Be: The Journey of Rol

by Ric Colegrove

In a time and place different than our own, a fourteen-year-old boy named Rol sets out on a journey, alone. He faces incredible challenges and makes lifelong friends. Rol learns what it takes to be who he is truly meant to be, with help from those he encounters along the way. The Journey of Rol is a story of adventure and hope. It is a tale of friendship, humility and thankfulness, overcoming challenges, the consequences of decisions you make, and the importance of laughing a little as you go through life.

Genres: Fantasy

262 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2014

Reviews

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book. The author has quite the imagination. This story reminded me of the journey in The Hobbit with the humor of The Princess Bride. This fantasy novel is filled with humorous passages, silly descriptions, and several laugh-out-loud moments. And even a few clever moments of breaking the fourth wall (that’s probably not even a thing in books but I don’t know how else to describe it).

Rol was such a great character. I loved his decision to be happy and not to worry about things, even when things go horribly wrong. When his mentor is taken by a horde of grumblegoblins—yep, you read that right, grumblegoblins, he makes the decision to embark on an epic journey, with the help of his trusty map.

Along the way, Rol meets two traveling companions who make the journey with him. The unique villages and situations they come across challenge the three new friends in many unexpected ways. This would be a fabulous story to read as a family. There are some wonderful discussion topics about friendships, courage, and self-discovery hidden amid the humorous gems.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring book that is incredibly fun to read. As an avid reader, I found the characters to be both entertaining as well as thought-provoking. For parents looking for an easy way to spark discussions with their kids about friendship, courage, and figuring out what it means to be true to yourself (with a little help along the way), this book will naturally lead to those conversations (without them rolling their eyes, since this is fun to read!)-- who doesn't want a way to connect with their kids through reading!

[Cecilia H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still not sure how or when this book showed up on my bookshelf at home, but I am thrilled that it did. Be: The Journey of Rol is a fun and heartfelt coming-of-age tale packed with perilous predicaments and unforgettable characters including, but not limited to, the cinnamon roll, the sassmaster, and the edgelord (the sassmaster is my favorite), all set in a beautiful, imaginative world. Is there a sequel in the works? I need more of my favorite character's salty wit in my life.

Also, I didn't know this, but I think I heard from my cousin that the sweeping landscape pictured on the front cover is my own Appalachian mountains! Does that mean I technically live in Rol's world? Because that would be epic.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of a young man's journey to self-discovery. This book is aimed at young adults, and I think they will enjoy the humor and richly imagined scenes and characters. This book feels innocent and yet wise, a nice antidote to all the dark, horror stories out there.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time when finding good, clean books for teens can be challenging, it’s nice to know of authors dedicated to providing a “safe harbor” for kids to enjoy.