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The Way to Stay in Destiny
From the author of the acclaimed Glory Be, a novel that celebrates baseball, fast piano, and small-town living in the wake of the Vietnam War.
When Theo gets off a bus in Destiny, Florida, he's left behind the only life he's ever known. Now he's got to live with Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam War vet and a loner who wants nothing to do with this long-lost nephew. Thank goodness for Miss Sister Grandersole's Boarding House and Dance School. The piano that sits in Miss Sister's dance hall calls to Theo. He can't wait to play those ivory keys. When Anabel arrives things get even more enticing. This feisty girl, a baseball fanatic, invites Theo on her quest to uncover the town's connection to old-time ball players rumored to have lived there years before. A mystery, an adventure, and a musical exploration unfold as this town called Destiny lives up to its name.
Acclaimed author Augusta Scattergood has delivered a straight-to-the-heart story with unforgettable characters, humor, and hard questions about loss, family, and belonging.
When Theo gets off a bus in Destiny, Florida, he's left behind the only life he's ever known. Now he's got to live with Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam War vet and a loner who wants nothing to do with this long-lost nephew. Thank goodness for Miss Sister Grandersole's Boarding House and Dance School. The piano that sits in Miss Sister's dance hall calls to Theo. He can't wait to play those ivory keys. When Anabel arrives things get even more enticing. This feisty girl, a baseball fanatic, invites Theo on her quest to uncover the town's connection to old-time ball players rumored to have lived there years before. A mystery, an adventure, and a musical exploration unfold as this town called Destiny lives up to its name.
Acclaimed author Augusta Scattergood has delivered a straight-to-the-heart story with unforgettable characters, humor, and hard questions about loss, family, and belonging.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2015
14 people are currently reading
1080 people want to read
About the author
Augusta Scattergood
5 books125 followersAugusta Scattergood grew up in the Mississippi Delta and left to attend college at the University of North Carolina and library school at Simmons College. But she never really left her home state, even while living in New Jersey.
Her first novel is set in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, 1964. GLORY BE was published in January, 2012, by Scholastic Press. THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY, her new middle-grade novel takes place in a little town in Florida named Destiny where Theo has come to live at the Rest Easy Rooming House and Dance Studio. Her third historical middle-grade novel will also be published by Scholastic Press, August 2016. MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG is based on a few memories and a lot of research!
Augusta is represented by Linda Pratt of Wernick & Pratt Agency.
A school librarian for over twenty years, Augusta now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Her first novel is set in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, 1964. GLORY BE was published in January, 2012, by Scholastic Press. THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY, her new middle-grade novel takes place in a little town in Florida named Destiny where Theo has come to live at the Rest Easy Rooming House and Dance Studio. Her third historical middle-grade novel will also be published by Scholastic Press, August 2016. MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG is based on a few memories and a lot of research!
Augusta is represented by Linda Pratt of Wernick & Pratt Agency.
A school librarian for over twenty years, Augusta now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 21, 2018
This book covers a wide range of topics that are important - but I never felt emotionally attached to any of the characters. Theo is an intelligent and brave young man but the personalities of the other individuals fell flat for me.
March 4, 2015
I just never felt emotionally invested and I couldn't understand the motivations of most of the characters. Theo's scooped up by a long-lost uncle after his grandparents get too sick to take care of him and for some reason, they head to Florida instead of back to Alaska where his uncle's been living (maybe Alaska is too rough for children?). At first, the only thing Theo can stand about his new town is the beautiful piano at the boarding house where he and Raymond are living. Theo is a gifted natural musician and claims that he can't stand to be separated from music (although we're never really privvy to how Theo actually feels about it. We're told many times, but never really shown).
Unfortunately, Raymond can't stand music (why he decided to live at a dance studio is never explained - maybe there are literally no other places to live?) and he forbids Theo to play the piano. Theo ignores him and plays all the time and there is never any consequence from Raymond. Raymond threatens to leave Destiny, which super bums Theo out because suddenly he loves it there and Theo's now desperate to stay in this town that he's apparently grown to adore in the space of, like, two weeks. But still, there's no real threat.
It's not that I want a child to feel threatened, but there was just nothing at stake in this book. Theo pretty much did whatever he wanted. He didn't wrestle with any guilt over his decision to play the piano when he'd been expressly forbidden. Raymond's experiences fighting in Vietnam are glossed over, as is his rocky relationship with his sister, Theo's late mother, and her objection to the war.
I dunno... people have been really liking this book, but it was "meh" for me.
Unfortunately, Raymond can't stand music (why he decided to live at a dance studio is never explained - maybe there are literally no other places to live?) and he forbids Theo to play the piano. Theo ignores him and plays all the time and there is never any consequence from Raymond. Raymond threatens to leave Destiny, which super bums Theo out because suddenly he loves it there and Theo's now desperate to stay in this town that he's apparently grown to adore in the space of, like, two weeks. But still, there's no real threat.
It's not that I want a child to feel threatened, but there was just nothing at stake in this book. Theo pretty much did whatever he wanted. He didn't wrestle with any guilt over his decision to play the piano when he'd been expressly forbidden. Raymond's experiences fighting in Vietnam are glossed over, as is his rocky relationship with his sister, Theo's late mother, and her objection to the war.
I dunno... people have been really liking this book, but it was "meh" for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2014
I liked Scattergood's previous middle-grade book "Glory Be" and she is again writing about the South. This time the hero, Thelonious Monk Thomas (or Theo, as he is known) has come to Destiny with his uncle, a Viet Nam vet because his parents have died and his grandparents are too old to care for him any longer.
They have different ideas of how Theo should spend his time and whether or not they should become attached to the folks in the small town. It's a good story of a small boy finding his way in a confusing world, with music as the one certainty.
They have different ideas of how Theo should spend his time and whether or not they should become attached to the folks in the small town. It's a good story of a small boy finding his way in a confusing world, with music as the one certainty.
January 29, 2015
If you liked Glory Be (and even if you didn't) read The Way to Stay in Destiny.
Theo must learn to live in a community that isn't thrilled to have him and with an uncle that doesn't want him. His escape is in his music of which he can't understand his uncle's hatred. Who hates music? Theo itches to play the piano in his new place at the rooming house but his uncle forbids it. Over time Theo comes to terms with his uncle, makes a friend, gets lost in the music and finds a home but it's how he gets there that makes this one magical. A quick read that will have you cheering for Theo.
Theo must learn to live in a community that isn't thrilled to have him and with an uncle that doesn't want him. His escape is in his music of which he can't understand his uncle's hatred. Who hates music? Theo itches to play the piano in his new place at the rooming house but his uncle forbids it. Over time Theo comes to terms with his uncle, makes a friend, gets lost in the music and finds a home but it's how he gets there that makes this one magical. A quick read that will have you cheering for Theo.
January 1, 2015
The Way to Stay in Destiny weaves a Southern-charm spell on readers, casting them straight into small town Florida circa 1974. Young readers will enjoy the story, part mystery and all adventure with funny, poignant, and hopeful moments.
Readers will step inside and feel the summer heat, tap their toes to the music and smell peach cobbler baking. And most of all, they will cheer for Theo.
Readers will step inside and feel the summer heat, tap their toes to the music and smell peach cobbler baking. And most of all, they will cheer for Theo.
October 30, 2015
Loved this story. I think many of my middle grade students will relate Theo having to leave home and start somewhere new with someone new.
June 4, 2015
Fans of Glory Be will enjoy meeting Theolonius Monk Thomas, 12, a boy who only wants is to stay in Destiny, play the piano and have a place to call home again. Unfortunately, his Uncle Raymond seems to have other ideas about all this.
It's May 1974 and Theo has already had enough loss in his life. His parents were killed in a car crash when he was a baby, and now he has lost his beloved grandfather and his grandmother must go live in a nursing home. His Uncle Raymond arrives from his isolated cabin in Alaska as Theo's next of kin guardian. Uncle Raymond is a Vietnam Vet who resents Theo's parents for their anti-war protests and who has some pretty tough PTSD going on. First thing he does is whisk Theo away from everything he knows for a job in Destiny, Florida.
There are two things Theo loves - baseball and playing the piano. No sooner does he arrive at the Rest Easy Rooming House run by former Radio City Rockette Miss Sister Grandersole, but he hears the sounds of a beautiful piano somewhere in the house and determines to find it. Turns out, Miss Sister gives dancing lessons in a studio in the Rest Easy and she is bowled over by Theo piano playing.
And, as luck would have it, the first kid he meets is Anabel Johnson, daughter of the mayor and a girl who really knows her way around Destiny and who also loves baseball. In fact, she loves baseball more than the tap dancing classes she is supposed to be taking with Miss Sister and never shows up for.
With the end of the school year nearing, Theo and Anabel decide to work on a class project to celebrate Destiny Day and the 100th anniversary of its founding. Focusing on baseball, they are convinced the some pretty famous baseball players, including Hank Arron of the Milwaukee Braves, had lived in the Rest Easy during spring training.
But just as happily as Theo settles into his new life in Destiny at the Rest Easy, quickly endearing himself to Miss Sister, and in school, Uncle Raymond is already looking for another job away from there. And he has forbidden Theo to play the piano because of bad music memories during war protests by Theo's parents. Not only does Theo want to stay in Destiny, but he is supposed to play for Miss Sister's Destiny Day tap recital, and present the baseball project with Anabel. To make matters worse, he is accused of stealing the money collected to buy Miss Sister a gift for her work on the recital. Could things get worse? Yes, they can, especially when Theo discovers who the real thief is.
The Way to Stay in Destiny is a beguiling coming of age story, narrated in the first person by Theo. Theo is a very likable, chatty kid, though you can certainly feel his vulnerability in some of what he says, especially when he talks about things working out better than you, as a reader, know they will. His hope that Uncle Raymond will suddenly change is pretty hard to read about, since his uncle is so closed off from the world.
Uncle Raymond's anger at the world for the way returning Vietnam Vets were treated is so sadly, so terribly understandable. Just as Scattergood describes, they were spit on, cursed at, called names like baby killer even after experiencing on of the ugliest wars this country has been in. His anger may be justified, even expectable, but what is really noticeable is the lack of help available at that time for vets with this level of PTSD. If it were there, surely someone would have mentioned it. Uncle Raymond has not real interest in Theo and feels no guilt when he disappears for period of time.
Luckily, Uncle Raymond in counterbalanced by Miss Sister, who sees the world through some very lightly-tinted rose colored glasses. She immediately recognizes that Theo's ability to play the piano by ear is a very special musical gift and begins to teach him to read music, encouraging him to play her piano whenever he wants. And she is the one who introduces him to his namesake - the famous jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
The Way to Stay in Destiny is about family, friendship, loss and determination, and populated with wonderfully quirky, somewhat flawed characters who, because they are not perfect, make it that much easier to relate to them.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book is an ARC sent to me by the publisher, Scholastic Press
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
It's May 1974 and Theo has already had enough loss in his life. His parents were killed in a car crash when he was a baby, and now he has lost his beloved grandfather and his grandmother must go live in a nursing home. His Uncle Raymond arrives from his isolated cabin in Alaska as Theo's next of kin guardian. Uncle Raymond is a Vietnam Vet who resents Theo's parents for their anti-war protests and who has some pretty tough PTSD going on. First thing he does is whisk Theo away from everything he knows for a job in Destiny, Florida.
There are two things Theo loves - baseball and playing the piano. No sooner does he arrive at the Rest Easy Rooming House run by former Radio City Rockette Miss Sister Grandersole, but he hears the sounds of a beautiful piano somewhere in the house and determines to find it. Turns out, Miss Sister gives dancing lessons in a studio in the Rest Easy and she is bowled over by Theo piano playing.
And, as luck would have it, the first kid he meets is Anabel Johnson, daughter of the mayor and a girl who really knows her way around Destiny and who also loves baseball. In fact, she loves baseball more than the tap dancing classes she is supposed to be taking with Miss Sister and never shows up for.
With the end of the school year nearing, Theo and Anabel decide to work on a class project to celebrate Destiny Day and the 100th anniversary of its founding. Focusing on baseball, they are convinced the some pretty famous baseball players, including Hank Arron of the Milwaukee Braves, had lived in the Rest Easy during spring training.
But just as happily as Theo settles into his new life in Destiny at the Rest Easy, quickly endearing himself to Miss Sister, and in school, Uncle Raymond is already looking for another job away from there. And he has forbidden Theo to play the piano because of bad music memories during war protests by Theo's parents. Not only does Theo want to stay in Destiny, but he is supposed to play for Miss Sister's Destiny Day tap recital, and present the baseball project with Anabel. To make matters worse, he is accused of stealing the money collected to buy Miss Sister a gift for her work on the recital. Could things get worse? Yes, they can, especially when Theo discovers who the real thief is.
The Way to Stay in Destiny is a beguiling coming of age story, narrated in the first person by Theo. Theo is a very likable, chatty kid, though you can certainly feel his vulnerability in some of what he says, especially when he talks about things working out better than you, as a reader, know they will. His hope that Uncle Raymond will suddenly change is pretty hard to read about, since his uncle is so closed off from the world.
Uncle Raymond's anger at the world for the way returning Vietnam Vets were treated is so sadly, so terribly understandable. Just as Scattergood describes, they were spit on, cursed at, called names like baby killer even after experiencing on of the ugliest wars this country has been in. His anger may be justified, even expectable, but what is really noticeable is the lack of help available at that time for vets with this level of PTSD. If it were there, surely someone would have mentioned it. Uncle Raymond has not real interest in Theo and feels no guilt when he disappears for period of time.
Luckily, Uncle Raymond in counterbalanced by Miss Sister, who sees the world through some very lightly-tinted rose colored glasses. She immediately recognizes that Theo's ability to play the piano by ear is a very special musical gift and begins to teach him to read music, encouraging him to play her piano whenever he wants. And she is the one who introduces him to his namesake - the famous jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
The Way to Stay in Destiny is about family, friendship, loss and determination, and populated with wonderfully quirky, somewhat flawed characters who, because they are not perfect, make it that much easier to relate to them.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book is an ARC sent to me by the publisher, Scholastic Press
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
August 16, 2015
The minute sixth-grader Theo Thomas gets off the bus and arrives in Destiny, Florida with his Uncle Raymond, I’m right there with him. Award winning author AugustaScattergood, uses great details to pull readers into the character and setting: Theo grabs his bags, baseball mitt and a tattered book, Everything You Want to Know About Baseball; the heat hits him like a slap in the face; diesel fumes whoosh around him; he encounters slithery gray stuff hanging from the trees; and no "old men in shorts and flip-flops" meet him and his uncle at the Marathon gas station.
Theo’s shakes his head at the banner stretching across the street, Destiny, Florida: The Town Time Forgot and wonders, “Man, what am I doing here?”
Writers are encouraged to start a story at the moment in the character’s life when things change. True to that advice, Augusta starts this book with the fact that Theo’s life has taken a turn for the worse. As the story moves forward and Theo becomes acquainted with his new hometown, the reader finds out that he lived with his maternal grandparents on their Kentucky farm since his parents died in an accident when he was four. His Vietnam vet uncle had to come back from his happy life in Alaska to sell the farm, put his parents in a nursing home, and take care of him. Raymond resents it all.
At the same time that his uncle lays down the law about how life is going to be now that he's in charge, Theo is busy discovering that downstairs from his room in Miss Sister Grandersole's Rooming House and Dance Academy, there is a beautiful piano. He also makes the acquaintance of Anabel Johnson, who would rather be playing baseball than taking tap dance lessons.
The piano is like a magnet to Theo and despite his uncle's displeasure, he can't keep his hands off of it. Miss Sister recognizes Theo's special talent to play music by ear, but all his uncle can say is, "No one but a fool wastes his time playing a piano."
Although this is Theo’s story of discovering a way to make a life without his grandparents in a new city, it is equally about Raymond coming to grips with his Vietnam nightmares and sorrows. I loved how slowly his backstory is revealed and how Theo discovers his uncle's hurts as an unappreciated Vietnam veteran. Their reconciliation is beautiful and authentic without being sappy or maudlin.
I appreciated the way in which Augusta wove together the strands of the other character's stories. Besides Uncle Raymond's story, other sub-plots include Anabel's passion for baseball and her determination to uncover part of Destiny's history; and Miss Sister’s dancing dreams, which turned out different than she expected.
I also loved that Theo was as passionate about playing the piano as he was about practicing baseball. These two strands create a very unique character.
There are too many great lines from this book for me to quote, but here are a few:
"Music Makes Memories" the sign in Sister's practice room. The sign provides great subtext for the novel.
When Theo plays the piano he describes it as "music jumping out of his fingers."
Uncle Raymond: "I don't know nothing about raising kids. Especially ones that remind me of the bad times."
Theo: "I'll start acting like family when you do."
Uncle Raymond: "I hate everything that happened. I hate you having no one but me."
**********
Why did Augusta Scattergood name the town Destiny? Why does Uncle Raymond want to leave Destiny? How does Theo figure out a way for them to stay and a way for them to be a family. You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I am giving away a copy of the Audio CD expertly narrated by Michael Crouch. If you would like to win, please leave me a comment (with your email address if you are new to my blog) by 6 PM August 20, 2015. If you become a new follower of my blog, or share this post on Facebook or Twitter, I'll give you additional chances to win; just let me know in your comment what you did.
This review originally was published on LitChat on July 28, 2015
Theo’s shakes his head at the banner stretching across the street, Destiny, Florida: The Town Time Forgot and wonders, “Man, what am I doing here?”
Writers are encouraged to start a story at the moment in the character’s life when things change. True to that advice, Augusta starts this book with the fact that Theo’s life has taken a turn for the worse. As the story moves forward and Theo becomes acquainted with his new hometown, the reader finds out that he lived with his maternal grandparents on their Kentucky farm since his parents died in an accident when he was four. His Vietnam vet uncle had to come back from his happy life in Alaska to sell the farm, put his parents in a nursing home, and take care of him. Raymond resents it all.
At the same time that his uncle lays down the law about how life is going to be now that he's in charge, Theo is busy discovering that downstairs from his room in Miss Sister Grandersole's Rooming House and Dance Academy, there is a beautiful piano. He also makes the acquaintance of Anabel Johnson, who would rather be playing baseball than taking tap dance lessons.
The piano is like a magnet to Theo and despite his uncle's displeasure, he can't keep his hands off of it. Miss Sister recognizes Theo's special talent to play music by ear, but all his uncle can say is, "No one but a fool wastes his time playing a piano."
Although this is Theo’s story of discovering a way to make a life without his grandparents in a new city, it is equally about Raymond coming to grips with his Vietnam nightmares and sorrows. I loved how slowly his backstory is revealed and how Theo discovers his uncle's hurts as an unappreciated Vietnam veteran. Their reconciliation is beautiful and authentic without being sappy or maudlin.
I appreciated the way in which Augusta wove together the strands of the other character's stories. Besides Uncle Raymond's story, other sub-plots include Anabel's passion for baseball and her determination to uncover part of Destiny's history; and Miss Sister’s dancing dreams, which turned out different than she expected.
I also loved that Theo was as passionate about playing the piano as he was about practicing baseball. These two strands create a very unique character.
There are too many great lines from this book for me to quote, but here are a few:
"Music Makes Memories" the sign in Sister's practice room. The sign provides great subtext for the novel.
When Theo plays the piano he describes it as "music jumping out of his fingers."
Uncle Raymond: "I don't know nothing about raising kids. Especially ones that remind me of the bad times."
Theo: "I'll start acting like family when you do."
Uncle Raymond: "I hate everything that happened. I hate you having no one but me."
**********
Why did Augusta Scattergood name the town Destiny? Why does Uncle Raymond want to leave Destiny? How does Theo figure out a way for them to stay and a way for them to be a family. You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I am giving away a copy of the Audio CD expertly narrated by Michael Crouch. If you would like to win, please leave me a comment (with your email address if you are new to my blog) by 6 PM August 20, 2015. If you become a new follower of my blog, or share this post on Facebook or Twitter, I'll give you additional chances to win; just let me know in your comment what you did.
This review originally was published on LitChat on July 28, 2015
July 6, 2017
“I don’t know nothing about kids. Especially one that reminds me of the bad times.”
Theo's life has led him to Destiny, FL in the company of his austere Uncle Raymond. With both folks gone and his grandparents no longer able to care for him, Theo must now try to get to know an uncle who has been away for years. Uncle Raymond has lots of rules for Theo; some practical (You will do laundry every Saturday) and some mystifying (absolutely no piano playing.) How will Theo ever be able to live with this man?
But also in Theo's Destiny is Miss Sister, owner of the town dance studio, who encourages Theo's love for music - especially the piano. She sees that his full name is Thelonius and tells him "Someone expected you to be a musician." And there's Annabelle, the dance lesson dodger who really just wants to play baseball. Luckily, Theo lands in Annabelle's class at school, so at least he knows someone on his first day. They are soon involved in a class project to try to prove that famous baseball players used to live in Destiny.
But living with Uncle Raymond's anger makes it seem like Theo is walking on egg shells. Theo doesn't remember his folks very well, but Raymond has some real anger toward their stand against the Vietnam War, having served two tours of duty himself. And just about the time Theo starts to feel comfortable, Raymond talks about moving on to another town. How will Theo be able to convince Raymond that they should stay in Destiny?
The small town atmosphere of Destiny draws the reader in like a comfy chair with its quirky characters and yes, some small minded prejudices, as well. With Raymond so angry about the past and Theo with so little knowledge about his past, it begs the question: who's better off?
Themes: family, loyalty, betrayal, friendship,
Theo's life has led him to Destiny, FL in the company of his austere Uncle Raymond. With both folks gone and his grandparents no longer able to care for him, Theo must now try to get to know an uncle who has been away for years. Uncle Raymond has lots of rules for Theo; some practical (You will do laundry every Saturday) and some mystifying (absolutely no piano playing.) How will Theo ever be able to live with this man?
But also in Theo's Destiny is Miss Sister, owner of the town dance studio, who encourages Theo's love for music - especially the piano. She sees that his full name is Thelonius and tells him "Someone expected you to be a musician." And there's Annabelle, the dance lesson dodger who really just wants to play baseball. Luckily, Theo lands in Annabelle's class at school, so at least he knows someone on his first day. They are soon involved in a class project to try to prove that famous baseball players used to live in Destiny.
But living with Uncle Raymond's anger makes it seem like Theo is walking on egg shells. Theo doesn't remember his folks very well, but Raymond has some real anger toward their stand against the Vietnam War, having served two tours of duty himself. And just about the time Theo starts to feel comfortable, Raymond talks about moving on to another town. How will Theo be able to convince Raymond that they should stay in Destiny?
The small town atmosphere of Destiny draws the reader in like a comfy chair with its quirky characters and yes, some small minded prejudices, as well. With Raymond so angry about the past and Theo with so little knowledge about his past, it begs the question: who's better off?
Themes: family, loyalty, betrayal, friendship,
December 4, 2014
In 1974, twelve-year-old Theo is forced to leave his grandparents, his dog and his friends to live with Uncle Raymond, an emotionally scarred Vietnam vet. Raymond isn't any happier to be burdened with a nephew than Theo is to be trapped with an uncle he doesn't know. Raymond rents a room in Destiny, Florida at Miss Sister Grandersole's boarding house and dance school. Searching for normal in a place where lizards leap from bushes and parrots squawk from, Theo is drawn to Miss Sister's piano. She encourages his talent and softens the blow of his uncle's harsh words. Then Theo meets Anabel, a girl who's as determined to skip dance class as she is to prove Hank Aaron once made Destiny his part-time home. As Theo joins her in her quest and practices piano for Miss Sister's recital, he discovers more and more reasons to stay in Destiny.
Theo and Anabel are lovable, distinct characters brought together by their passion for baseball and need of a friend. And Miss Sister is the perfect foil for troubled Uncle Raymond. Just as in Glory Be, Augusta Scattergood's award-winning debut novel, this book is infused with southern grits-and-cornbread charm.
Theo and Anabel are lovable, distinct characters brought together by their passion for baseball and need of a friend. And Miss Sister is the perfect foil for troubled Uncle Raymond. Just as in Glory Be, Augusta Scattergood's award-winning debut novel, this book is infused with southern grits-and-cornbread charm.
January 4, 2015
The Way to Stay in Destiny by Augusta Scattergood - Realistic Fiction, 4th grade and up – Release Date- January 6th, 2015 – Loved this book. I cannot stop thinking about this book which has a young boy picked up by his uncle and moved to a new place completely unknown to him. He is in quite the tough situation. Many readers will identify and understand his challenges. Some students will love the baseball celebrations and connections to a town’s history. When he begins to settle at the house he finds his one link to home, the piano, which is exactly what his Uncle has forbidden him to go near. There are many mysteries revealed, friendships made, and beautiful celebrations as well throughout this book. Loved every minute of this touching story. Highly recommended.
Favorite Quotes: “Right now, you need a steady riverbank to come home to. Destiny and the Rest Easy seem just about right.”
Favorite Quotes: “Right now, you need a steady riverbank to come home to. Destiny and the Rest Easy seem just about right.”
December 23, 2014
Theo comes to Destiny, FL, whisked away from Kentucky and his grandparents who couldn't take care of him anymore, with his uncle, who doesn't seem to be the nicest guy in the world. It's 1974 and Theo is trying to figure out who he is in this odd town while his uncle deals with demons that haunt him from the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Thank goodness for Miss Sister, Braves' fan, Anabel, and a shiny grand piano. Theo's uncle doesn't want him to play piano and Anabel's mom wants her to dance, but both kids know their destinies...music and baseball. This is a story of family, home, and identity - all of which the characters need to define for themselves. Glory Be was a big hit in my classroom, and The Way to Stay in Destiny is destined to be, also, in 2015!
Read
December 11, 2015Theo is moving away from the life he knows and living with his uncle Raymond, who is a Vietnam veteran, in a town called Destiny Florida. The story takes place in the South after the Vietnam war so Theo can feel the tension of his presence, and can tell he is somewhat unwanted in the area. His escape from reality is music but his uncle doesn't allow him this outlet, so he makes a friend who helps him. Im not quit sure how I would use this book with a lesson but I think its a wonderful story that many kids can relate to, so I would definitely recommend it to my students to read on their own time.
February 9, 2016
This is a very enjoyable story. The description is a bit deceiving because it talks about a mystery and an adventure. I wouldn't say that it had either. It's about a boy who moves to Destiny, Florida with his uncle, a Vietnam War veteran. The uncle is unhappy and resents having to care for his nephew. The boy loves living in Destiny because the owner of the rooming house in which he lives has a piano. The boy loves playing the piano. The boy is befriended by Anabel who shares his love of baseball. The uncle wants to leave Destiny, and the boy must find a way to stay. It's a heartwarming story.
December 24, 2014
This book is great. I had a lot to do in the pre-Christmas merriment and I just couldn't put this down. There are so many things I loved about this book and the best thing would perhaps give away too much, so just take my word for it. It's sweet and the way that music plays a role has this musician singing its praises.
"Like my own sweet grandmother always said, 'every river needs a bank"
"Nobody in the history of the universe ever learned one single fact worth knowing on the last day of school."
"Like my own sweet grandmother always said, 'every river needs a bank"
"Nobody in the history of the universe ever learned one single fact worth knowing on the last day of school."
January 2, 2015
Augusta Scattergood and Barbara O'Connor are my go-to authors for really capturing southern life from a child's perspective. And in this book, Scattergood takes it even one step further - she throws in the passion for music that just can't be denied within a small Southern town setting, with many eclectic characters.
Another book I loved!
Another book I loved!
January 10, 2015
Oh, my! What a wonderful story for a cold Saturday. I loved this story set in the 1970's in this small town in Florida. Full of music and baseball through the eyes of a sixth grade boy who has been pulled from his roots in Kentucky by an uncle who is struggling with life as a viet nam vet. I loved the characters, especially Miss Sister! Great book!
December 8, 2015
Theo is forced to move with his uncle to Destiny, where he makes friends with a Dance instructor and a girl and finds his talents with a piano. Uncle forbids him from music and threatens to leave, they work out their family issues and grow closer so Theo can stay. This book was a great story with a variety of interesting and unique characters that get the reader invested from the beginning.
January 5, 2015
Amazing amazing amazing.
Absolutely adored this book. Theo will stay with you long after you finish the pages of the book.
Fantastic writing, lots of lines that stick to you!
Fans of Turtle in Paradise and other historical fiction novels will enjoy this one.
Absolutely adored this book. Theo will stay with you long after you finish the pages of the book.
Fantastic writing, lots of lines that stick to you!
Fans of Turtle in Paradise and other historical fiction novels will enjoy this one.
January 19, 2015
Another wonderful novel from Augusta Scattergood! You'll find yourself wishing you could visit Destiny just to spend time with the cast of characters from this heartwarming story.
December 17, 2015
Delightful, sweet story of a boy discovering his talents and finding his place in a new family. Perfect for middle grades kids.
October 27, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Scattergood knows how to create memorable characters with elegant prose. I love how she makes the town of Destiny a character, too, complete with rich details even down tot he squawking green parrots. And she tells a great story, too!
August 9, 2015
I just didn’t feel it and by looking at the reviews, I am in the minority but I didn’t feel connected to anyone in this book. There just wasn’t enough energy in the story or in the characters to feel attached or committed to this story. There was the lost love, the new connections and the affection toward the piano but the story didn’t go too deep, it all laid on the surface and I wanted someone to deeply connect with Theo and take him under their wing and show him the love that he was missing. The love his grandparents had showered him with. I loved that Theo’s uncle left Canada to become his guardian when the grandparents could no longer care for him. Theo hasn’t had much contact with his uncle but yet he takes on this responsibility to help the family out. Moving to Florida, where the uncle has a new job lined up, the two of them try to make a go of it. The uncle has an attitude; he’s authoritative, bitter and direct whereas Theo is just a kid with questions who wants to be a kid. His uncle is all about work, being accountable while Theo maneuvers around him the best that he can. The rooming house where they are living has a piano, a piano his uncle tells him to stay away from. Baseball, another “no” from the uncle, the loves of Theo life are off-limits as they take up too much of Theo’s time, according to the uncle. Theo’s not buying this view, their world is too shallow for me and I want some conversation, something deep within their lives to occur. In the end, I was happy for the two of them, it worked for them and that is what will make the young reader happy.
October 8, 2015
Though his story is set in the 1970s, Theo is a relatable character for contemporary readers as the 'new kid' in town. Uncle Raymond’s anger stems from having to care for his sister’s child, the sister who turned on Raymond and protested against the Vietnam War, during which Raymond proudly fought. Theo and Anabel are working on a project about famous baseball players who lived in Destiny, and Theo idolizes Hank Aaron. Still, the historical element isn’t heavy-handed, and Theo’s first-person narration is spot-on for a sixth-grader, with some humor included. As Theo spends more time working on his piano playing with kind Miss Sister, he gains the confidence to stand up for himself and what he wants in life. In spite of the turmoil in his life, Theo is hopeful for a happy ending in Destiny, and that makes his character likable. The narrative is very well-written, though a few sentences sprinkled throughout introduce contradictions that might be confusing to the reader. Children in grades 4-6 who like realistic or historical fiction will enjoy Theo’s story.
January 29, 2015
The Way To Stay in Destiny by Augusta Scattergood
Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam vet, takes charge of Theo after grandma is placed in a nursing home. Leaving everything behind, they move to Sister Grandersoul’s in Destiny, Florida. Humidity, a new school and Uncle Raymond’s rules snarl up Theo’s life; but Sister Grandersole (and her piano) help foil Uncle Raymond’s non-caring attitude.
Theo discovers his mother's musical hopes for him—that his namesake is Thelonious Monk—which provides an emotional leg-up in ignoring Uncle Raymond’s no-piano rule.
Meanwhile, gritty Annabel, who hates ballet and loves baseball, befriends Theo, as they share work on a school project about baseball in Destiny’s history.
Scattergood pens just enough on Vietnam and PTSD issues to add to a youth reader’s understanding. The author details strong-minded characters--strong enough to evolve into a series.
Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam vet, takes charge of Theo after grandma is placed in a nursing home. Leaving everything behind, they move to Sister Grandersoul’s in Destiny, Florida. Humidity, a new school and Uncle Raymond’s rules snarl up Theo’s life; but Sister Grandersole (and her piano) help foil Uncle Raymond’s non-caring attitude.
Theo discovers his mother's musical hopes for him—that his namesake is Thelonious Monk—which provides an emotional leg-up in ignoring Uncle Raymond’s no-piano rule.
Meanwhile, gritty Annabel, who hates ballet and loves baseball, befriends Theo, as they share work on a school project about baseball in Destiny’s history.
Scattergood pens just enough on Vietnam and PTSD issues to add to a youth reader’s understanding. The author details strong-minded characters--strong enough to evolve into a series.
August 4, 2015
This is the book I read in Chicago instead of finishing The Darkest Path.
Despite being a first person narrative, you never really get to know Theo. The book's emotional tenor seems off because you never get deep into how Theo is feeling. He's an orphan, who's just been uprooted from the only home he's ever known when his grandparents have to move to nursing care, but nothing really gets him deeply upset until he's accused of something he didn't do. Now, that could work, if it then brought any of the other stuff bubbling up, or if he talked it through with anyone, but instead we just get more surface level engagement with his emotions. It kind of feels like Theo's bound to blow up in a few years.
The working in of music is nice, and for a young audience the book might work, but I still feel like it's short-changing both them and Theo.
Despite being a first person narrative, you never really get to know Theo. The book's emotional tenor seems off because you never get deep into how Theo is feeling. He's an orphan, who's just been uprooted from the only home he's ever known when his grandparents have to move to nursing care, but nothing really gets him deeply upset until he's accused of something he didn't do. Now, that could work, if it then brought any of the other stuff bubbling up, or if he talked it through with anyone, but instead we just get more surface level engagement with his emotions. It kind of feels like Theo's bound to blow up in a few years.
The working in of music is nice, and for a young audience the book might work, but I still feel like it's short-changing both them and Theo.
February 5, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of a young boy named Theo, who had a happy life living with his grandparents in Kentucky until they could no longer care for him. Uprooted from his happy life and hometown, he sets out with his Uncle Raymond to a small town named Destiny in Florida. Once there, Theo slowly begins to adjust to his new life, get settled in and makes friends, and reunites with his loves of baseball and piano.
All in all, it makes for a very cute story about a young man learning to find himself and bond with the only family that he has left. It is definitely for readers who are a bit younger than I am, but even being in my early twenties it was an enjoyable book.
This is the story of a young boy named Theo, who had a happy life living with his grandparents in Kentucky until they could no longer care for him. Uprooted from his happy life and hometown, he sets out with his Uncle Raymond to a small town named Destiny in Florida. Once there, Theo slowly begins to adjust to his new life, get settled in and makes friends, and reunites with his loves of baseball and piano.
All in all, it makes for a very cute story about a young man learning to find himself and bond with the only family that he has left. It is definitely for readers who are a bit younger than I am, but even being in my early twenties it was an enjoyable book.
February 13, 2015
Like Glory Be, this book really captures the feel and mood of southern life, in this case a sleepy, hot Florida town named Destiny. Theo, who lost his parents at age 4, has left behind his life in Kentucky with aging grandparents to move to Destiny with his uncle, a Vietnam Vet with leftover anger issues for Theo's parents. Although living with a strict uncle is hard, Theo tries to create a new life with the very nice boarding house owner, a new friend, and most of all the piano in the drawing room. A moving and colorful story and the first I've read that features a Vietnam Vet scarred from a bad war that still has to contend with nightmares, etc.
April 10, 2015
Was "forced" to read this book by a friend. I mean really, pianos and baseball?
OK, fine. I wasn't forced, and I thoroughly enjoyed this charming book. I wanted to scoop up Theo and his uncle and give them both hugs. And a brownie.
This is my first book by Augusta Scattergood, and I suspect it won't be my last. Some great writing here, and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read this!
OK, fine. I wasn't forced, and I thoroughly enjoyed this charming book. I wanted to scoop up Theo and his uncle and give them both hugs. And a brownie.
This is my first book by Augusta Scattergood, and I suspect it won't be my last. Some great writing here, and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read this!
February 3, 2015
This is definitely a skinny punch book, which means its 179 pages are jammed packed with powerful messages about family, war, music and baseball.
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