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Destination: Unknown
Harriet has a complicated life. She cares for her chronically ill Mum, while trying to juggle school and a social life. She’s tired, overworked and underpaid.
Yet, one day she sees what she thinks is a ghost, but ghosts don’t exist do they? And they especially don’t help you travel in time, right?
Now Harriet has a murder to solve, all the while trying to make sure no one finds out about the secret behind that stone in her back garden.
Yet, one day she sees what she thinks is a ghost, but ghosts don’t exist do they? And they especially don’t help you travel in time, right?
Now Harriet has a murder to solve, all the while trying to make sure no one finds out about the secret behind that stone in her back garden.
Audible Audio
First published July 9, 2016
12 people want to read
About the author
Joey Paul
27 books588 followersJoey Paul is a multi-award-winning indie author, exploring the young adult genre. She has released twenty-three books in total so far, with one more due out in 2025. Her current works include the "Dying Thoughts" series, which is eight books, the "Lights Out" trilogy, the "Cramping Chronicles" series, the “Invisible” quartet, as well as several standalone novels. She writes across genres, with crime, mystery, paranormal, dystopian and urban fantasy being her usual genres. She is writing her next two books at the moment, having recently finished her last two.
Joey is disabled and a graduate from The Open University with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. When not reading medical textbooks, she enjoys reading crime novels, medical dramas and young adult novels. When she's out and about, she likes doing weekly wheelchair walks occasionally challenging herself for charity. And when she's not doing THAT, she's sleeping! She's 43 and has been writing since she was retired from her job on medical grounds at the age of 19. She plans to write for as long as she has ideas or until someone tells her to stop!
Joey is disabled and a graduate from The Open University with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. When not reading medical textbooks, she enjoys reading crime novels, medical dramas and young adult novels. When she's out and about, she likes doing weekly wheelchair walks occasionally challenging herself for charity. And when she's not doing THAT, she's sleeping! She's 43 and has been writing since she was retired from her job on medical grounds at the age of 19. She plans to write for as long as she has ideas or until someone tells her to stop!
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February 28, 2021
Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul is the story of Harriet, a fifteen-year-old who has to juggle between her school life and her home life. The home life isn't that much of a burden because she loves taking care of her mom. School life, on the other hand, is filled with hard things. She is not much of a social person, and has more friends online than she does offline, but that's okay because she enjoys her life this way a lot and doesn't want anything to change.
Yet, something does.
One night, when Harriet is out in her dining room, a ghost (well, sort-off) arrives in her dining room seeking her help. And then, the ghost disappears. The next day, though, she notices the paving stone in her backyard glowing in the same light as the ghost. Because she has no idea what that suggests, she went out to inspect it, only to be taken back in time almost a hundred years! That must have been an adventure. The ghost tells her of how she wants her help in solving the murder case her father is wrongly accused of and Harriet agrees. She takes up almost all of her day and night and well, time in order to help the ghost, Dot save her father.
In the meantime, Harriet's mother's condition worsens. She spends a lot of time taking care of her old lady and then, on this new 'project' that she has taken, that she misses out on a lot of things—two of which are school work and sleep. Well, that's sad.
What I liked about the book was the easy-to-go plot. It wasn't like I had to be Einstein to understand what is going on here, which pretty much is the case with a lot of mystery novels. Sometimes, the authors just twist the story in such a way that it is hard to get whether something is really realistic or not. This book, on the other hand, borders on fantasy, so that wasn't an issue. And a rather realistic fantasy. As in it wasn't as if the author used magic to explain all the things happening, so that was good.
I also liked how entertaining the whole thing was for me. That said, there were a few places where I found the plot was a tad bit dragged, making it a little disappointing. For example, every time Harriet took care of her ailing mother, I found her doing the same things again and again, saying and thinking the same things again and again. After one point, it got a little boring and tedious to get through, even though I agree that I learnt a lot about Fibro and M.E. from this book. Now I am not much aware about Fibro, so this statement could have been wrong or unwanted in itself, but I also felt that considering how Harriet's mother's condition was nothing but worsening throughout the time of the novel, it would have been great to have seen some action as in something serious to have happened so that she could have then improved slowly and gradually from it.
The plot, as I already said, appealed to me a lot. The writing style, on the other hand, disappointed me a little. I don't believe the book was written for YA or even MG for that matter, because the style was way too informal. A lot of aspects could have been improved in this way.
What I did not like about the novel was how selfless Harriet really was. Almost too selfless to be humanely possible. And this bothered me a little, because no matter how much a teenager loves her mom, she would definitely be a little irritated at times, when she is made to give up on her life in order to care for her mother. Another thing that I didn't like, or perhaps, didn't understand was why her mother believed that Harriet was lying about the whole situation, what with the time travel and everything when they had a live newspaper with Dot's message on it in their storage cupboard—that too, in a place that hadn't been open since years so Harriet couldn't possibly have kept it there herself.
That, anyhow, is my opinion. Feel free to let me know of yours if you have read the book.
Yet, something does.
One night, when Harriet is out in her dining room, a ghost (well, sort-off) arrives in her dining room seeking her help. And then, the ghost disappears. The next day, though, she notices the paving stone in her backyard glowing in the same light as the ghost. Because she has no idea what that suggests, she went out to inspect it, only to be taken back in time almost a hundred years! That must have been an adventure. The ghost tells her of how she wants her help in solving the murder case her father is wrongly accused of and Harriet agrees. She takes up almost all of her day and night and well, time in order to help the ghost, Dot save her father.
In the meantime, Harriet's mother's condition worsens. She spends a lot of time taking care of her old lady and then, on this new 'project' that she has taken, that she misses out on a lot of things—two of which are school work and sleep. Well, that's sad.
What I liked about the book was the easy-to-go plot. It wasn't like I had to be Einstein to understand what is going on here, which pretty much is the case with a lot of mystery novels. Sometimes, the authors just twist the story in such a way that it is hard to get whether something is really realistic or not. This book, on the other hand, borders on fantasy, so that wasn't an issue. And a rather realistic fantasy. As in it wasn't as if the author used magic to explain all the things happening, so that was good.
I also liked how entertaining the whole thing was for me. That said, there were a few places where I found the plot was a tad bit dragged, making it a little disappointing. For example, every time Harriet took care of her ailing mother, I found her doing the same things again and again, saying and thinking the same things again and again. After one point, it got a little boring and tedious to get through, even though I agree that I learnt a lot about Fibro and M.E. from this book. Now I am not much aware about Fibro, so this statement could have been wrong or unwanted in itself, but I also felt that considering how Harriet's mother's condition was nothing but worsening throughout the time of the novel, it would have been great to have seen some action as in something serious to have happened so that she could have then improved slowly and gradually from it.
The plot, as I already said, appealed to me a lot. The writing style, on the other hand, disappointed me a little. I don't believe the book was written for YA or even MG for that matter, because the style was way too informal. A lot of aspects could have been improved in this way.
What I did not like about the novel was how selfless Harriet really was. Almost too selfless to be humanely possible. And this bothered me a little, because no matter how much a teenager loves her mom, she would definitely be a little irritated at times, when she is made to give up on her life in order to care for her mother. Another thing that I didn't like, or perhaps, didn't understand was why her mother believed that Harriet was lying about the whole situation, what with the time travel and everything when they had a live newspaper with Dot's message on it in their storage cupboard—that too, in a place that hadn't been open since years so Harriet couldn't possibly have kept it there herself.
That, anyhow, is my opinion. Feel free to let me know of yours if you have read the book.
December 14, 2020
It's hard to do time travel well, and she did it
I love this book for a lot of personal reasons. Why am I giving it 5 stars?
1. Did I put it down?
Yes and no. In the case of this book, I had to because the first time I listened to it, I was at work and running errands, but whenever I had the time I picked it up immediately.
2. What about the characters?
Again, this is a trademark of Joey's books, at least the books I've read. The characters are so real. Harri is a wonderful character, but in this story, I give the trophy to her mum, Rose. The woman has an aggressive case of fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions, and her actions throughout the book show that Joey doesn't just write a struggling character for shock value. No-oh, I saw my own mother reflected in Rose.
3. Structure?
Intriguin pacing with all the back and forth and time travel, plus Harri trying to uncover a crime that happened a 100 years before the story's present timeline. Think Octavia Butler's "Kindred" in the time travelling aspect, not the other aspects that only writers like Queen Octavia can write, but the time travel and time speed difference, that. Amazing.
4. Writing?
Solid, realistic, sounds like a teen, but Harri is mature beyond her years and it shows. I could notice the difference and the research that went into this when the characters from the previous century had more extensive dialogue moments.
5. Subjective stuff
I already said that I saw my own mother reflected in Rose's character. That is enough for a star already, but, I also liked the setting, and the crime aspect of it.
Please pick it up, it's worth a read and even a re-read. This review is happening after my my second read.
I love this book for a lot of personal reasons. Why am I giving it 5 stars?
1. Did I put it down?
Yes and no. In the case of this book, I had to because the first time I listened to it, I was at work and running errands, but whenever I had the time I picked it up immediately.
2. What about the characters?
Again, this is a trademark of Joey's books, at least the books I've read. The characters are so real. Harri is a wonderful character, but in this story, I give the trophy to her mum, Rose. The woman has an aggressive case of fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions, and her actions throughout the book show that Joey doesn't just write a struggling character for shock value. No-oh, I saw my own mother reflected in Rose.
3. Structure?
Intriguin pacing with all the back and forth and time travel, plus Harri trying to uncover a crime that happened a 100 years before the story's present timeline. Think Octavia Butler's "Kindred" in the time travelling aspect, not the other aspects that only writers like Queen Octavia can write, but the time travel and time speed difference, that. Amazing.
4. Writing?
Solid, realistic, sounds like a teen, but Harri is mature beyond her years and it shows. I could notice the difference and the research that went into this when the characters from the previous century had more extensive dialogue moments.
5. Subjective stuff
I already said that I saw my own mother reflected in Rose's character. That is enough for a star already, but, I also liked the setting, and the crime aspect of it.
Please pick it up, it's worth a read and even a re-read. This review is happening after my my second read.
July 17, 2016
ENJOYABLE
I would have liked so much to give this book 5 stars, and only one thing stopped me. I loved the way I learned about Harri’s mother’s condition, but for me there was too much repetition and detail in the way her daughter took care of her. I would have preferred the book to be more concise. That said, the story was good, and I appreciated the amount of research into like in 1910 which really came to life for me. Not my favourite of this author’s books but I shall be getting more of them in the future.
I would have liked so much to give this book 5 stars, and only one thing stopped me. I loved the way I learned about Harri’s mother’s condition, but for me there was too much repetition and detail in the way her daughter took care of her. I would have preferred the book to be more concise. That said, the story was good, and I appreciated the amount of research into like in 1910 which really came to life for me. Not my favourite of this author’s books but I shall be getting more of them in the future.
October 21, 2016
What a lovely story! Still smiling as I close the book. Harriet is a fantastic heroine! Kind, mature beyond her years,obstinate and full of love for her sick mother, she commends admiration. Her mother, despite her condition, is still a great mom who suffers most from feeling like she's letting her daughter down. Their relationship is adorable and very moving.
As for the ghost story, it created a suspense that was perfect and made you impatient to keep turning the pages. Great book!
As for the ghost story, it created a suspense that was perfect and made you impatient to keep turning the pages. Great book!
September 13, 2018
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I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul is the story of Harriet, a fifteen-year-old who has to juggle between her school life and her home life. The home life isn't that much of a burden because she loves taking care of her mom. School life, on the other hand, is filled with hard things. She is not much of a social person, and has more friends online than she does offline, but that's okay because she enjoys her life this way a lot and doesn't want anything to change.
Yet, something does.
One night, when Harriet is out in her dining room, a ghost (well, sort-off) arrives in her dining room seeking her help. And then, the ghost disappears. The next day, though, she notices the paving stone in her backyard glowing in the same light as the ghost. Because she has no idea what that suggests, she went out to inspect it, only to be taken back in time almost a hundred years! That must have been an adventure. The ghost tells her of how she wants her help in solving the murder case her father is wrongly accused of and Harriet agrees. She takes up almost all of her day and night and well, time in order to help the ghost, Dot save her father.
In the meantime, Harriet's mother's condition worsens. She spends a lot of time taking care of her old lady and then, on this new 'project' that she has taken, that she misses out on a lot of things—two of which are school work and sleep. Well, that's sad.
What I liked about the book was the easy-to-go plot. It wasn't like I had to be Einstein to understand what is going on here, which pretty much is the case with a lot of mystery novels. Sometimes, the authors just twist the story in such a way that it is hard to get whether something is really realistic or not. This book, on the other hand, borders on fantasy, so that wasn't an issue. And a rather realistic fantasy. As in it wasn't as if the author used magic to explain all the things happening, so that was good.
I also liked how entertaining the whole thing was for me. That said, there were a few places where I found the plot was a tad bit dragged, making it a little disappointing. For example, every time Harriet took care of her ailing mother, I found her doing the same things again and again, saying and thinking the same things again and again. After one point, it got a little boring and tedious to get through, even though I agree that I learnt a lot about Fibro and M.E. from this book. Now I am not much aware about Fibro, so this statement could have been wrong or unwanted in itself, but I also felt that considering how Harriet's mother's condition was nothing but worsening throughout the time of the novel, it would have been great to have seen some action as in something serious to have happened so that she could have then improved slowly and gradually from it.
The plot, as I already said, appealed to me a lot. The writing style, on the other hand, disappointed me a little. I don't believe the book was written for YA or even MG for that matter, because the style was way too informal. A lot of aspects could have been improved in this way.
What I did not like about the novel was how selfless Harriet really was. Almost too selfless to be humanely possible. And this bothered me a little, because no matter how much a teenager loves her mom, she would definitely be a little irritated at times, when she is made to give up on her life in order to care for her mother. Another thing that I didn't like, or perhaps, didn't understand was why her mother believed that Harriet was lying about the whole situation, what with the time travel and everything when they had a live newspaper with Dot's message on it in their storage cupboard—that too, in a place that hadn't been open since years so Harriet couldn't possibly have kept it there herself.
That, anyhow, is my opinion. Feel free to let me know of yours if you have read the book.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul is the story of Harriet, a fifteen-year-old who has to juggle between her school life and her home life. The home life isn't that much of a burden because she loves taking care of her mom. School life, on the other hand, is filled with hard things. She is not much of a social person, and has more friends online than she does offline, but that's okay because she enjoys her life this way a lot and doesn't want anything to change.
Yet, something does.
One night, when Harriet is out in her dining room, a ghost (well, sort-off) arrives in her dining room seeking her help. And then, the ghost disappears. The next day, though, she notices the paving stone in her backyard glowing in the same light as the ghost. Because she has no idea what that suggests, she went out to inspect it, only to be taken back in time almost a hundred years! That must have been an adventure. The ghost tells her of how she wants her help in solving the murder case her father is wrongly accused of and Harriet agrees. She takes up almost all of her day and night and well, time in order to help the ghost, Dot save her father.
In the meantime, Harriet's mother's condition worsens. She spends a lot of time taking care of her old lady and then, on this new 'project' that she has taken, that she misses out on a lot of things—two of which are school work and sleep. Well, that's sad.
What I liked about the book was the easy-to-go plot. It wasn't like I had to be Einstein to understand what is going on here, which pretty much is the case with a lot of mystery novels. Sometimes, the authors just twist the story in such a way that it is hard to get whether something is really realistic or not. This book, on the other hand, borders on fantasy, so that wasn't an issue. And a rather realistic fantasy. As in it wasn't as if the author used magic to explain all the things happening, so that was good.
I also liked how entertaining the whole thing was for me. That said, there were a few places where I found the plot was a tad bit dragged, making it a little disappointing. For example, every time Harriet took care of her ailing mother, I found her doing the same things again and again, saying and thinking the same things again and again. After one point, it got a little boring and tedious to get through, even though I agree that I learnt a lot about Fibro and M.E. from this book. Now I am not much aware about Fibro, so this statement could have been wrong or unwanted in itself, but I also felt that considering how Harriet's mother's condition was nothing but worsening throughout the time of the novel, it would have been great to have seen some action as in something serious to have happened so that she could have then improved slowly and gradually from it.
The plot, as I already said, appealed to me a lot. The writing style, on the other hand, disappointed me a little. I don't believe the book was written for YA or even MG for that matter, because the style was way too informal. A lot of aspects could have been improved in this way.
What I did not like about the novel was how selfless Harriet really was. Almost too selfless to be humanely possible. And this bothered me a little, because no matter how much a teenager loves her mom, she would definitely be a little irritated at times, when she is made to give up on her life in order to care for her mother. Another thing that I didn't like, or perhaps, didn't understand was why her mother believed that Harriet was lying about the whole situation, what with the time travel and everything when they had a live newspaper with Dot's message on it in their storage cupboard—that too, in a place that hadn't been open since years so Harriet couldn't possibly have kept it there herself.
That, anyhow, is my opinion. Feel free to let me know of yours if you have read the book.
March 14, 2019
Harriet's life was anything but normal. Since her mum's diagnosis, life had changed. Her home, her responsibilities, and her school, everything was different. She was a student, a carer, and now, it seemed, a time traveller. It happened early one morning, a ghost appeared and beseeched her aid. Back in the 1900s her father had been accused of murder, and whilst their family had no concerns for money, a guilty verdict would ruin them, driving them into poverty and shame. Of course, they were born at different times, so how was Harriet supposed to clear the name of someone already long dead, and change events already dictated by time's hand? Time travel of course.
I have read a large number of Joey Paul's books. There is just something about her first-person narrative I find captivating. Destination Unknown is my most recent acquisition and there are a lot of things about this book to love. There is an attention to detail in regards to how a carer feel, the toll on them, their fears, concerns, and the worries that shape every thought, every day. I found this added a lot of depth to the characters and plot, and easily built up an understanding and empathy that those not having been in a situation like Harriet's would not even consider. The same focus has been applied in reflecting the 1900s, even down to mannerisms. I enjoyed watching the pieces fit together as the plot goes on, and the formation of bonds, friendships, and understanding. I'm giving this book 4.5, (rounding up to 5) simply because I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the author's work, but that is only down to my own preferences, not a reflection on the book itself.
I have read a large number of Joey Paul's books. There is just something about her first-person narrative I find captivating. Destination Unknown is my most recent acquisition and there are a lot of things about this book to love. There is an attention to detail in regards to how a carer feel, the toll on them, their fears, concerns, and the worries that shape every thought, every day. I found this added a lot of depth to the characters and plot, and easily built up an understanding and empathy that those not having been in a situation like Harriet's would not even consider. The same focus has been applied in reflecting the 1900s, even down to mannerisms. I enjoyed watching the pieces fit together as the plot goes on, and the formation of bonds, friendships, and understanding. I'm giving this book 4.5, (rounding up to 5) simply because I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the author's work, but that is only down to my own preferences, not a reflection on the book itself.
January 8, 2018
I picked up this novel at a book signing. It isn't my usual genre, but I found plenty to admire. Harriet’s life as a young carer for her mother is written in a warm, touching and friendly voice. The reader is Harriet’s confidant and learns as much from what the narrator dare not say as from what she does say. The repetitive nature of Harriet’s life is hammered home. The same things happen again and again, but strangely it works. I normally hate repetition in novels, a waste of words and time, but here it really does work and brings you solidly into Harriet’s world.
I would say that the ghostly, time-travelling mystery is a side story, but perhaps for the intended YA audience it isn’t. The mystery is simple and far less compelling that Harriet’s thoughts about her life and her mother.
The strength of the book is the compelling voice of the narrator. The author allows us to witness and feel the amazing strength of this very human girl.
I would say that the ghostly, time-travelling mystery is a side story, but perhaps for the intended YA audience it isn’t. The mystery is simple and far less compelling that Harriet’s thoughts about her life and her mother.
The strength of the book is the compelling voice of the narrator. The author allows us to witness and feel the amazing strength of this very human girl.
January 5, 2018
In Destination: Unknown, Joey Paul portrays the mind of a 15 yr old perfectly, creating a believable and likable character in Harriet. This story has a good mash up of mystery, time travel, and paranormal aspects. The plot line of the murder and how Harriet solves it is quite clever and I *loved* the very end when Harriet receives a certain validation. I did feel there was too much repetitive blow by blow of mundane activities and all things with the mother's illness, and a small continuity issue which I won't explain for sake of not spoiling anything, but these things didn't keep me from enjoying the story. 3.75/4 stars
August 16, 2018
A little difficult to get into in the beginning but from the middle on it gets really interesting. The plot was excellent and the murder mystery was well thought out.
I liked Harriet, she's responsible, kind and relatable and I loved how she selflessly puts her mom before her self. Harriet's mom was my favorite supporting character, she supported Harriet throughout the book and her character didn't feel flat/2d. Harriet's mom has fibro and so she needs Harriet's help daily, and while Harriet doesn't mind, her mom feels guilty about having Harriet help her all the time. I loved their relationship and how Harriet's mom tries to lighten the load on her daughter by bringing in outside help, I found her realistic in that this is how other moms would probably feel. (moms will be moms)
I do remember some profanity but it was really sparse so I could ignore it. The book kept me turning the pages Harriet solves the crime and I was pretty satisfied with the ending. I liked that the book features not only a character with a disability but also gives us a look into a carer's life and responsibilities. The plot was great and I loved putting the pieces together alongside our heroine, the mystery was definitely my favorite part of the whole book.
Overall I give this baby a solid 4 stars
I liked Harriet, she's responsible, kind and relatable and I loved how she selflessly puts her mom before her self. Harriet's mom was my favorite supporting character, she supported Harriet throughout the book and her character didn't feel flat/2d. Harriet's mom has fibro and so she needs Harriet's help daily, and while Harriet doesn't mind, her mom feels guilty about having Harriet help her all the time. I loved their relationship and how Harriet's mom tries to lighten the load on her daughter by bringing in outside help, I found her realistic in that this is how other moms would probably feel. (moms will be moms)
I do remember some profanity but it was really sparse so I could ignore it. The book kept me turning the pages Harriet solves the crime and I was pretty satisfied with the ending. I liked that the book features not only a character with a disability but also gives us a look into a carer's life and responsibilities. The plot was great and I loved putting the pieces together alongside our heroine, the mystery was definitely my favorite part of the whole book.
Overall I give this baby a solid 4 stars
August 6, 2021
FIVE star review from Readers’ Favorite
Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers’ Favorite
After a ghostly visit, a teenage girl works with her new friend to find a killer and change the destiny of an innocent man's family a hundred years in the past in the fascinating young adult paranormal novel, Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul. Balancing school alongside caring for her ailing mother, fifteen-year-old Harriet has an extraordinary encounter. Walking into her dining room late one night, Harriet sees the astonishing apparition of a girl standing on her table, surrounded by a bright blue light. Just before the specter disappears, she petitions Harriet to help her. A few nights later, Harriet notices one of the paving stones in the garden is glowing. When she steps onto the illuminated stone, Harriet is instantly transported a hundred years into the past. There she meets the girl who was standing in her home a few nights previously. The girl pleads with Harriet to prove that her father, accused of murder, is innocent, but how can Harriet alter history?
Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul is a sensational young adult novel portraying the supernatural confluence of two young girls' lives separated by a century. The story flows at a perfect pace, smoothly easing between the present and the past. Skillfully constructed, the plot and the subplots meld well together, creating a suspenseful and touching tale. Despite Harriet's age and trying circumstances, her caring attitude and a strong sense of justice define her well, making her an admirable and engaging character. It is an eye-opening book regarding the devastating effects Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia have on the patient and the family. Ms. Paul has done an exemplary job of presenting them and making them real. This intense paranormal novel will charm everyone who loves stories with courageous teenage protagonists and a hint of the supernatural.
Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers’ Favorite
After a ghostly visit, a teenage girl works with her new friend to find a killer and change the destiny of an innocent man's family a hundred years in the past in the fascinating young adult paranormal novel, Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul. Balancing school alongside caring for her ailing mother, fifteen-year-old Harriet has an extraordinary encounter. Walking into her dining room late one night, Harriet sees the astonishing apparition of a girl standing on her table, surrounded by a bright blue light. Just before the specter disappears, she petitions Harriet to help her. A few nights later, Harriet notices one of the paving stones in the garden is glowing. When she steps onto the illuminated stone, Harriet is instantly transported a hundred years into the past. There she meets the girl who was standing in her home a few nights previously. The girl pleads with Harriet to prove that her father, accused of murder, is innocent, but how can Harriet alter history?
Destination: Unknown by Joey Paul is a sensational young adult novel portraying the supernatural confluence of two young girls' lives separated by a century. The story flows at a perfect pace, smoothly easing between the present and the past. Skillfully constructed, the plot and the subplots meld well together, creating a suspenseful and touching tale. Despite Harriet's age and trying circumstances, her caring attitude and a strong sense of justice define her well, making her an admirable and engaging character. It is an eye-opening book regarding the devastating effects Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia have on the patient and the family. Ms. Paul has done an exemplary job of presenting them and making them real. This intense paranormal novel will charm everyone who loves stories with courageous teenage protagonists and a hint of the supernatural.
November 14, 2016
4.5 Stars
The novel’s opening chapter gives a first person’s point of view perspective of a young fifteen year old girl’s story about being a caregiver for her invalid mother. The young girl’s narrative voice and her tale of being unyielding before the kind of pressures that would cripple most adults coupled for a heart-warming, bitter-sweet effect. I found myself entirely charmed by this young lady and drawn in by her down to earth, just-the-facts Jack Webb-like approach to telling her story her way. (Fans of the old Dragnet TV series will get the comparison). You couldn’t find a human being with their feet more planted on the ground than our heroine (except maybe for the hero of Dragnet).
Then the chapter ends with a big whammy. “I’m telling you this story that starts on this day because this was the day I first saw the ghost.” I had to laugh I was so taken back. The setup was perfect. This is the last person on earth you’d expect to be telling you she saw a ghost. She even forgives her mother for her fairytales, because she figures she deserves them for having such a loser of a husband. But such escapes are not our heroine’s cup of tea.
So with a very unconventional for this genre opening that promises a unique kind of ghost story we’re off and running.
What follows is as much compelling ghost story, as time travel story, as murder mystery/female detective-sleuth story, slash caregiver story. It’s a weird-ass fusion that really seems to work. This would be a fun series to follow along with. I hope the author does more installments of it.
Paragraphs are long, but the author seems to make them work with her writing style.
The novel’s opening chapter gives a first person’s point of view perspective of a young fifteen year old girl’s story about being a caregiver for her invalid mother. The young girl’s narrative voice and her tale of being unyielding before the kind of pressures that would cripple most adults coupled for a heart-warming, bitter-sweet effect. I found myself entirely charmed by this young lady and drawn in by her down to earth, just-the-facts Jack Webb-like approach to telling her story her way. (Fans of the old Dragnet TV series will get the comparison). You couldn’t find a human being with their feet more planted on the ground than our heroine (except maybe for the hero of Dragnet).
Then the chapter ends with a big whammy. “I’m telling you this story that starts on this day because this was the day I first saw the ghost.” I had to laugh I was so taken back. The setup was perfect. This is the last person on earth you’d expect to be telling you she saw a ghost. She even forgives her mother for her fairytales, because she figures she deserves them for having such a loser of a husband. But such escapes are not our heroine’s cup of tea.
So with a very unconventional for this genre opening that promises a unique kind of ghost story we’re off and running.
What follows is as much compelling ghost story, as time travel story, as murder mystery/female detective-sleuth story, slash caregiver story. It’s a weird-ass fusion that really seems to work. This would be a fun series to follow along with. I hope the author does more installments of it.
Paragraphs are long, but the author seems to make them work with her writing style.
July 17, 2016
An intriguing YA mystery I recommend to readers of that genre.
Paul's great strength as a writer is her uncanny ability to morph herself into a teenager. The voice of the fifteen year old Harriet is totally authentic along with her attitudes, concerns and her view of the world. YA books I've read fall into two camps, books written for adults dealing with teenager's concerns and those than can be read by adults but are written to appeal directly to the target audience. Destination Unknown in firmly in the second group and Paul writes to engage directly with a younger audience.
When Harriet moves to an old railway worker's cottage with her mother she is visited by the ghost of a girl called Dot who lived in the cottage a century earlier who asks for her help. Harriet discovers a "portal" in the back garden which enables her to travel back in time. Dot's father is being blamed for the murder of his foreman and she asks Harriet to help her prove his innocence. Harriet uses modern day techniques and interviews the descendants of the people involved to try to solve the case.
When she is not working on solving the hundred year old murder or at school, Harriet is the registered carer for her mother who suffers from ME and Fibro. The story gave a good insight into the day to day problems of living with the two conditions and the life of a young carer.
A easy fluid style of writing made the book a pleasure to read.
Paul's great strength as a writer is her uncanny ability to morph herself into a teenager. The voice of the fifteen year old Harriet is totally authentic along with her attitudes, concerns and her view of the world. YA books I've read fall into two camps, books written for adults dealing with teenager's concerns and those than can be read by adults but are written to appeal directly to the target audience. Destination Unknown in firmly in the second group and Paul writes to engage directly with a younger audience.
When Harriet moves to an old railway worker's cottage with her mother she is visited by the ghost of a girl called Dot who lived in the cottage a century earlier who asks for her help. Harriet discovers a "portal" in the back garden which enables her to travel back in time. Dot's father is being blamed for the murder of his foreman and she asks Harriet to help her prove his innocence. Harriet uses modern day techniques and interviews the descendants of the people involved to try to solve the case.
When she is not working on solving the hundred year old murder or at school, Harriet is the registered carer for her mother who suffers from ME and Fibro. The story gave a good insight into the day to day problems of living with the two conditions and the life of a young carer.
A easy fluid style of writing made the book a pleasure to read.
July 31, 2016
Another amazing work from Joey Paul! I’ve read “Dying Thoughts” complete series and I grabbed this newbie as soon as it came out, since I knew I was in for yet another compelling mystery treat, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed! This time Harriet, a young 15-year-old teenager who has to balance a school life and caring for her sick mother, finds herself in quite a difficult position, when one day a ghost appears in her house asking for her help…
I’ve always enjoyed how masterfully Joey Paul can combine the ordinary with something quite extra-ordinary and even supernatural, and that’s a sign of a very talented writer. I also appreciated how she didn’t shy away from such sensitive subjects as unexpected sickness of a parent and the impact it has on a child, growing up without a father, school issues such as being a loner, making friends and many more issues that will definitely resonate with many young adult readers.
The mystery aspect and the investigation of a hundred year old case was very interesting to follow, and I couldn’t help but root for a positive outcome. I won’t reveal all the details, but let me just tell you, it’s definitely a fantastic read! Five stars.
I’ve always enjoyed how masterfully Joey Paul can combine the ordinary with something quite extra-ordinary and even supernatural, and that’s a sign of a very talented writer. I also appreciated how she didn’t shy away from such sensitive subjects as unexpected sickness of a parent and the impact it has on a child, growing up without a father, school issues such as being a loner, making friends and many more issues that will definitely resonate with many young adult readers.
The mystery aspect and the investigation of a hundred year old case was very interesting to follow, and I couldn’t help but root for a positive outcome. I won’t reveal all the details, but let me just tell you, it’s definitely a fantastic read! Five stars.
August 22, 2016
I really enjoyed reading Destination: Unknown. First of all, I loved that author's writing style. It was written from POV of the main character, Harriet. Harriet was a fifteen year old girl, and it was neat to see how the author was able to put herself in the mind of this teenager and write as if Harriet was writing it.
Right from the start, I was drawn to Harriet. She was this amazing young girl, and a primary caretaker of her mother. Whereas most teenagers would become frustrated with such a responsibility, Harriet was awesome! She was wise beyond her years and never felt her mother was a burden.
As the plot developed, Harriet was thrown into solving a mystery from 1910. She was asked for help from the ghost of Dot. A lot rested on Harriet because if she didn't solve the murder case, Dot's father would be executed.
This was an entertaining read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the writing style. This would be a great read for any young adults who are looking for something a little different to read.
Right from the start, I was drawn to Harriet. She was this amazing young girl, and a primary caretaker of her mother. Whereas most teenagers would become frustrated with such a responsibility, Harriet was awesome! She was wise beyond her years and never felt her mother was a burden.
As the plot developed, Harriet was thrown into solving a mystery from 1910. She was asked for help from the ghost of Dot. A lot rested on Harriet because if she didn't solve the murder case, Dot's father would be executed.
This was an entertaining read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the writing style. This would be a great read for any young adults who are looking for something a little different to read.
October 7, 2016
How do you write a book? You first have to have the technical ability - check. You need to have a good story - check and you need something else - check. That something else here is a simple style that engaged me from the opening of the book which in a contradictory was perhaps the thing I least liked about the book right through to the end. Paul Joey is a talented writer who for me has done something quite genius and that is to maintain a level of simplicity throughout the story that is both essential to the main characters, the reader and indeed the story. There was a flow and a rhythm to this book and I found it a pleasure to read. The plot is outlined well in the blurb but what it doesn't give you is just how well this works on paper. I would suggest a review of the cover as it does nothing for the reader in terms of attraction to the book but it shouldn't detract from what is a very good read.
November 23, 2016
Another brilliant book by Joey Paul. You always expect something just a bit different from her books and she gives it to you. The young heroine has a lot on her shoulders. An ailing mother whom she cares for on her own most of the time, and a whole host of teenage issues. This isn’t the first YA book by this author that I’ve read and I have to add here that she really brings out the whimsy in these young characters that many YA authors don’t. There is a very personal touch to the story which makes it very real. Having been a shy, bullied kid at school, I was able to empathise with Harriet.
If you think this is just another teenage flick, nope. you couldn't be more wrong. To add to her problems, Harriet has a friendly ghost who talks to her and herein is the twist to the tale. Harriet has to help the ghost solve a mystery from decades back. It is a cleverly written plot which will have you turning the pages. An enchanting read.
If you think this is just another teenage flick, nope. you couldn't be more wrong. To add to her problems, Harriet has a friendly ghost who talks to her and herein is the twist to the tale. Harriet has to help the ghost solve a mystery from decades back. It is a cleverly written plot which will have you turning the pages. An enchanting read.
August 26, 2016
Harriet is fifteen and her life is complicated. Not only does she struggle with the usual teenage problems - insecurity, lack of friends, homework but she is the carer for her chronically ill mother. Just when it looks as if things couldn't get worse- her mother's ME takes a turn for the worst, Harriet meets Dot - an apparition who lives in her house but 100 years before. She needs Harriet's help and soon Harriet finds herself knee deep in a murder case from 1910. If she doesn't clear Dot's father's name the whole family will fall into poverty. She must race to put the pieces of the mystery together while not arousing her sick mother's suspicion.
A great read - We get great insight into the troubled life of a young carer and we feel for Dot and her family living under the shadow of suspicion and fear.
A great read - We get great insight into the troubled life of a young carer and we feel for Dot and her family living under the shadow of suspicion and fear.
October 21, 2016
With three teenage grandaughters I am always on the lookout for books that will pike their interest and get them away from 18 hours a day on social media. Last year Joey Paul's young adult books were recommended to me. I purchased BLACKOUT and after reading it sent it to the grankids - they loved it. Now with each new Joey Paul novel I phone them with the news. DESTINATION UNKNOWN is a touching story about a fifteen yeat old girl caring for her ailing mother while trying to come to grips with being a teenager that is picked on and ridiculed - she is a little frumpy and more developed than most girls her age. To top it off there is a ghost and of course a murder. Well written with a good understanding of the teenage mind, social issues are brought into the story without being preachy, twist and turns of the paranormal while solving a complicated murder. Good read.
August 15, 2016
A truly beautiful novel for young adults. Our 15 year old heroine is looking after her mother, who is suffering from ME. With few friends and many tasks, she is more adult than she should be, probably. It makes for a great narrative, though, and a very interesting perspective on life. I loved this voice from page one and enjoyed following her adventure as she sees a ghost from hundred years ago and becomes involved in a supernatural plot on top of everything else.
This is not the first book by this author and I am in awe of her character creation and beautiful writing style. I am sure a lot of people will be able to sympathise with the girl and enjoy this great story.
Very enjoyable!
This is not the first book by this author and I am in awe of her character creation and beautiful writing style. I am sure a lot of people will be able to sympathise with the girl and enjoy this great story.
Very enjoyable!
August 30, 2016
Life is not easy for fifteen-year-old Harriet who spends her life caring for her sick mother whilst trying to live and deal with her own life, at school, and with other interests.
I loves the concept behind this story; balancing normal with the paranormal, mystery, and history. Joey Paul can handle all things ghostly. She is a master of supernatural stories, as in her Dying Thoughts Series. She weaves a great tale, and always delivers on entertainment value. No spoilers from me.
I loved this, and give it five stars.
I loves the concept behind this story; balancing normal with the paranormal, mystery, and history. Joey Paul can handle all things ghostly. She is a master of supernatural stories, as in her Dying Thoughts Series. She weaves a great tale, and always delivers on entertainment value. No spoilers from me.
I loved this, and give it five stars.
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