Far Away Place: A Contemporary YA Story About Never Giving Up

by S. T. Finn

Fifteen-year-old Josh Maloy lives in a rundown trailer with his little brother Simon and baby sister Emily. When their mother unexpectedly leaves them all alone, Josh does his best to look after the younger kids. He struggles to find enough money for food and rent, all while going to school and trying to live the life of a normal teenager.

But it’s not easy to hide a secret of living alone without adult supervision. Josh is terrified of getting put into foster care, getting sent to an orphanage, being separated from Simon and Emily too. And what will he do if their mother never, ever comes home?

407 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2024

Reviews

[Joseph J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a real exploration of what a life is for three very different siblings -- children growing up poor and in a family that is barely surviving. Alcoholism and abandonment pushes their lives into what seems to be a hopeless place.

Yet, somehow there still *is* always hope...a distant memory of a Far Away Place (or a dream?) sustains them. Through the incredible and heroic perseverance of the oldest child Josh, the oldest child, somehow holds what is left of their family together for yet another day to see what tomorrow could bring, despite dealing with his own struggles and pain trying to grow up as a teenager.

This book is well worth reading and I can't but help to reflect on it when I see someone or a broken family or children struggling to survive. It truly is an inspirational story.