realities, shame, pains and trials of neglected children so beautifully, Ms. Rowan.
How does Rowan manage to make such a heavy topic as child neglect (with the otherworldly additions of a centuries-old witch and visiting aliens) feel cosy? I am COMFORTED by Rowan’s writing of heavy things. Martin making his sister dinner and collecting scrap metal had my heart in my throat. I actually set this down several times to digest some of the chapters. This is still a fast read. The author packs a lot of development and story into a shorter narrative. IT IS IMPRESSIVE.
Thank you for addressing the realities, shame, pains and trials of neglected children so beautifully, Ms. Rowan.
December 30, 2025
some fun facts:
🛸 I originally used Martin as a placeholder name. it's my dog's middle name so I just threw it in there so I wouldn't dwell on it. Oops.
🛸 the aliens are based on Korvo and Terry from Solar Opposites. I refer to them as my "gay alien dads".
🛸 I wrote this book to deal with my own unstable youth
🛸 Priscilla directly quotes my editor when she says "if witches, why not aliens" because thats what my editor said when I brought this idea to her
🛸 Martin is based on my partner, to whom this book is dedicated, who also experienced an unstable upbringing
🛸 I wrote it for our 12 year anniversary
🛸 I originally used Martin as a placeholder name. it's my dog's middle name so I just threw it in there so I wouldn't dwell on it. Oops.
🛸 the aliens are based on Korvo and Terry from Solar Opposites. I refer to them as my "gay alien dads".
🛸 I wrote this book to deal with my own unstable youth
🛸 Priscilla directly quotes my editor when she says "if witches, why not aliens" because thats what my editor said when I brought this idea to her
🛸 Martin is based on my partner, to whom this book is dedicated, who also experienced an unstable upbringing
🛸 I wrote it for our 12 year anniversary
November 10, 2024
Love this book so much.
Kinda spoilers kinda not from here down.
Even though this is a series written with children in mind the characters are fantastic. This book addresses neglect and food insecurity for children. This is a very real issue for many children. I love how this book addresses it in a child friendly way and provides resources for them to try to get help as well.
Kinda spoilers kinda not from here down.
Even though this is a series written with children in mind the characters are fantastic. This book addresses neglect and food insecurity for children. This is a very real issue for many children. I love how this book addresses it in a child friendly way and provides resources for them to try to get help as well.
December 6, 2025
Just finished this beautiful chapter book. First off, let me just say, I love Mercy. Mercy is the best. Don’t mind me, but I am /obsessed/ with her, and don’t be surprised if fan art of her appears in my drawing queue.
With that out of the way, this book was emotive and highly imaginative and the story was so tight. The descriptions were gorgeous, both the cozy and quiet parts and the ugly moments. For example, just the description of the field on the first page sucked me right in. And the rest is a bit spoilery, so you will just have to see for yourself.
It reminded me a bit of Maniac McGee, which I read as a youth and still think about to this day.
And yes, I did shed some tears over Martin’s trials…
But especially if you have young ones, put this book in their hands. It’s smart and funny and full of pathos. Truly a must read.
With that out of the way, this book was emotive and highly imaginative and the story was so tight. The descriptions were gorgeous, both the cozy and quiet parts and the ugly moments. For example, just the description of the field on the first page sucked me right in. And the rest is a bit spoilery, so you will just have to see for yourself.
It reminded me a bit of Maniac McGee, which I read as a youth and still think about to this day.
And yes, I did shed some tears over Martin’s trials…
But especially if you have young ones, put this book in their hands. It’s smart and funny and full of pathos. Truly a must read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews