Ending in Angels

by Ben Graham

Three people have shaped David Grant’s life. Now one is on the other side of the country, one is on the other side of the world, and one may be gone forever. Dave’s Dad is always there for him. But everything changed in Niagara Falls, where Dave learned that fathers are not superheroes. They are flawed and fallible and invaluable models of the men that boys become. Dave’s best friend is Ollie. And you can always count on “The Big Man” to carry Dave, his wheelchair, or both during hard times. They joked and fought their way through the adolescent purgatory that was Slauson Junior High School, and together they can survive anything. But can Dave survive alone? His first day at Slauson, Dave met Annie, and she was perfect in a twelve-year-old boy’s eyes. Over the years, their adventures in Toronto and the Bahamas brought them closer, but now the distance between them may be insurmountable. And so Dave’s journey to find them begins. The question where will his journey end?

296 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2007

Reviews

[Britt DGx]

I picked up this book at a college reunion celebration a few years ago, and perhaps it is because the author and I are now Facebook friends and I lived across from him in our dorm and never got to know him and we both just got married... I don't know, but I picked it up, and opened it for the first time recently. There were moments when the writing or the fine details of physics were a little difficult to follow, but what I truly appreciated about this story and where I think the value in it lies for me, is in the inner dialogue of the protagonist, as he struggles as we all do, through adolescence and first love. This part is communicated wonderfully. His descriptions in moments are phenomenally clear, poignent, and insightful and more than a few times did I laugh out loud at the scenarios and interactions he describes. It has been said that women's and men's travel writing differs fundamentally as men write about what they did, where they went and what they saw and women write about what the travel did to them. Like most generalizations, I take issue with this statement, and Graham's work here is a prime example of why I love travel writing: for the miles experienced internally as well and externally. As well, I appreciate the honesty with which this book is presented. It's self-published, and I am glad that the author is going to school to be a school counselor. This would make a fine addition to any school counselor's shelf (as an aspiring school counselor myself). Thanks for the story!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the author. We went to college together. So...you should read this book because it's a beautifully written and touching story. And because I know the author and he published the book himself.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, thoughtful, funny and honest. I've read this before and it's even better the second time. But I want more, Ben Graham!