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The Road to Ever After
A young boy escorts an elderly woman back to her childhood home where she plans to die in this funny and heartbreaking middle-grade novel.
Davy David, an orphan, lives by his wits in the dead-end town of Brownvale. When a stray dog named George turns Davy's life upside down just days before Christmas, Davy sets in motion a chain of events that forces them to flee.
A mischievous wind blows the two of them to a boarded-up museum on the outskirts of town where they meet the elderly recluse, Miss Flint. She has planned one last adventure before her time is up and hires the reluctant Davy and George to escort her. As they travel, the most peculiar thing begins to happen--Miss Flint gets younger and younger with every mile, and her story unfolds along with it.
The Road to Ever After by Moira Young is magical and moving adventure about an unlikely friendship and an unforgettable journey.
"Gorgeous writing combines with a hauntingly bleak near-future setting, a whiff of holiday magic, and a transcendent story arc to make this novel feel like the classic it deserves to become." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
Davy David, an orphan, lives by his wits in the dead-end town of Brownvale. When a stray dog named George turns Davy's life upside down just days before Christmas, Davy sets in motion a chain of events that forces them to flee.
A mischievous wind blows the two of them to a boarded-up museum on the outskirts of town where they meet the elderly recluse, Miss Flint. She has planned one last adventure before her time is up and hires the reluctant Davy and George to escort her. As they travel, the most peculiar thing begins to happen--Miss Flint gets younger and younger with every mile, and her story unfolds along with it.
The Road to Ever After by Moira Young is magical and moving adventure about an unlikely friendship and an unforgettable journey.
"Gorgeous writing combines with a hauntingly bleak near-future setting, a whiff of holiday magic, and a transcendent story arc to make this novel feel like the classic it deserves to become." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2016
25 people are currently reading
1885 people want to read
About the author
Moira Young
10 books2,220 followersMoira Young is from Vancouver, BC and now lives in the UK. A former actor and opera singer, her debut novel, Blood Red Road, first in the Dustlands trilogy, was published in 2011 to international acclaim. It won a host of prizes including the Costa Children’s Book Award, the British Columbia Book Prize for Children’s Literature and France's Le Prix des Incorruptibles. In the USA it won a Cybils Award for Fantasy and Science Fiction and was an ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults book. It is being developed for film by Ridley Scott. The second Dustlands book, Rebel Heart, was a finalist in Canada for the Sunburst Prize, BC Stellar Award and Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy. The last part of the Dustlands trilogy, Raging Star, was published in May 2014. The Dustlands books are published in 30 countries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
September 28, 2018
A sweet fairy tale that brought tears to my eyes, The Road to Ever After is about an orphaned, homeless boy in a hateful town who has little and expects little from life. He does have a love of books, movies and drawing and likes to draw angels in the dirt. He meets a friendly little dog and a gruff old woman and goes on an adventure with them.😃
October 12, 2017
Even though this book was more of a 2.5 star rating, I'm rounding it up to 3 based on the fact that I liked the premise and relationship between Davy and Miss Flint so much.
In all honesty, this book surprised me! Prior to beginning this novel, I assumed based on the cover that the story would be about a journey and friendship between a boy and a dog. Yes, that is one component of the story but it actually is only a small factor. After reading, I now know why only the boy and dog are seen on the cover (seen....get it, get it?).
As I initially stated, I really loved the whole plot of this story and I loved the deep friendship that developed in this story. It really did tug at the heartstrings (especially in the last quarter of the book when the reader is learning more of Miss Flint's history). However, I did find the book confusing and hard to keep up with because it didn't appear to have a focus, especially in the first half of the novel. At that point, I really had no clue where the story was going. By the last quarter of the book, it definitely did get better but I still wished that I had more to enjoy in the beginning of the novel instead of feeling lost.
The final chapters though....again tore at those heartstrings. I thought it had the perfect ending.
One final thing that does not have anything to do with the writing but I feel the need to include: I loved the chapter illustrations. I loved how each illustration was different and that it pertained to an event that would occur in the following chapter. It definitely added more enjoyment to the story as well.
Overall, even though the writing/focus in the beginning wasn't the best, I would still recommend this book because it was cute and had a good message. It also evoked some emotions and honestly, I think if a book has an ability to make the reader "feel", it has something going for it.
***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review***
In all honesty, this book surprised me! Prior to beginning this novel, I assumed based on the cover that the story would be about a journey and friendship between a boy and a dog. Yes, that is one component of the story but it actually is only a small factor. After reading, I now know why only the boy and dog are seen on the cover (seen....get it, get it?).
As I initially stated, I really loved the whole plot of this story and I loved the deep friendship that developed in this story. It really did tug at the heartstrings (especially in the last quarter of the book when the reader is learning more of Miss Flint's history). However, I did find the book confusing and hard to keep up with because it didn't appear to have a focus, especially in the first half of the novel. At that point, I really had no clue where the story was going. By the last quarter of the book, it definitely did get better but I still wished that I had more to enjoy in the beginning of the novel instead of feeling lost.
The final chapters though....again tore at those heartstrings. I thought it had the perfect ending.
One final thing that does not have anything to do with the writing but I feel the need to include: I loved the chapter illustrations. I loved how each illustration was different and that it pertained to an event that would occur in the following chapter. It definitely added more enjoyment to the story as well.
Overall, even though the writing/focus in the beginning wasn't the best, I would still recommend this book because it was cute and had a good message. It also evoked some emotions and honestly, I think if a book has an ability to make the reader "feel", it has something going for it.
***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review***
January 10, 2021
While I liked her Dust Lands series and characters, this book missed the mark, at least for me. It is a complicated tale of magical realism. Davy David is a harmless young teenage orphan, living day to day, in a small town, drawing angels with his brooms. The local pastor is a bad guy, and decides to get rid of Davy when Davy accidentally discovers the pastor's infidelity. There is also a child catcher in town (think Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.) Davy has a few friends in town, like the local librarian and theater owner. In recovering a lost ball for some kids on the grounds of an abandoned museum, Davy meets a dying old lady, whom everyone thinks is a witch. She takes a shine to him and offers Davy more money than he has ever seen, to drive her home to die on her 80th birthday on Christmas. The two are joined by Davy's stray dog. Their trip is marked with much adventure ... and magic, as the old lady seems to become more alive and young along the way to the ending.
November 13, 2016
This is the first time I've read anything by Moira Young and I was drawn in by the beautiful cover after a recommendation from a friend.
Found this to be an absolutely stunning book in both design and writing style. It is the story of a 12 year old orphan who is 'adopted' by a stray dog called George, and the pair of them set off on an adventure with the mysterious and reclusive Miss Flint, who has a plan set out and nothing will stop her.
The friendship that evolves between the two of them is just the sweetest and I have to admit to shedding a tear or two along the way and the story becomes quite deep and very touching as they near the end of their destination.
Highly recommended for kids of all ages! Even the adult variety!!
Found this to be an absolutely stunning book in both design and writing style. It is the story of a 12 year old orphan who is 'adopted' by a stray dog called George, and the pair of them set off on an adventure with the mysterious and reclusive Miss Flint, who has a plan set out and nothing will stop her.
The friendship that evolves between the two of them is just the sweetest and I have to admit to shedding a tear or two along the way and the story becomes quite deep and very touching as they near the end of their destination.
Highly recommended for kids of all ages! Even the adult variety!!
April 3, 2017
This was right up my street! A story of friendship and, just enough, magic. It played out in my mind like an old black and white movie. A touch of It's Wonderful Life, I thought (this film is referenced in the book) I'm a sucker for a crabby older character juxtaposed with a youngster fresh but with problems of their own. I love the rub of a one set of worries with another! Davy & Miss Flint didn't disappoint.
This is written at a perfect pace for me. The plot moves along quickly enough , so you never loose interest, but there is enough detail and involvement, so the characters and setting are beautifully developed.
Love the big part the library plays in this book but there again that's something else I'm a sucker for!
The ending was a teensy bit predictable, however, I'd have been disappointed with anything less rounded, I think.
Sweet but not saccharine, touching but not soppy. And I'm not ashamed to say I read some of it out loud, as I needed to develop an American accent as my ' voice in my head' for this one!
This is written at a perfect pace for me. The plot moves along quickly enough , so you never loose interest, but there is enough detail and involvement, so the characters and setting are beautifully developed.
Love the big part the library plays in this book but there again that's something else I'm a sucker for!
The ending was a teensy bit predictable, however, I'd have been disappointed with anything less rounded, I think.
Sweet but not saccharine, touching but not soppy. And I'm not ashamed to say I read some of it out loud, as I needed to develop an American accent as my ' voice in my head' for this one!
October 3, 2018
A 'road trip' with a difference. Moving, funny and with a pairing you root for.
Davy David lives in a small town, alone, making pictures in the dirt and keeping under the radar of the town's religious leaders by escaping to the library. He's an artist, but still very young and when the library closes down he is justifiably worried about his options.
Accidentally meeting an old lady when he follows a ball into a known witch's house, he is soon after offered work, driving the 80-something woman to her childhood home, where she plans to die. Needing the money, but also an escape, Davy sets out with Miss Elizabeth Flint on a road trip of sorts, one with a lot of surprises ahead.
The destination and intention will keep readers keen to find out what happens, and the series of misadventures takes turns that aren't too common in children's books.
It was rather fascinating, Young's portrayal of the old woman as her journey progresses. We see her backstory and are able to watch the loyal Davy do his best to fulfil his promise.
The aspects of the story that remind you of 'Benjamin Button' are well handled, and it's a touching tale that children keen on stories of death and afterlives will lap up.
For ages 10-14.
Davy David lives in a small town, alone, making pictures in the dirt and keeping under the radar of the town's religious leaders by escaping to the library. He's an artist, but still very young and when the library closes down he is justifiably worried about his options.
Accidentally meeting an old lady when he follows a ball into a known witch's house, he is soon after offered work, driving the 80-something woman to her childhood home, where she plans to die. Needing the money, but also an escape, Davy sets out with Miss Elizabeth Flint on a road trip of sorts, one with a lot of surprises ahead.
The destination and intention will keep readers keen to find out what happens, and the series of misadventures takes turns that aren't too common in children's books.
It was rather fascinating, Young's portrayal of the old woman as her journey progresses. We see her backstory and are able to watch the loyal Davy do his best to fulfil his promise.
The aspects of the story that remind you of 'Benjamin Button' are well handled, and it's a touching tale that children keen on stories of death and afterlives will lap up.
For ages 10-14.
November 25, 2019
3.5*
Jolie petite lecture de noël. Un beau roman sur l'amitié, le hasard et les souvenirs familiaux. L'audace de la vieille dame rend le tout très drôle, le personnage de Davy est attachant et on a envie de le serrer dans nos bras.
Un joli roman pour attendre Noël, pour donner envie de voir les gens qu'on aime et de se faire dorloter.
Pour les 10-13 ans je dirais.
Jolie petite lecture de noël. Un beau roman sur l'amitié, le hasard et les souvenirs familiaux. L'audace de la vieille dame rend le tout très drôle, le personnage de Davy est attachant et on a envie de le serrer dans nos bras.
Un joli roman pour attendre Noël, pour donner envie de voir les gens qu'on aime et de se faire dorloter.
Pour les 10-13 ans je dirais.
July 10, 2018
I finished reading this book about two weeks ago, and although I remember it being a good read at the time, but two weeks later I find that I cannot quite remember much of it. That's one of the main reasons I am giving it 3 stars, because it just was not memorable enough for me to form a proper opinion of it and it - obviously - did not stay with me long after I had read it.
The story follows an orphan boy who likes to draw angels in the sand, and lives in a town that is ruled by a cruel, hypocritical Pastor. The boy gets "recruited" by an old lady who is rumored to be a witch, but isn't really, to drive her to a certain destination where she plans to die.
He refuses at first, but after being forced out of town, decides to take the job after all. The journey then begins, and it turns into this strange series of them committing crimes and the old lady aging in reverse, like Benjamin Button.
I do like the relationship that forms between them, but I'm not sure it was the best told story that I've read. I did appreciate the ending though.
The story follows an orphan boy who likes to draw angels in the sand, and lives in a town that is ruled by a cruel, hypocritical Pastor. The boy gets "recruited" by an old lady who is rumored to be a witch, but isn't really, to drive her to a certain destination where she plans to die.
He refuses at first, but after being forced out of town, decides to take the job after all. The journey then begins, and it turns into this strange series of them committing crimes and the old lady aging in reverse, like Benjamin Button.
I do like the relationship that forms between them, but I'm not sure it was the best told story that I've read. I did appreciate the ending though.
January 4, 2021
Het was een mooi verhaal maar ik had er meer van verwacht. Er waren ook te veel toevalligheden naar mijn mening. De cover is wel echt prachtig en ik hou van de vele filmverwijzingen!
July 25, 2022
3.5/5 ⭐️
Acheté pour sa couverture, lu pour son résumé et fini avec grand étonnement.
Je ne comprenais pas bien la place des anges au début du livre, puis tout prend place à un moment donné.
Acheté pour sa couverture, lu pour son résumé et fini avec grand étonnement.
Je ne comprenais pas bien la place des anges au début du livre, puis tout prend place à un moment donné.
February 6, 2017
It's been such a long time since I have read a book and come away unsure as to 'why' or even 'if' I really liked it or not. Because the book is many things and tells many stories beneath the surface of the words and carries many themes within the narrative, I left with more questions that I started off with and, ultimately, knew may never get answered. This is not to say that Young fails to leave the story with a satisfying ending: she closes it rather beautifully. Instead, there is much that goes unsaid; actions that go unexplained, leaving it for the reader to deduce much.
Davy David, an orphaned boy cast out of the local children's home because they could accommodate the residents no more, is the main protagonist *possibly* who spends his life within a small town drawing angels in the dust with a bag full of brooms. Unbeknownst to him, he has a calling, a purpose although he does not know what it is and where it will take him. Only when he encounters the elderly, grumpy Miss Flint and embark on a journey with her does he begin to understand.
The blurb of the copy I have compares the book to It's a Wonderful Life and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but, for me, this is not only missing the point but giving things away. It's more like Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany to me with a touch ofOscar And The Lady In Pink. It took me a long time to place the book, geographically, but I went for a small town in a semi-rural part of America. All its characters are well crafted as is the landscape. Young weaves a very clever story in which a LOT of talk would be welcomed as we decide whether we, as readers, are willing to accept miracles or not.
Davy David, an orphaned boy cast out of the local children's home because they could accommodate the residents no more, is the main protagonist *possibly* who spends his life within a small town drawing angels in the dust with a bag full of brooms. Unbeknownst to him, he has a calling, a purpose although he does not know what it is and where it will take him. Only when he encounters the elderly, grumpy Miss Flint and embark on a journey with her does he begin to understand.
The blurb of the copy I have compares the book to It's a Wonderful Life and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but, for me, this is not only missing the point but giving things away. It's more like Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany to me with a touch ofOscar And The Lady In Pink. It took me a long time to place the book, geographically, but I went for a small town in a semi-rural part of America. All its characters are well crafted as is the landscape. Young weaves a very clever story in which a LOT of talk would be welcomed as we decide whether we, as readers, are willing to accept miracles or not.
December 31, 2021
Do you ever read something and it kind of makes sense while you're reading it, but as soon as you're done, you say "What Did I Just Read?"
That is what this book was to me
I really enjoyed the beginning where Davy was just a boy in the town who made angels in the dirt and went to the library. I liked where I thought it wash headed at that point, but it lost me somewhere after that with Miss Flint.
They went somewhere, she was dead, but she wasn't dead, she was getting younger, people couldn't see her, she needed to reunite with her brother and then it was over.
It was interesting, but I'm unsure of what I read. It makes sense, but at the same time it doesn't make sense. Like, what was this about? I don't know. Friendship? Loss? Both? I don't know.
But I do know it's a book toward my reading goal, so I'm happy about that
That is what this book was to me
I really enjoyed the beginning where Davy was just a boy in the town who made angels in the dirt and went to the library. I liked where I thought it wash headed at that point, but it lost me somewhere after that with Miss Flint.
They went somewhere, she was dead, but she wasn't dead, she was getting younger, people couldn't see her, she needed to reunite with her brother and then it was over.
It was interesting, but I'm unsure of what I read. It makes sense, but at the same time it doesn't make sense. Like, what was this about? I don't know. Friendship? Loss? Both? I don't know.
But I do know it's a book toward my reading goal, so I'm happy about that
November 21, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 une douce histoire d’amitié et de départ à laquelle je ne m’attendais pas! à lire dans le temps des fêtes puisque cela se passe, entre autres, le jour de Noël.
March 4, 2019
I won a copy of The Road to Ever After in a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to the author, Moira Young and the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity. It’s my first time reading anything from this author and I found her style of writing is very different yet captivating.
Davy David is a 13 year old homeless and an orphan boy who lives in Brownvale and he loved to draw Angels in the dirt in the early morning all around town. A stray dog follows where he goes and Davy ‘’adopts’’ him and calls him George Bailey. Davy frequently goes to the library to look up at a specific book, Renaissance Angels, where he gets inspire and memorises all the paintings of that book. Until one day, he notices of a particular painting that he never saw before in the book but fascinates him. Unexpectedly, the library is being closed and the librarian, Mr. Timm gives Davy the book. Besides the library, Davy also enjoy old black and white movies and would go to the Bellevue, a movie theater to watch classical movies like It’s a Wonderful life. He somehow ends up at a museum where he meets Miss Flint who asks him to drive to her to her childhood home by Christmas. Davy was hesitant at first until a certain event left him no choice to leave his hometown and decides to help Miss Flint. The real reason that Miss Flint wanted to be at her old house so she can die. Davy, George and Miss Flint go on a beautiful and memorable journey together and for once, Miss Flint learns how to live again after all those years. The story captures the evolution of their friendship during their road trip and holds a magical touch.
While reading the book, I was trying to figure out the setting of the book. I still don’t know but I’m guessing it’s after the 1950’s since the movie theater in Brownvale were playing classic films that were released around that year. But that’s just my guess.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend to everyone, whether you are kid or an adult, to read this magical book.
Davy David is a 13 year old homeless and an orphan boy who lives in Brownvale and he loved to draw Angels in the dirt in the early morning all around town. A stray dog follows where he goes and Davy ‘’adopts’’ him and calls him George Bailey. Davy frequently goes to the library to look up at a specific book, Renaissance Angels, where he gets inspire and memorises all the paintings of that book. Until one day, he notices of a particular painting that he never saw before in the book but fascinates him. Unexpectedly, the library is being closed and the librarian, Mr. Timm gives Davy the book. Besides the library, Davy also enjoy old black and white movies and would go to the Bellevue, a movie theater to watch classical movies like It’s a Wonderful life. He somehow ends up at a museum where he meets Miss Flint who asks him to drive to her to her childhood home by Christmas. Davy was hesitant at first until a certain event left him no choice to leave his hometown and decides to help Miss Flint. The real reason that Miss Flint wanted to be at her old house so she can die. Davy, George and Miss Flint go on a beautiful and memorable journey together and for once, Miss Flint learns how to live again after all those years. The story captures the evolution of their friendship during their road trip and holds a magical touch.
While reading the book, I was trying to figure out the setting of the book. I still don’t know but I’m guessing it’s after the 1950’s since the movie theater in Brownvale were playing classic films that were released around that year. But that’s just my guess.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend to everyone, whether you are kid or an adult, to read this magical book.
February 4, 2017
The Road to Ever After was stranger than I’d been expecting. The book is quite short and has pictures at the start of each chapter. I must confess, I was worried it wasn’t YA as it looks and feels like a children’s book, but I think that’s its charm.
The main problem I had with this book was that it wasn’t the Dustlands trilogy. For those of you who haven’t read the fantastic trilogy, they’re Blood Read Road, Rebel Heart, and Raging Star. I loved those books so much that whatever Young released next was going to suffer. But I think she made a good decision by going with something so totally different, because it’s impossible to directly compare them.
Unfortunately, I didn’t fall into The Road to Ever After straight away, but that’s due to NaNoWriMo showing up. I didn’t read a word the whole time I was scribbling away trying to reach the word count, though of course that’s not the book’s fault.
The tone was charming and made it really easy to read great big chunks at once. I read 100 pages in one sitting. It was very rhythmic and soft, which is the total opposite of the Dustlands trilogy. It’s a very gentle story, which is not something I’m used to, but something I know I should spend more time on. The intense moments hit hard because of the softness of the atmosphere and the characters, and even the words themselves.
It was just very gentle and beautiful. I’m not sure how else to describe it.
This book seemed to be the quiet in the noisy world we live in. It was peaceful to fall into it.
First reviewed for Movellas: http://www.movellas.com/blog/show/201...
The main problem I had with this book was that it wasn’t the Dustlands trilogy. For those of you who haven’t read the fantastic trilogy, they’re Blood Read Road, Rebel Heart, and Raging Star. I loved those books so much that whatever Young released next was going to suffer. But I think she made a good decision by going with something so totally different, because it’s impossible to directly compare them.
Unfortunately, I didn’t fall into The Road to Ever After straight away, but that’s due to NaNoWriMo showing up. I didn’t read a word the whole time I was scribbling away trying to reach the word count, though of course that’s not the book’s fault.
The tone was charming and made it really easy to read great big chunks at once. I read 100 pages in one sitting. It was very rhythmic and soft, which is the total opposite of the Dustlands trilogy. It’s a very gentle story, which is not something I’m used to, but something I know I should spend more time on. The intense moments hit hard because of the softness of the atmosphere and the characters, and even the words themselves.
It was just very gentle and beautiful. I’m not sure how else to describe it.
This book seemed to be the quiet in the noisy world we live in. It was peaceful to fall into it.
First reviewed for Movellas: http://www.movellas.com/blog/show/201...
July 25, 2018
I must confess I bought this book because I loved the cover. I know this is against all the rules, but there it is! However, this book lived up to its cover.
We meet Davy in the early dawn, creating pictures of angels in the dirt. He lives in Brownvale, a town that appears to be controlled by the fearsome Parson Fall. Davy is an orphan, living rough, dodging the menacing Mr Kite who rounds up the homeless and sells them on, no matter what their age (a nod to Mr Dickens' Fagan?). Davy has few friends; Mr Timm the librarian offers him sanctuary and it is here that Davy finds inspiration for his drawings from a book of Renaissance Angels. Davy's world is turned upside down when he meets Miss Flint, the old 'witch' who lives in the ruined remains of the town museum.
There is a timelessness to this novel, which references classic films, but never mentions modern technologies. In fact, Young plays with time, defying the science and making time fluid. You sense that there is magic in the air, and it's this magic that leads Davy to Miss Flint, and together they embark on a journey that will transform both their lives.
I'm finding it hard to communicate how wonderful I think this book is. It has so much heart and I hope that it finds the audience it so deserves.
And I must make special mention of the illustrations by Hannah George that are the icing on the cake-just perfect!
Highly recommended for upper primary to lower secondary school readers.
We meet Davy in the early dawn, creating pictures of angels in the dirt. He lives in Brownvale, a town that appears to be controlled by the fearsome Parson Fall. Davy is an orphan, living rough, dodging the menacing Mr Kite who rounds up the homeless and sells them on, no matter what their age (a nod to Mr Dickens' Fagan?). Davy has few friends; Mr Timm the librarian offers him sanctuary and it is here that Davy finds inspiration for his drawings from a book of Renaissance Angels. Davy's world is turned upside down when he meets Miss Flint, the old 'witch' who lives in the ruined remains of the town museum.
There is a timelessness to this novel, which references classic films, but never mentions modern technologies. In fact, Young plays with time, defying the science and making time fluid. You sense that there is magic in the air, and it's this magic that leads Davy to Miss Flint, and together they embark on a journey that will transform both their lives.
I'm finding it hard to communicate how wonderful I think this book is. It has so much heart and I hope that it finds the audience it so deserves.
And I must make special mention of the illustrations by Hannah George that are the icing on the cake-just perfect!
Highly recommended for upper primary to lower secondary school readers.
August 22, 2018
I am not going to lie I picked this up purely because of the cover. I knew nothing about the story and have not read anything by this author before.
I didn't enjoy this book and if I had known that it was magical realism I would not have picked it up as it is not a genre that I enjoy. This book follows Davy and a stray dog George who help an old lady make a final trip. This book moved very slowly and it took me a while to get into it. Despite being quite a short read it still took me a long time to get through it.
I didn't connect to this story or the characters so I found that the ending didn't really have an impact on me. Overall this was not for me and I really did not enjoy reading it.
I didn't enjoy this book and if I had known that it was magical realism I would not have picked it up as it is not a genre that I enjoy. This book follows Davy and a stray dog George who help an old lady make a final trip. This book moved very slowly and it took me a while to get into it. Despite being quite a short read it still took me a long time to get through it.
I didn't connect to this story or the characters so I found that the ending didn't really have an impact on me. Overall this was not for me and I really did not enjoy reading it.
July 31, 2017
Radiant and charming and sweet, though I do wish there had been a little more follow-through on the angel thread.
April 8, 2025
Week 1 Road to ever after.
Now that you have had a chance to start the book, are you happy with your choice? Will you stick with this book? Why or why not?
So far the book has been straight forward with not too much happening but the words are complex and it seems to be my reading level. Though I don't know if I will change books or not. But after reading the back it looks like it will get more interesting as the book progresses. As I am only 15 pages into the book it's too hard to tell if i will enjoy this book.
If this book is not appropriate or interesting for you, how will you make a better choice next time? What do you need to do to find a book for this reading assignment? Who can help?
If it turns out that If I decide to change books I will probably read a bit into the new book to see if it suits me and if not move on. I will also ask a teacher or librarian for help finding a book of my interests that is at my reading level as well.
Now that you have had a chance to start the book, are you happy with your choice? Will you stick with this book? Why or why not?
So far the book has been straight forward with not too much happening but the words are complex and it seems to be my reading level. Though I don't know if I will change books or not. But after reading the back it looks like it will get more interesting as the book progresses. As I am only 15 pages into the book it's too hard to tell if i will enjoy this book.
If this book is not appropriate or interesting for you, how will you make a better choice next time? What do you need to do to find a book for this reading assignment? Who can help?
If it turns out that If I decide to change books I will probably read a bit into the new book to see if it suits me and if not move on. I will also ask a teacher or librarian for help finding a book of my interests that is at my reading level as well.
April 15, 2017
Started off a bit slow and suffers for quite a few issues (forgotten character developments, lots of tropes), the story ended up fast paced, and fun. Involving a bit of fantasy, and lots of sentimentality, I ended up enjoying it.
December 22, 2017
Absolutely gorgeous! Could taste the apple, feel the wind.... Haunting and moving, a suspenseful tale touched with magic and brimming with wonder. Unforgettable
April 23, 2018
Davy is an orphan trying to stay out the way of Mr. Kite and the Parson, because if he is caught he will be sent off to be a servant somewhere. He enters the yard of Miss Flint, who asks Davy (who is 13 and does not have a license) to drive her to her childhood home so she can die there. Davy thinks she is nuts at first, but eventually agrees to do so. Their trip is thrilling and adventurous, and they encounter some strange things as they get closer to Miss Flint's home. I loved this story.
September 22, 2018
I finished this book last night. Davy David and Miss Flint touched my heart and gifted me dreams of beginnings and endings and journeys and rebirths. Stretched my heartstrings and left me with a lovely ache, this one did. It's rare to see middle grade books with only one child character (though there's a twist to the story that brings a child into the narrative at the final hour). I loved it.
July 12, 2019
Wonderful.
November 6, 2020
Orphelin et sans-le-sou, Davy, âgé de 13 ans, doit fuir la ville après avoir été témoin d'une situation compromettante impliquant le révérend de la ville. Au même moment, il fait la rencontre de madame Flint. La vieille dame est alors à la recherche d'un chauffeur pour la conduire à la maison de son enfance, l'endroit où elle a prévu mourir le 25ème jour de décembre.
La relation entretenue entretenue entre Davy et madame Flint, m'a beaucoup rappelé celle de Malik & Marius (Rap pour violoncelle seul, par Maryse Pagé) et celle de Oscar et Mamie Rose (Oscar et la dame rose, par Éric Emmanuel-Schmitt). Un bel exemple d'amitié intergénérationnelle. 💖
Accompagné de George Bailey, son chien, Davy devient le chauffeur de madame Flint et s'embarque dans une aventure qui s'annonce être la plus mémorable de sa vie.
Une histoire touchante qui saura vous mettre dans l'esprit des fêtes et peut-être une petite larme à l'oeil💖.
La relation entretenue entretenue entre Davy et madame Flint, m'a beaucoup rappelé celle de Malik & Marius (Rap pour violoncelle seul, par Maryse Pagé) et celle de Oscar et Mamie Rose (Oscar et la dame rose, par Éric Emmanuel-Schmitt). Un bel exemple d'amitié intergénérationnelle. 💖
Accompagné de George Bailey, son chien, Davy devient le chauffeur de madame Flint et s'embarque dans une aventure qui s'annonce être la plus mémorable de sa vie.
Une histoire touchante qui saura vous mettre dans l'esprit des fêtes et peut-être une petite larme à l'oeil💖.
July 27, 2020
3.5. The plot was... kind of weird and I didn't really like it, but the characters kept me interested anyway, so I think it deserves more than a 3.
February 25, 2017
2.5 stars. It's not a bad book but it just didn't work for me.
July 6, 2018
A frustrating blend of lovely and incompetent writing (whether through ignorance, or deliberate bad choices, it's hard to tell).
Others have sung its praises, so I'll focus on what bothered me.
Unbelievable, inconsistent characters, who don't behave the way humans behave. This is sometimes acceptable (say, in a fairy tale, or very stylized picture book) but in a novel I expect some semblance of reality. Almost every single character, no matter how big or small, ended up overacting to some extent.
Unbelievable, unacceptable plot contrivances, like a 13 year old who has never driven before (or even been in a car, given his circumstances) magically knowing how to drive a motorcycle, for God's sake.
Unnecessary, pointless, unexplained passages--the first 70 pages is essentially filler--just such a waste.
This irritated me to no end. It felt like the author was aiming for some beautifully-written touching evocation of Peter S. Beagle and Ray Bradbury, and they got the Smaller Dumpling Amateur Theatrical Society's presentation of the director's 8 year old's dramatization of War and Peace instead. It's just so far off the mark.
(I was this close to stopping reading, but I had to wonder if anything paid off eventually--maybe the main character, say, turned out to be in a video game and that's why he could magically do everything, and why the NPCs were so unconvincing, etc., but no.)
Not for me.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
Others have sung its praises, so I'll focus on what bothered me.
Unbelievable, inconsistent characters, who don't behave the way humans behave. This is sometimes acceptable (say, in a fairy tale, or very stylized picture book) but in a novel I expect some semblance of reality. Almost every single character, no matter how big or small, ended up overacting to some extent.
Unbelievable, unacceptable plot contrivances, like a 13 year old who has never driven before (or even been in a car, given his circumstances) magically knowing how to drive a motorcycle, for God's sake.
Unnecessary, pointless, unexplained passages--the first 70 pages is essentially filler--just such a waste.
This irritated me to no end. It felt like the author was aiming for some beautifully-written touching evocation of Peter S. Beagle and Ray Bradbury, and they got the Smaller Dumpling Amateur Theatrical Society's presentation of the director's 8 year old's dramatization of War and Peace instead. It's just so far off the mark.
(I was this close to stopping reading, but I had to wonder if anything paid off eventually--maybe the main character, say, turned out to be in a video game and that's why he could magically do everything, and why the NPCs were so unconvincing, etc., but no.)
Not for me.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
July 31, 2017
[FOR GOD’S SAKE! I WILL NEVER QUIT READING – NEVER!]…
1. ‘Hey, Ma, you’ll never guess,’ he said.
‘That book I told you about? It’s mine now, all mine. I own it. Look.’
Along one edge of the graveyard stood a line of yew trees, bowing and bending in the wind. They’d been growing side by side for so long that their branches had entangled them together. In one place, that entanglement had formed a hollow, a kind of den that Davy called home.
2. He was near to Potter’s Field. He went over to his mother’s little rose bush and slumped beside it. Tears were tight in his throat. But he wouldn’t cry. He would not. Crying could not undo what had been done. The dog, upset by his anger, had been shadowing Davy as he ran around and yelled. Now he trotted up and dropped something on the ground. It was Davy’s toothbrush, badly scorched and useless. The dog nosed it towards him, then sat. One of his ears drooped sympathetically. His eyes were anxious and soft. Davy hugged him close to his chest.
3. ‘Why me?’ said Davy.
‘You sweep angels,’ she said. ‘Isn’t that enough?’
‘Goodnight, Miss Flint.’
In passing, as Davy left the room, his arm brushed the call-bell cord and the bell gave a gentle little tinkle.
4. Miss Flint couldn’t leave the world without his help. Davy turned his head and gave her a wry smile. He, Davy David, who’d never been needed before, was needed now in the most amazing way.
‘This is why you hired me,’ he said.
‘It’s why you waited for me to come back.’
‘What’s happening to me?’ she whispered.
‘Something wonderful,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’
5. ‘Why am I getting younger?’ said Miss Flint.
‘I don’t know,’ Davy said. ‘I just don’t know.’
6. ‘What happened? Where did you go? Where did it take you?’ Davy said.
‘I don’t know. Please don’t ask me. Get me out of here,’ she said.
‘Just as soon as it’s light,’ Davy said.
He spread his jacket on the ground.
‘Lie down and close your eyes. Think about the sea.’
‘Please don’t leave me. Not for a moment.’
‘We won’t leave you,’ Davy said.
And he and George kept watch through the night.
7. Someone had left a green rowing boat on the beach, pulled high above the tideline so it wouldn’t drift away. Lizzie sat in it, looking lost. Once Davy had unloaded his fruit gleanings up at the house, he and George climbed in to join her.
‘It’s this waiting,’ she said, ‘this not knowing. I can’t stand it.’
‘Would it really be so bad? If you had to stay?’ Davy said.
‘We’d stay with you. Me and George. You wouldn’t have to be alone.’ She looked at him.
‘Oh, Davy,’ was all she said.
Don’t anyone dare to ask me how’s the experience while I was reading the book! Pardon my excessive behaviour but what should I say really? I am at least right now at this very moment while I am writing this review not capable myself to mutter a good word for it. I don’t know what am I talking about but I do know this, that ‘The Road to Ever After’ was beyond my imagination. No Doubt about it. I was being drawn to it for it’s startling cover and proud to say I was not doomed at all by it. It was utterly exceptional for me…
My 1st read of Moira Young & it was a marathon read. I just couldn’t help myself but kept going and going until I finished it. I find it very much entertaining, very much touchy and of course in some point it did make me emotional. How not so? It was really impossible for me specially on those couple pages where I read those specific incident of the characters…
Davy David -
Age of 13 and an orphan the young boy. Ah just in which way I can describe him? It almost break my heart as he in his daily livelihood make himself a shelter in the graveyard just beside his dead mother’s grave and whatever he did in his everyday work he come back and talk to her but there’s no one or most certainly her mom not present herself there to answer him, to listen him. As I say he was an orphan. But wait before you think deep. Now here’s come his best pal. George Bailey! Oh you must be thinking that it’s gotta be his best friend? No, wrong. It’s his Dog – George, George Bailey! I wish George has more details to read. I did feel the urge to read more about George. The dog remind me my Bullet (the dog’s name of my 1st eBook) in many ways. I loved it. I loved the combination of them. The entry of a dog make the tale more twisting to read. But of course it’s not the end. There’s more…
Miss Elizabeth Flint (Lizzie Flint)-
Now here’s come the price. To be honest I really didn’t believe myself that when she was a witch she could be turned out something like unthinkable. Thus the exact thing really happened to her. At the time she was 80 years old, counting the day for her death & then suddenly she found herself in another dimension. In another life or say in another miracle; where of course on that mesmerizing journey it was Davy and George was with her of course. And it was then the journey just began. Elizabeth Flint became loosing her age day by day. It’s not growing like what to say 80 to 81 but she one day realized that she no longer 80 but become 60 years old & this was continuing till it’s the time for her to fade away. I loved the journey of them as Elizabeth finally gone back to her age at 16 and it was then everyone would known her by name Lizzie. The way Davy’s fate attached to her and then later she helplessly needed Davy to guide her to reach her final destination was very fascinating to read. I was speechless and kind of feeling hopeless when Davy did manage himself to help Lizzie to reach final goal and it was then the gravity of that scenario was really hard to contain or say to express. I could feel the emotion through me, it was unmistakable…
From the core of my Heart Thanks to - Moira Young…
March 25, 2017
Rating = 2*s
To be honest, I didn’t really like this book. I found the extremes within the town, with Davy as so pure and moral compared to the rest of the town, who all victimised him, rather irritating. Davy was also a bit inconsistent – he was too moral to take a library book when told he could, but then suddenly would steal cars at Elizabeth’s command – and I found it very confusing. On the whole there were elements I found amusing (such as the book references from Elizabeth, where she said he could write a book about his experiences, but it would have to be fiction or else no one would believe it) and the ending was sweet, but I ultimately didn’t like it.
This review was originally posted here: https://bookendsandendings.wordpress....
To be honest, I didn’t really like this book. I found the extremes within the town, with Davy as so pure and moral compared to the rest of the town, who all victimised him, rather irritating. Davy was also a bit inconsistent – he was too moral to take a library book when told he could, but then suddenly would steal cars at Elizabeth’s command – and I found it very confusing. On the whole there were elements I found amusing (such as the book references from Elizabeth, where she said he could write a book about his experiences, but it would have to be fiction or else no one would believe it) and the ending was sweet, but I ultimately didn’t like it.
This review was originally posted here: https://bookendsandendings.wordpress....
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