Far From Home

Children of the Promise #3

by Dean Hughes

Far From Home is a moving, powerful novel about the effects of adversity, and about the love of family members for each other. If you''re interested in World War II, or if you simply enjoy a great story, you won't want to miss this third volume of Children of the Promise.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Lds Fiction, Lds, Fiction, Religion, Historical, World War II

492 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 1998

About the author

Dean Hughes is the author of more than eighty books for young readers, including the popular sports series Angel Park All-Stars, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the widely acclaimed companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. Soldier Boys was selected for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list. Dean Hughes and his wife, Kathleen, have three children and six grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah.

Reviews

[Kristina Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are HEAVY. I feel like I’m changing as I read them. People often talk about how reading lets you experience life in ways you wouldn’t otherwise and widens your world. This series has done that for me. I wonder how I might have handled these situations and feel immense gratitude that I didn’t have to. I’m ready for “this war” to end and to see what happens to the Thomas family. But I may need to give myself a little time before I finish reading volumes 4 and 5.

[Ashtynne Degroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning of this book, there was a guy named Alex and he was going back to the war after he recovered from his injury during the war. While he is in the war, he has a brother and a sister that are also helping out in the war. The brother's name is Wally and he is a prisoner of war in Japan. Alex's sister, Bobbi is working as a nurse in Pearl Harbor. Alex comes back to the war to find that things have really changed while he was away. There were a bunch of war guys who were brand new and were only like 17 or 18 years old. Can Alex do all he can to try to save them without getting his own life taken.
I think that the theme of this book was "You can never give up." I thought of this because in this book, some people are completely treated terrible by the people they work for like Wally. He has to deal with all of the Japan people, who honestly, aren't very nice to the prisoners. Before Wally left his home, he was always very arrogant to all of the people in his family, especially his father. When Wally was at war, he really changed and I think in the upcoming books, his family will be surprised at how much he has changed from the time when he was doing track in high school, up until the time he was a prisoner of war in Japan. Always keep trying and you can never give up.
Some things that I really liked about this book were all of the events that were going on in the book. Another thing that I liked was how well the author put everything together and made it feel like I have experienced it on my own. I felt like everything was meant to be and nothing was out of place or wrong in this book. I really didn't have to say anything bad about this book. I will rate this book as a five out of five. Great job, Dean Hughes (author)

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's strange that all my books are rereads this year, but I can't help it. I need to see the Thomas family through to the end of the war, and I definitely have favorites amongst the kids. Already have the next book in the series out...bring on the cheesy dialogue and warm fuzzies as the family members finally get to see each other again. Happy reading and happy new year!

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Third book in the series and it was pretty slow. I ended up skimming the last 1/3 of the book to move the story along. It really dragged.

[June Guymon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first two books in this series but but felt that the story slowed down in this installment. However, I will finish the series nevertheless.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues the Thomas family story. Alex is involved in the Battle of the Bulge and his wife is now pregnant in England. Her father, working loosely with the American SIS has returned to Germany to try and find Peter. Peter had to join the German military to avoid capture by the SS after failing to cross the border with his family. He's serving on the Russian front and being forced to flee in front of the Russians. A walking skeleton, he deserts and heads back into Germany with refugees. Wally has been sent to Japan to work in an abandoned coal mine. Three years as a POW has changed him physically and spiritually. He's trying hard to not hate the Japanese.

Bobbi is still in Hawaii working as a nurse. Her "friend" Richard has had his ship attacked and is missing for several weeks and the appears in hospital with burned hands. Once he's returned to Hawaii and it's determined he'll keep his hands he proposes... finally.

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as good as the first two books in the series. This book did have more of the actual combat in WWII, which I know was important but is not as interesting to me. It also had a lot of romance and history and character growth, though. I loved the way Hughes showed how hard the characters had it and how they didn't always just naturally want to be faithful and resilient, but still kept the themes of God and religion and human decency throughout. The struggle that Wally goes through is my favorite to read, because it is so hard for him and yet he keeps trying. I love his character development.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this one a week ago, and a lot happened on the past week, so no rambling nonsensical review for this one.
Just, it was really really good.
Wait, one thought. I will say this, having seen Band of Brothers helped immensely in picturing what was happening with Alex in this one. But I can't emphasize enough the violence and sweary-ness of it. But also I can't emphasize enough how amazing it is. But also you're an adult so just figure out if you're going to watch it or not, stop asking me to tell you what to do I got books to read geez.

[Anna Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each book has flowed so well into the next. My husband and I have been choosing to listen to these books each night as we clean up and put kids down to bed. It has sparked some great discussion too about the war and our testimonies. I have loved getting to know the characters more and more. My one disappointment is not getting more of Gene’s perspective. I really wish we had. But everything else we have really enjoyed. The problems each character faces make them seem more human and real. And the author does a great job and not feeling to “preachy”.

[Melissa Falkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book. I’m so enthralled with this story right now and love listening to it. I’m so glad there were a few happy moments near the end of the book. I can’t imagine going through this whole experience. Now that I’m a Mom (since the last time I read this I wasn’t) I see it more through Bea Thomas’s eyes and how it must have felt to have so many children in so many different difficult circumstances. It makes me grateful for my cozy home and safe children!

[Virginia Richins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seriously loved this series. I feel like it just keeps getting better and better. I am not sure my younger boys could handle it quite yet based on some of the harder parts of war and the attempted rape in the first book, but overall it is quite clean and a great look at so many different aspects of the war. I also love how much you can see the characters faith grow despite enormous challenges. It is simply beautiful.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotional drama continues. The Thomas children and the Stoltz family are each spread throughout the world in different theaters of the war. Your heart gets pulled so many directions it's hard to tell what's going to happen and how you're going to feel about it. I love a book when you feel like the characters are real, and this book doesn't disappoint. The story drives you deeper into each character's life than ever before. You can expect tears, as well as moments of deep joy. Loved it!

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody else better die. Alex had better get back to Anna and their child. Bobbi needs to get back to Richard when she leaves. Wally better make it back home from the prison camp. LaRue should be a better person, and I can relate to Beverly as I like reading so much. Peter better find his dad and stay alive.

[livvy.jane33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh. I can't. 4.5 stars.
Didn't hit me as hard as book two, but I still cried. Many times. I love these characters so much, even Wally, who I hated in book 1. But he's changed so much since then and now he's one of my favorites.

[Bonnie Gutzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been enjoying the series and will definitely keep reading it, but this book felt slow and I started noticing how many of the same phrases are used over and over, and dialogue isn’t what I’d picture real people saying in life. It feels like a low budget film in book form...

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite lines:
1. "It's a strange thing, this worry. It does no good, and yet you hold on to it so tightly" (46).
2. "You don't earn your rights by having birthdays. You earn them as you show that you can accept responsibility" (75).

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but not my favorite so far. I felt like I read 500 pages and not much happened to the characters. However, I’m pretty committed to this series so I’ll be finishing it. I hope that the next book is more exciting.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is SOOOOO sad! It makes me disheartened about life in general to read about how terrible it was to be a soldier in WWII. I also feel guilty about not having to go through anything like that. But I HAVE to finish the series.

[Anne Knudsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Look into WWII through the eyes of the Thomas family

From battles at the front, to a prison camp in Japan, to a military hospital in Hawaii to back home in Salt Lake City, the reader will walk the heart wrenching journey through WWII and its effects on a family. Amazing read!

[Heidi Rothert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one, for me was harder to get through. I still loved it.

[Gena Lott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to shed a few tears.

[Emily Voss · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were too many perspective shifts, but other than that I enjoyed it just as much as the other ones!

[Krista Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending left me in tears! I can't get enough of this series!

[Betty Ann Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the Thomas children are involved in the war and learning lessons about themselves and their testimony.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moments of real intensity, especially relating to the Gestapo.
War isn't pretty. So glad my Dad came home with no injuries.

[Carol Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Hughes does a wonderful job in helping us try to visualize what it was like during World War II.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t as in to this one as the first two as it felt a bit slower. But still love reading about WW2/ the Thomas family and can’t wait to start the next book.

[Anne (Angel Anne Reviews) Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 angel stars

[Brooklynn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and the author balances a lot of POVS very well