[ [ [ A Good Long Way [ A GOOD LONG WAY ] By Saldana, Rene, Jr. ( Author )Dec-31-2010 Paperback

by René Saldaña Jr.

"The two of you, stop it You're father and son; you should love each other," Roel howls at his father and brother as their argument turns into a shoving match. Beto is home past curfew, smelling like a cantina.

When Beto Sr. tells his son to follow the rules or leave, the boy, a senior in high school, decides to leave. But, once he has walked away he has nowhere to go so turns to his best friend Jessy. Beto's decision to leave is told from shifting perspectives in which the lives of Roel, Beto, and Jessy are revealed in scenes that reflect teen-age life. Each one has a long way to go in growing up. Roel is book smart and fights teachers' assumptions that he's like Beto. Jessy is smart too, but most teachers only see her tough-girl act. And Beto somehow quit caring about school. And his teachers have given up too.

Rene Saldana, Jr. writes another fast-paced, novel that will engage teens in questions about their own lives and responsibilities to family, friends and themselves.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Paperback

First published October 30, 2010

About the author

René Saldaña Jr. graduated from Georgia State University (Ph.D.) with degrees in English and creative writing. He and his family live in south Texas, where he teaches English and writing at the university level. He is the author of "The Jumping Tree "and "Finding Our Way."

Reviews

[Alycia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this book was interesting, as was the narrative being told from different perspectives. However, what was with the random second person perspective used only with Jessy? Also I thought the way that Beto made up with his father was a little unrealistic. The words seemed too perfect for that kind of a tense situation. And what was with that random teacher named Mr. Saldana? The moral of the story hit so bluntly that it made Beto's story seem less authentic. I only really enjoyed Jessy's story because she was real enough and very strong in the way she dealt with her parents.

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this Latinx young adult novella can’t be considered exceptional writing, it still moved me nonetheless. The writing wasn’t bad, and the experimentation with telling parts of the story from first, second, and third person perspectives was carried off passably well; but it was a bit predictable and formulaic in narration. The characters were fairly stock: the hardworking, frugal, but stern father; the long-suffering mother; the rebellious and stubborn, but ultimately good oldest son; the bookish, but impressionable younger brother; the troubled, but good-hearted friends; the concerned teachers, etc., all working through their problems, emotions, and struggles over the course of a single day. But in spite of that, in spite of the fact that the story was predictable, it still effectively tugged at the heartstrings in a way that was not too overly melodramatic. I think this is an old, familiar story that it never hurts to read about over and over again. It’s not great, earth-shattering literary brilliance; but it’s a nice little story and a moving, worthwhile read. If one young adult reads this and draws some meaning and comfort from it, it will have been worth it.

[Tianqi Zhao · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a Hispanic boy, who lives at the border of Texas and Mexico, playing hooky. The novelty of this book is that, the story is told in three different perspectives: Beto, Beto’s book smart brother Roelito, and Beto’s female friend Jessy. Beto left because he had a fight with his father, Beto Sr. for coming back late after the curfew. But the truth hidden is that it was hard for him to feel the care and respect from family and friends. Roelito, as a straight-A student, worried about his brother while blaming him for grabbing too much attention from parents by playing a jerk. Jessy, who had similar experience, understood him but had no idea of ways to truly help him out. Finally it was his dad, who talked sincerely to him like a friend, as well as sent him 3000 dollars for education, changed him. It was a good long way for everyone to head for the right direction when they felt lost in their life journeys. Three stars partly because of the language that is a bit unnatural.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beto thinks that he is his own man so he disobey his father's rules. So he then ran away from home by thinking that he could survive on his own. Roelito is the brother of Beto which he is one of the smartest students in his school but he wants to be just like his brother and after seeing his brother ran away he decided to find him. And Jessy is in the same grade with Beto ,friend of Beto ,and wanted to follow her own dreams for her life after graduation.

After Beto left he decided to visit to his friend Jessy for the last time before he leaves everything. The story works around a couple characters to see what they think about what they think. The story also hide some bad langue hidden behind the thoughts from the characters. This is for anyone that feels left out inside the crowd. Roelito, Beto, and Jessy are a lot like everyone that is part of everyday lives.

[Izabella Valero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had me on the edge of tears. A very touching sentimental book...

[Shaun Davin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing and something to relate to

[Krista Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was suggested for ELL/SEI students. Short novel - shifting narrators, which at times was confusing. Beto and his brother, Roel, find themselves in the midst of a family conflict involving their father and the lack of respect Roel, a high school senior shows him. The confrontation and eventual reconciliation are very realistic and a rare occurrence in YA lit. Nice. Some Spanish phrases.

Jessy's home problems are more serious with a mother who won't leave an abusive father. Some interesting perspective on why Jessy doesn't want the Department of Children Services involved.

Some golden lines:
Jessy's reading Macbeth and Julius Caesar in her locked bathroom when her parents fight. "You saw how good at playing with language he was, always hiding second and third meanings behind one word, but his stories always seemed alike to you, like American sit-coms: always the initial misunderstanding, someone hearing only the second half of a conversation, then the rest of the thirty minutes, everybody on the show going around like chickens with their heads cut off, then right before the end of the comedy, someone says something like "Oh, I thought he'd said such-and-such, not this-and-that." Everyone laughing it off then. You actually prefer his poetry. (17-18)

Both Jessy and Roel run away from home. When Jessy returns, she writes a letter to Roel, that he reads when he is running away. She writes about other people waiting for a bus, "...They all look tired. And so was I. That's why I was running right?...I was running now toward a place but away from this place - my life as it is...So I hitched a ride back...As hard as we know it is...we can't punk out now. We don't want to deal ourselves out before our hands are played out. Dropping out so close to the end...Quitting school now - well, it'll make getting started on those plans just that much harder...(47-48)

When he asks her to go with him, Jessy tells Roel, "No way, man, you got your own road to take, I've got mine. You'd only slow me down. And me you." (47)

There are some great pages of interior thinking when Roel tries to decide if he should return home. He's quit so many things, that he wonders if quitting "running away" is just one more failure, and the way he finally comes around to returning - while keeping his own integrity - is excellent.

One serious complaint about the book - a teacher tells Roel's brother, Beto, that he not only doesn't care for his brother, but that he assumed at the beginning Roel would be just like him - infuriates me as a teacher. Really? Perhaps teachers said things like this a decade or so ago - but I can promise you that none of the teachers I know would be this stupid and insensitive and if they were, they wouldn't last long at my school.

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered how it would be like to run away? The genre of this book is realistic fiction. I know this because these actions could really happen in real life.
The setting of the book takes place in many places.It takes place in Beto's house,In the expressway,at Jessy's house and at there school.Beto was arguing with his dad Beto Sr about him coming in late and smelling like bear and ciggerets.So Betos little brother Roelito woke up and went outside and saw hs brother and dad fighting.So he went outside to try to get them to calm down and shake hands but instead they keep yelling at each other so Beto's dad tells him to get out of the house.So Beto runs away.But he finds out he has no where to go.So he goes to his frind Jessy's house she tells him to go by a recycling center.So he spends the night in a trash can.When he wakes up he goes home and his little brother is already at school.He is surprised when he finds his dad getting ready to go to work.So Beto apoligizes and asks his dad if he can go to work with him for the day.So when they leave they spend he whole day apoligizing to each other.When they get home Roel is'nt home yet.So Beto's mom is surprised when she sees Beto and his dad together and starts crying.Then Roel gets home and he is really surprised to see Beto there.Then they all start apoligizing to Roel for what they did in feont of him.The conflict is Person vs Society.I know this because Beto has problems with lots of people.Beto is one of the peple who dont care for school much.Roelito is a hard worker for school.Beto Sr is a hard worker for his family.Jessy is a person who changes throughout the story.Their mom is a person who stays home and cleans.
I was surprised when Beto came back to the family.The point of view of the story is first person point of view.I know this because Beto tells the story.A theme of the story is Family.I know this because they are all loyal to their family.Beto's actions were not believable when he hit his dad.My favorite part was when Roel saw all of his family happy.
I liked this book because it had a lot of action and drama.Beto changed when he apoligized to his dad.I wish that Beto would have not run away like he did.Beto's problem was his dad not treating him like a man.
I liked this book a lot because it made you feel what the character felt.If I were to rate this book on a scale from 1-10 I would give it a 7, because I couldn't relate to the characters.I would recomend this book for seventh and eight grade kids.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book and my first exposure to Latino literature. It follows the lives of three teenagers for a day--Roelito, Beto, and Jessy--as they struggle to overcome challenges with family, friends, and school. When Roelito sees his brother Beto and his father arguing on the front porch one morning, it sets off a chain of events that draws the teens lives together. Through shifting perspectives during different times of the day during which the book is set, each teen shares memories and what is happening currently through unique viewpoints. I enjoyed how, as the viewpoints changed, the narrators voices were not only different, but switching from first person (Roelito) to third person (Beto). Jessy had her own viewpoint, and I'm embarrassed to admit I'm not sure what it was, because instead of "I" or "he" it comes "you." You have to slide into her shoes. I'm sure there's a term for that, but it escapes me. It did take some getting used to, but overall had an interesting effect. Checking in at just over 100 pages, the book was not too long or complex, but I felt that a lot of ground was covered in that time and a lot of truths discovered and laid bare before the readers. I would recommend this book to high schoolers (as that is its setting), possible upper grades because it deals with themes like having patience with family, especially when you're about ready to leave the nest. What I liked best about this book was the family values, whether lacking or apparent, and how clear the lines were between honoring others and treating them with respect and how to be a complete and total cow. I also enjoyed that this book shared relevant themes without finding it necessary to delve into drugs/sexuality/death. It was about the family, and I think we need more books like this.

[Cindy Waite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age book that the kids have to deal with parents. I really enjoyed the culture in this book, having grown up in the latino culture. The conflicts in this book between Beto and his father resounded authentically. Teenage kids trying to grow up and yet not quite mature enough to understand that rules are there for a reason. Like Beto's dad said, "Talking the talk..." Being able to have the story told by different points of view was a good technique, showing Roelito's anger and frustration and Jessy's horrible homelife. All the teens in the book are so wrapped up in their own problems, just like real teens. The world revolves around them. Even smart Roe realizes how self-absorbed he has been, not thinking of his mother, or father and what they must be going through. Jessy has had to grow up the most and understand that she can't just run away from something. She has to run towards something.

It's a short read but well worth picking up. Saldana packs a lot of great insights about relationships and especially about teens thought processes in such a condensed novel.

And then there was the squirrel....just checking if you were reading this. :)

[Ashlyn Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

On March 27, three teenage narrators lend their voices to the major events of the day. Roelito and Beto are brothers; Jessy is Beto's friend from the neighborhood. After another fight with his father, Beto takes off in the night. Roelito watches him run away from home. Jessy gets involved when Beto stops by her window for advice. And so the rest of the novel continues with Jessy and Roelito commenting on the school day, and Beto eventually makes his way home. Saldaña's book is all about family relationships, growing up and forgiveness.

I liked how Saldaña structured this novel with three character voices all occurring within a day. Personally, I liked Jessy's story the best, but it was cool that all three perspectives were intertwined. The novel is good for a quick read, and I think it would be good for developing readers in middle school because the text is simple and straightforward. I also think middle school readers would like the topics that the author addresses. A Good Long Way welcomes adolescent readers to discuss issues like parent-child relationships and abusive home situations in a hopeful, solution-seeking light.

[Eryc Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you like realistic fiction books because if you do you'll love this one.I think this book was one of the best books I'v read.

This book is about this kid named Beto who is trying to stop his brother and father from arguing all time but his father told Beto' brother he has to listen to his rules or leave his house.So his brother decides to run away. After his brother ran away Beto feels like he has no where to go then Beto has second thoughts about running away as well,after that he starts to stop carrying about school.

I was surprised when Betos brother was arguing with his father because I will never raise my voice at my father.I couldn't understand why Beto was having second thoughts about running away.

I wish that Beto's brother at lest convinced his brother to stay home before he left.I liked the way the author used the different point of views.

I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 because I rally like the book at the same time I don't think the book was as enjoyable,I would recommend this book to who ever likes realistic fiction books.So in conclusion this was a great book to read on any down time.

[Melissa Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saldana presents a unique and intriguing view into the lives of three South Texans during a pivotal time in their lives. Beto, Roelito, and Jessy present coming-of-age stories which will reach out to readers. Beto feels suffocated and betrayed by his father's protective rules, while Jessy is breaking down due to the abusive fights her parents engage in. Roelito is a straight-A student who emulates his brother in everything but grades. Saldana creates a very realistic and intriguing look into the lives of three teens as they build their own views of the world. Saldana also plays with points of view shifting from first person to second person as well as telling each side of the story from each characters view. Very intriguing telling. An excellent powerful short read.

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The different perspectives were interesting. I'm still wondering why Jessy's story was mostly in 2nd person, Roel's was in 1st, and Beto's was in 3rd. Interesting technique that I feel like demonstrates the differences between the characters. I also liked how things aren't wrapped up neatly at the end, especially since the book covers just one day. Life isn't like that, neatly wrapped up in one day, but there was still this hope for healing that I enjoyed.

[Tyler R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read the book “A Good Long Way” and found that it is a really good book. At first I found that the chapters are not actual chapters and that every chapter is a different character’s perspective in the book. I loved the book after I understood how the books structure worked. If I would rate this book I would give it an 8. I would give it this because the books change of perspective was a little bit tricky to know when and which character is talking.

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review at Gator Book Chomp.

[Shannonmde · Rating 2 out of 5]

language feels dated. not sure it would appeal to actual YAs. not recomending for studio recording for TBP.

[Christine Stamper · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

[Terrie Schexnaider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review at Let's Talk Books

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book involves a teenagers’s conflict with their parents. The teenagers are trying to grow up ,but are not mature enough to understand the reason for rules. The conflicts between Beto and his father resounded authentically. Having the story told by different points of view was a good choice. It showed Roelito's frustration and anger and Jessy's bad homelife. All the teens in the book are so caught up in their own problems, just like they are in real life. Even the wise Roe realizes his own selfishness. For example when Roe wasn’t thinking of his mother, or father and what they were going through. Jessy has had to grow up the most and understand that she can't just run away from something. This book is short but it is very good. The author packs a lot of great insights about relationships processes in such a short novel.