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The Road to Delano
With a foreword by Cesar Chavez's spokesman and speechwriter Marc Grossman
A high school senior, Jack Duncan dreams of playing college baseball and leaving the political turmoil of the agricultural town Delano behind. Ever since his father, a grape grower, died ten years earlier, he’s suspected that his mother has been hiding the truth from him about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
With his family’s property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it. On the road, an old friend of his father shows up with evidence that Jack’s father was murdered. Armed with this new information, Jack embarks on a mission to discover the entire truth, not just about his father but the corruption endemic in the Central Valley.
When Jack’s girlfriend warns him not to do anything to jeopardize their post graduation plans and refuses to help him, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez. The boys’ dangerous plan to rescue the Duncan family farm leaves Adrian in a catastrophic situation, and Jack must step up to the plate and rescue his family and his friend before he can make his escape from Delano.
The Road to Delano is the path Jack and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.
A high school senior, Jack Duncan dreams of playing college baseball and leaving the political turmoil of the agricultural town Delano behind. Ever since his father, a grape grower, died ten years earlier, he’s suspected that his mother has been hiding the truth from him about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
With his family’s property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it. On the road, an old friend of his father shows up with evidence that Jack’s father was murdered. Armed with this new information, Jack embarks on a mission to discover the entire truth, not just about his father but the corruption endemic in the Central Valley.
When Jack’s girlfriend warns him not to do anything to jeopardize their post graduation plans and refuses to help him, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez. The boys’ dangerous plan to rescue the Duncan family farm leaves Adrian in a catastrophic situation, and Jack must step up to the plate and rescue his family and his friend before he can make his escape from Delano.
The Road to Delano is the path Jack and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 24, 2020
A compelling story about an often forgotten part of history. John Desimone has skillfully captured time and place with his descriptive storytelling. 1968 the California central valley Jack is a high school senior determined to earn a baseball scholarship and make it out of his small town. Things have been hard for Jack and his mother after the death of his father. Resolute to save the farm Jack heads to town to sell some farm equipment when he runs across one of his fathers old friends who shares with Jack some information that his father was murdered. Jack wants justice for his father, but in pursuing it he gets his friend Adrian arrested. Will Jack be able to solve his father’s murder and save his friend from prosecution? Will he ever make it out of Delano or is this is destiny?
A well told, well researched genre potpourri . A little historical fiction, a little mystery, a little coming-of-age. Jack was a great character, an all American boy I could definitely get behind. I liked how Cesar Chavez, the labor struggle, and the striking field workers were infused into the story. It was interesting and disturbing how crooked and violent things got involving these labor disputes. I felt for the small town, for Jack, for his mother Shirley, and for Adrian. A captivating thought-provoking story that made me more aware of an important piece of our history.
This book in emojis ⚾️ 🚜 ☀️ 👨🏾🌾
*** Big thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
A well told, well researched genre potpourri . A little historical fiction, a little mystery, a little coming-of-age. Jack was a great character, an all American boy I could definitely get behind. I liked how Cesar Chavez, the labor struggle, and the striking field workers were infused into the story. It was interesting and disturbing how crooked and violent things got involving these labor disputes. I felt for the small town, for Jack, for his mother Shirley, and for Adrian. A captivating thought-provoking story that made me more aware of an important piece of our history.
This book in emojis ⚾️ 🚜 ☀️ 👨🏾🌾
*** Big thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
February 14, 2020
In 1968, Jack Duncan is a high school baseball player. Now a senior, he has big dreams for life and baseball after high school. He is eager to leave his small town behind. Times are also hard for he and his mother financially.
During this time, Jack finds out his deceased father was murdered. Now Jack can’t get it out of his head and wants to know what happened and why.
Not long after, his best friend, Adrian, is thrown in jail, and Jack must work to get him out.
Jack was an endearing character, and I was rooting for him throughout. I loved the small town atmosphere, and the undercurrents of unrest at the time due to the fieldworkers striking were portrayed well. Overall, I enjoyed the tension and thoughtfulness in the storytelling.
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
During this time, Jack finds out his deceased father was murdered. Now Jack can’t get it out of his head and wants to know what happened and why.
Not long after, his best friend, Adrian, is thrown in jail, and Jack must work to get him out.
Jack was an endearing character, and I was rooting for him throughout. I loved the small town atmosphere, and the undercurrents of unrest at the time due to the fieldworkers striking were portrayed well. Overall, I enjoyed the tension and thoughtfulness in the storytelling.
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
March 1, 2020
Thought-provoking and powerful—The Road to Delano by John DeSimone touches on issues of justice, destiny, and equality that resonate from the time of the novel through today. A story you won’t soon forget.
In the 1930s, Sugar Duncan and his new wife Shirly drive down the road to Delano and purchase land to set up roots for their family. Their son, Jack Duncan, grows up in Delano with dreams to leave it behind. When Sugar dies, Shirley is left to raise Jack on her own. Times are hard for Shirley, but she does her best to keep things moving for her and Jack, now they are alone.
Jack is a baseball player and he dreams of getting a scholarship to play in college, leaving Delano and the troubles that plague the town behind. It is a highly political time for a small town like Delano. Jack’s father Sugar was a grape grower, and Jack doesn’t know how deeply the labor strike involved his own father. But Jack does know about the financial troubles his mother is going through. In an effort to save their property, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it.
When a friend of his father’s brings shocking news…
A police report that indicates Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is shocked and needs to know more. He begins to look into the truth of what happened to his father. And at the heart of it all he finds corruption and darkness buried at the very heart of Delano.
When Jack brings in his best friend Adrien to help, Adrien finds himself in jail, a situation that may ruin his future for good. Now, Jack must find what happened to his father, help Adrien, and help his mother before everything is lost.
The writing is compelling and I found the story easy to lose myself in. John DeSimone knows how to pull me out of the present and right into the mid 1900s in a small town like Delano. It’s the sort of novel that makes you think about how stories like this happen all over our country in small towns, and we never hear about them. It is such a story of America, in a way, and what many lived like in a time that labor politics often led to death and murder. The rich want to stay rich on the backs of those who do the work. And sometimes, those that stand up for what is right don’t get the justice they seek.
A fantastic novel of historical fiction that I highly recommend.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours and Rare Bird for my copy. Opinions are my own.
In the 1930s, Sugar Duncan and his new wife Shirly drive down the road to Delano and purchase land to set up roots for their family. Their son, Jack Duncan, grows up in Delano with dreams to leave it behind. When Sugar dies, Shirley is left to raise Jack on her own. Times are hard for Shirley, but she does her best to keep things moving for her and Jack, now they are alone.
Jack is a baseball player and he dreams of getting a scholarship to play in college, leaving Delano and the troubles that plague the town behind. It is a highly political time for a small town like Delano. Jack’s father Sugar was a grape grower, and Jack doesn’t know how deeply the labor strike involved his own father. But Jack does know about the financial troubles his mother is going through. In an effort to save their property, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it.
When a friend of his father’s brings shocking news…
A police report that indicates Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is shocked and needs to know more. He begins to look into the truth of what happened to his father. And at the heart of it all he finds corruption and darkness buried at the very heart of Delano.
When Jack brings in his best friend Adrien to help, Adrien finds himself in jail, a situation that may ruin his future for good. Now, Jack must find what happened to his father, help Adrien, and help his mother before everything is lost.
The writing is compelling and I found the story easy to lose myself in. John DeSimone knows how to pull me out of the present and right into the mid 1900s in a small town like Delano. It’s the sort of novel that makes you think about how stories like this happen all over our country in small towns, and we never hear about them. It is such a story of America, in a way, and what many lived like in a time that labor politics often led to death and murder. The rich want to stay rich on the backs of those who do the work. And sometimes, those that stand up for what is right don’t get the justice they seek.
A fantastic novel of historical fiction that I highly recommend.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours and Rare Bird for my copy. Opinions are my own.
September 14, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Coach never yelled. He just stared at that empty space above a boy’s head as if he were wondering what kind of torture would produce one ounce of common sense in the teenager’s brain.
It’s one thing to be poor. It’s another thing to be forced into poverty by men who don’t care that we’re human beings.
He plays like a turkey before Thanksgiving.
My Review:
This was my introduction to John DeSimone and I found his storytelling to be absorbing and deeply insightful. He implanted me so thoroughly in his tale I felt the scorching heat as well as tasted the bitterness of the times in my mouth. I was vaguely aware of Cesar Chavez as a child of the ’70s, although as a white child, his name was not spoken reverently in my parents’ home and as was typical, so often paired with several unflattering slurs that I likely thought it was part of the man’s name. Embarrassing true story, and it happened more than once.
The storylines were well-crafted, profoundly perceptive, distressingly realistic, and adroitly captured the tumultuousness of the period as well as the unfettered arrogance, assumed privilege, blatant corruption, and abuse of power enjoyed at all levels. I remember gaining that same sense of staggering epiphany and awareness of the unfairness and hypocritical inhumanity experienced by the teenaged characters as if waking up to the not so well kept secret as a naïve and poorly informed bumpkin, and marveling at how entire communities silently allowed it to not only continue but to flourish.
John DeSimone’s powerful and emotive word choices hit all the feels and a sharp punch to the gut while reminding me of that oh, so, uncomfortable time. I found myself deeply invested in this hauntingly unsettling tale and fearful for all the characters as I knew it wasn’t going to end well for anyone. And along the way, I was well-schooled on baseball, card-playing, and grape growing in the most interesting fashion. Anyone who can get to me like that deserves far more than 5-Stars.
Coach never yelled. He just stared at that empty space above a boy’s head as if he were wondering what kind of torture would produce one ounce of common sense in the teenager’s brain.
It’s one thing to be poor. It’s another thing to be forced into poverty by men who don’t care that we’re human beings.
He plays like a turkey before Thanksgiving.
My Review:
This was my introduction to John DeSimone and I found his storytelling to be absorbing and deeply insightful. He implanted me so thoroughly in his tale I felt the scorching heat as well as tasted the bitterness of the times in my mouth. I was vaguely aware of Cesar Chavez as a child of the ’70s, although as a white child, his name was not spoken reverently in my parents’ home and as was typical, so often paired with several unflattering slurs that I likely thought it was part of the man’s name. Embarrassing true story, and it happened more than once.
The storylines were well-crafted, profoundly perceptive, distressingly realistic, and adroitly captured the tumultuousness of the period as well as the unfettered arrogance, assumed privilege, blatant corruption, and abuse of power enjoyed at all levels. I remember gaining that same sense of staggering epiphany and awareness of the unfairness and hypocritical inhumanity experienced by the teenaged characters as if waking up to the not so well kept secret as a naïve and poorly informed bumpkin, and marveling at how entire communities silently allowed it to not only continue but to flourish.
John DeSimone’s powerful and emotive word choices hit all the feels and a sharp punch to the gut while reminding me of that oh, so, uncomfortable time. I found myself deeply invested in this hauntingly unsettling tale and fearful for all the characters as I knew it wasn’t going to end well for anyone. And along the way, I was well-schooled on baseball, card-playing, and grape growing in the most interesting fashion. Anyone who can get to me like that deserves far more than 5-Stars.
January 30, 2020
Small town politics and characters you can connect with. You are in for a treat with this book.
This was a new to me author and I was unsure about this book at first, but it was a very engaging and easy read. Well until the end a little surprise for you towards the end.
I gave this book 4 stars. Give it a try.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
This was a new to me author and I was unsure about this book at first, but it was a very engaging and easy read. Well until the end a little surprise for you towards the end.
I gave this book 4 stars. Give it a try.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
March 11, 2020
The Road to Delano by John Desimone
1968 was a pivotal year for both Jack Duncan, our protagonist and Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, who lead the Farm Workers’ strike against the Delano area table grape growers. This political climate is the backdrop for our story in this poignant and thought-provoking story.
Jack Duncan had big league dreams and getting out of a small agricultural town in Central Valley to escape a harsh life struggling and living with his mother as a single parent would be an ideal situation. However, recent information about how his father, a prosperous farmer and a leader in the community may have died, under some questionable circumstances was now adding to the stress as their family struggle to keep their home and land.
As a California native with interest in the history of the Mexican and the Filipino migrants, I was glad to read about the inclusion of the Filipinos in the backdrop as part of the movement that supported Cesar Chavez - not usually mentioned much if any at all as part of the essential history. Thank you Desimone for making sure the inclusion of all people who were part of the Delano movement.
I highly recommend this book for an amazing story during a time in our history not well written about, yet was a pivoting part of our blemished past when prejudice and inequality was rampant against a group of people taken advantaged of.
Add this to your TBR and take that road to Delano! Have a great trip!
1968 was a pivotal year for both Jack Duncan, our protagonist and Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, who lead the Farm Workers’ strike against the Delano area table grape growers. This political climate is the backdrop for our story in this poignant and thought-provoking story.
Jack Duncan had big league dreams and getting out of a small agricultural town in Central Valley to escape a harsh life struggling and living with his mother as a single parent would be an ideal situation. However, recent information about how his father, a prosperous farmer and a leader in the community may have died, under some questionable circumstances was now adding to the stress as their family struggle to keep their home and land.
As a California native with interest in the history of the Mexican and the Filipino migrants, I was glad to read about the inclusion of the Filipinos in the backdrop as part of the movement that supported Cesar Chavez - not usually mentioned much if any at all as part of the essential history. Thank you Desimone for making sure the inclusion of all people who were part of the Delano movement.
I highly recommend this book for an amazing story during a time in our history not well written about, yet was a pivoting part of our blemished past when prejudice and inequality was rampant against a group of people taken advantaged of.
Add this to your TBR and take that road to Delano! Have a great trip!
March 13, 2020
Thank you HFVBT, John DeSimone and
Rare Bird for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Road To Delano
By: John DeSimone
*REVIEW* ☆☆☆☆
I always find books interesting that teach me something about history that I have never heard of prior. The Road To Delano is just such a book. It's a fictional story, but there are bits of non fiction as well. The hero, Jack, is soon to graduate and has dreams of college and baseball and his girlfriend, but his biggest goal is to get out of Delano. Jack lives with his mother in a large Victorian that was once magnificent, now fallen into disrepair, on a tiny bit of land where there used to be a thriving vineyard. The land has been lost bit by bit through cheating and scheming and, now, a tax sale. Ten years ago Jack's father, a prosperous grape grower, died in an alleged accident, and things went south after that. Now, Jack is grown up, and he is approached one night by someone with information about his father's death not being accidental after all. Jack and his best friend, Adrian, begin to unravel the secrets of Delano and Central Valley( California), and they are not prepared for what they find. The corruption here runs deep, and the treatment of the fieldworkers is deplorable. These workers, along with Cesar Chavez, boycott in the late 1960s. Adrian is the son of a boycotting worker, and he, along with Jack, become involved in all of this. It's a story of fate, loss, family, human rights, corruption, lies and hope. There is much more to the story than I originally thought, and I learned a lot about the grape worker's strike and Cesar Chavez. The Road To Delano is unassuming but very compelling with an insightful look at a time and a group of people with a rich history to share with all of us. Do give this one a try!
Rare Bird for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Road To Delano
By: John DeSimone
*REVIEW* ☆☆☆☆
I always find books interesting that teach me something about history that I have never heard of prior. The Road To Delano is just such a book. It's a fictional story, but there are bits of non fiction as well. The hero, Jack, is soon to graduate and has dreams of college and baseball and his girlfriend, but his biggest goal is to get out of Delano. Jack lives with his mother in a large Victorian that was once magnificent, now fallen into disrepair, on a tiny bit of land where there used to be a thriving vineyard. The land has been lost bit by bit through cheating and scheming and, now, a tax sale. Ten years ago Jack's father, a prosperous grape grower, died in an alleged accident, and things went south after that. Now, Jack is grown up, and he is approached one night by someone with information about his father's death not being accidental after all. Jack and his best friend, Adrian, begin to unravel the secrets of Delano and Central Valley( California), and they are not prepared for what they find. The corruption here runs deep, and the treatment of the fieldworkers is deplorable. These workers, along with Cesar Chavez, boycott in the late 1960s. Adrian is the son of a boycotting worker, and he, along with Jack, become involved in all of this. It's a story of fate, loss, family, human rights, corruption, lies and hope. There is much more to the story than I originally thought, and I learned a lot about the grape worker's strike and Cesar Chavez. The Road To Delano is unassuming but very compelling with an insightful look at a time and a group of people with a rich history to share with all of us. Do give this one a try!
May 24, 2021
I was drawn into this story immediately by the snappy prose and wonderful imagery. Combine that with my fascination for history, love for baseball, and interest in eras of immense change such as Cesar Chavez and his fight to establish a labor union for farmers, this was a book that I read late into the night. The characters of Sugar Duncan, his son Jack, and Jack’s best friend Adrian, all face hardships in different forms. When Jack confronts insurmountable odds in his own quest to create a better life while his family’s property is in jeopardy of being lost, he discovers that his father’s death was not all Jack believed it to be. As an intriguing story of unexpected revelations of the past during a time of political turmoil in the 1960s, readers will be drawn into this intricate plot that is highly engaging and more than worth the read.
March 26, 2020
I would like to thank the author John Desimone for sending me a advance readers proof copy paperback to read.
March 14, 2020
High school baseball star, Jack Duncan is at the top of his game. Scouts are scouting at his games, his girlfriend and him have been together for a while and are talking about their futures and that all changes within a matter of moments.
Jack's father died years ago, and Jack was younger in that he doesn't remember much. His father had left on some business, and never returned. It was figured that he had fallen back into his gambling habits and got in with some dangerous men again. Jack's mother never talked about it. But now, years later they are about to lose the last of what their father had built, their house. His mother will do anything it takes to keep the house.
Jack is sent to sell of the last piece of equipment they have, this should helpfully save the house. On his way into town, he gets sidetracked by an old friend of his father's and the unthinkable happens. This friend steals the combine and leaves Jack stranded not believing what just happened.
Police papers were left with him before the old man took off on him. He now is questions his fathers death as well as how this old man could have taken off and hidden a combine so quickly. A large piece of farm machinery doesn't just disappear, and they are not easily hidden.
Jack soon finds out that this is just the beginning of their troubles, and there may be more wrapped up in this all than just a piece of machinery. Was his father really murdered, and truly was not gambling like the long held rumor? Jack's baseball career is starting to be put on the line as he is now worried about life at home, this friend of his fathers who was found dead and his mothers future.
He becomes entangled with those who have no fear of killing someone. While out hunting for the combine he gets tangled within the fieldworkers and has another problem to now worry about when he sees how they have been treated and that maybe it is closer to home than he thought when he asks his best friend, Adrian for help. Adrian is a son of a boycotting fieldworker and has a close relationship with someone who has a lot of pull and say.
Can Jack and Adrian find the combine, save Jack's house and still be focused on the baseball stars they are? What dangerous road are they going down, and will the truth of his father come out? Very interesting, good read about California and the migrant workers during the 1930's-1960's.
Thank you Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, and to John DeSimone for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I have not read much about this part of history and it was interesting and sad to read about.
Jack's father died years ago, and Jack was younger in that he doesn't remember much. His father had left on some business, and never returned. It was figured that he had fallen back into his gambling habits and got in with some dangerous men again. Jack's mother never talked about it. But now, years later they are about to lose the last of what their father had built, their house. His mother will do anything it takes to keep the house.
Jack is sent to sell of the last piece of equipment they have, this should helpfully save the house. On his way into town, he gets sidetracked by an old friend of his father's and the unthinkable happens. This friend steals the combine and leaves Jack stranded not believing what just happened.
Police papers were left with him before the old man took off on him. He now is questions his fathers death as well as how this old man could have taken off and hidden a combine so quickly. A large piece of farm machinery doesn't just disappear, and they are not easily hidden.
Jack soon finds out that this is just the beginning of their troubles, and there may be more wrapped up in this all than just a piece of machinery. Was his father really murdered, and truly was not gambling like the long held rumor? Jack's baseball career is starting to be put on the line as he is now worried about life at home, this friend of his fathers who was found dead and his mothers future.
He becomes entangled with those who have no fear of killing someone. While out hunting for the combine he gets tangled within the fieldworkers and has another problem to now worry about when he sees how they have been treated and that maybe it is closer to home than he thought when he asks his best friend, Adrian for help. Adrian is a son of a boycotting fieldworker and has a close relationship with someone who has a lot of pull and say.
Can Jack and Adrian find the combine, save Jack's house and still be focused on the baseball stars they are? What dangerous road are they going down, and will the truth of his father come out? Very interesting, good read about California and the migrant workers during the 1930's-1960's.
Thank you Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, and to John DeSimone for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I have not read much about this part of history and it was interesting and sad to read about.
March 21, 2020
Jack Duncan grew up in one of those American cities where escape is pivotal. For Jack to have any type of future, he must win a baseball scholarship in order to create a promising future. Currently, Jack and his mother's property is in jeopardy of a tax sale. With hardly any equipment left in their family farm, John's mother has been promised a check big enough to cover the tax bill and to fulfill her dream to open her own shop.
As Jack takes the long drive on the combine, passing striking workers along the way, he is flagged off of the highway by a stranded motorist. Before he can do anything about it, he is stranded and the combine disappears. Just before his future disappears before his eyes, the motorist happens to be an old friend of his father who has shown him a police report that shakes Jack to the core. The report gave details of his father's death that he never knew.
Jack has another gift besides baseball. It is a gift his father had, and one that ultimately led to his death. Jack decides to capitalize on this talent in order to locate the combine and to reveal the truth of what actually happened to his father. This does not come easy for Jack. Yes he may be gifted when it comes to playing cards, but this doesn't clear an easy path for him. In fact, the experiences he falls into are hair-raising, leaving his mother, best friend Adrian and his wonderful girlfriend Ella to worry.
I honestly didn't know what to think when going into this story. As general fiction, it did not fall into the comfortable genres I have become accustomed to reading. I hesitate to branch out because I hope to be fair to authors when reviewing their work. Well, I found reading The Road to Delano to have surpassed my expectations. This was a nicely written story that flowed well and kept me tapping my Kindle for page after page.
The backdrop of vineyard work, card smarts, corruption and poverty all flowed seamlessly together in order to deliver a wonderful story, if not heartbreaking at times. I want to thank the blog tour organizer for putting this book on my horizon.
Many thanks to Rare Bird Books and to HFV Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As Jack takes the long drive on the combine, passing striking workers along the way, he is flagged off of the highway by a stranded motorist. Before he can do anything about it, he is stranded and the combine disappears. Just before his future disappears before his eyes, the motorist happens to be an old friend of his father who has shown him a police report that shakes Jack to the core. The report gave details of his father's death that he never knew.
Jack has another gift besides baseball. It is a gift his father had, and one that ultimately led to his death. Jack decides to capitalize on this talent in order to locate the combine and to reveal the truth of what actually happened to his father. This does not come easy for Jack. Yes he may be gifted when it comes to playing cards, but this doesn't clear an easy path for him. In fact, the experiences he falls into are hair-raising, leaving his mother, best friend Adrian and his wonderful girlfriend Ella to worry.
I honestly didn't know what to think when going into this story. As general fiction, it did not fall into the comfortable genres I have become accustomed to reading. I hesitate to branch out because I hope to be fair to authors when reviewing their work. Well, I found reading The Road to Delano to have surpassed my expectations. This was a nicely written story that flowed well and kept me tapping my Kindle for page after page.
The backdrop of vineyard work, card smarts, corruption and poverty all flowed seamlessly together in order to deliver a wonderful story, if not heartbreaking at times. I want to thank the blog tour organizer for putting this book on my horizon.
Many thanks to Rare Bird Books and to HFV Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
February 5, 2020
Half part Thriller, half part Coming of Age story, The Road to Delano is a fast paced, original tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages!
Set in the 1960's in rural Central Valley, California, we meet our protagonist- Jack, at the age of 18. His dream of getting out of Delano with a baseball scholarship is derailed when he discovers his father's death 10 years prior may not have been an accident at all. And Jack will do whatever it takes to bring the murderer to justice and save the family vineyard.
This whole story is an absolute triumph! The tale rides on the back of the magnificent characters that are relatable and likable such as Jack and his best friend Adrian. Fiction is mixed with fact as Cesar Chavez plays a heavy part in the story as the migrant workers begin to take a stand against their employers who are not treating them fairly. The tension throughout this entire book was so thick, you could cut it with a knife, for one reason or another. The migrant workers strikes. Corrupt town politics. And a boy trying to salvage what's left of his family farm, solve his father's murder, and making his own dreams a reality. All of these acts set the stage for a nail biting, and fantastic trip down The Road to Delano!
Set in the 1960's in rural Central Valley, California, we meet our protagonist- Jack, at the age of 18. His dream of getting out of Delano with a baseball scholarship is derailed when he discovers his father's death 10 years prior may not have been an accident at all. And Jack will do whatever it takes to bring the murderer to justice and save the family vineyard.
This whole story is an absolute triumph! The tale rides on the back of the magnificent characters that are relatable and likable such as Jack and his best friend Adrian. Fiction is mixed with fact as Cesar Chavez plays a heavy part in the story as the migrant workers begin to take a stand against their employers who are not treating them fairly. The tension throughout this entire book was so thick, you could cut it with a knife, for one reason or another. The migrant workers strikes. Corrupt town politics. And a boy trying to salvage what's left of his family farm, solve his father's murder, and making his own dreams a reality. All of these acts set the stage for a nail biting, and fantastic trip down The Road to Delano!
February 1, 2020
Initially intrigued by the premise, I eventually gave up on the uneven tempo of plot and character.
Read
April 16, 2020
Review
This book struck a pretty personal chord for me. My grandfather was a minister in California during the same time period this book took place and his congregation was mostly made up of migrant Mexican farmworkers. My father and his family were farmworkers as well, he and his siblings helping in the prune orchards when they weren’t in school.
While my mother wasn’t a farmworker or descended from one, she was a hardcore hippie and one of her main causes was farmworker rights. As a result, Cesar Chavez was a seriously revered name in my household. She was present at a couple of the historical events mentioned in this book so that was an added bonus for this reader.
The book's strength definitely lays with the scenes dealing with the farmworkers and the UFW. Those scenes were the most moving and often involved the characters I found myself most interested in. The author did a breathtaking job with setting the scene, making the landscape of 1960’s Kern County come to life. I could truly picture myself there in the fields, in the picket lines, and in Jack’s car as he traveled those lonely roads.
Jack’s story was heartbreakingly raw, especially as he learned more about his father’s fate and how his family’s farm came to ruin. The theme of this story was David vs. Goliath in not only Jack’s family against the bigger growers, but the workers against the community that saw them as less than human. Themes that are sadly still rampant today.
Where the story started to lose me was with the whole poker thing. I get that there are naturals at the game, but having Jack become a poker master within a couple of weeks was a little hard to believe. Toward the end you began to see how his plan to triumph through poker was starting to unravel, but it was just an odd plot line.
Despite this, I still think this is a very important novel that everyone should read, especially given that what these migrant farmworkers were fighting for are fights that still rage on today.
Final Thoughts
When reading books about civil rights that took place over half a century ago, it would be nice to think that humanity has changed for the better since then. In some ways it has, but in a lot of ways it’s stayed the same and reading something like this really hammers that fact home. Reading this book made me realize how similar the workers’ lives are today when compared to the workers in this book. I truly hope that this book inspires others and raises more awareness because we’ve come a long way since the Delano Grape Strike, but we certainly still have a long way to go.
Read my full review on my blog!
This book struck a pretty personal chord for me. My grandfather was a minister in California during the same time period this book took place and his congregation was mostly made up of migrant Mexican farmworkers. My father and his family were farmworkers as well, he and his siblings helping in the prune orchards when they weren’t in school.
While my mother wasn’t a farmworker or descended from one, she was a hardcore hippie and one of her main causes was farmworker rights. As a result, Cesar Chavez was a seriously revered name in my household. She was present at a couple of the historical events mentioned in this book so that was an added bonus for this reader.
The book's strength definitely lays with the scenes dealing with the farmworkers and the UFW. Those scenes were the most moving and often involved the characters I found myself most interested in. The author did a breathtaking job with setting the scene, making the landscape of 1960’s Kern County come to life. I could truly picture myself there in the fields, in the picket lines, and in Jack’s car as he traveled those lonely roads.
Jack’s story was heartbreakingly raw, especially as he learned more about his father’s fate and how his family’s farm came to ruin. The theme of this story was David vs. Goliath in not only Jack’s family against the bigger growers, but the workers against the community that saw them as less than human. Themes that are sadly still rampant today.
Where the story started to lose me was with the whole poker thing. I get that there are naturals at the game, but having Jack become a poker master within a couple of weeks was a little hard to believe. Toward the end you began to see how his plan to triumph through poker was starting to unravel, but it was just an odd plot line.
Despite this, I still think this is a very important novel that everyone should read, especially given that what these migrant farmworkers were fighting for are fights that still rage on today.
Final Thoughts
When reading books about civil rights that took place over half a century ago, it would be nice to think that humanity has changed for the better since then. In some ways it has, but in a lot of ways it’s stayed the same and reading something like this really hammers that fact home. Reading this book made me realize how similar the workers’ lives are today when compared to the workers in this book. I truly hope that this book inspires others and raises more awareness because we’ve come a long way since the Delano Grape Strike, but we certainly still have a long way to go.
Read my full review on my blog!
June 17, 2020
Ah, I just love historical fiction sometimes. I really enjoyed The Road to Delano. What was cool about this book was that it was engaging while maintaining the realism needed. Clearly, John DeSimone did a ton of research for this novel, because it felt factual and I got to learn about a point in history I didn’t know much about.
I enjoyed the characters in this book as well. John DeSimone understands how to make a flat character come to life which was great to read.
This is a story packed full of information. It was a challenge to read, but a good challenge. I suggest checking this one out!
*I received a free copy of this book from Historical Fiction Book Tours. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
I enjoyed the characters in this book as well. John DeSimone understands how to make a flat character come to life which was great to read.
This is a story packed full of information. It was a challenge to read, but a good challenge. I suggest checking this one out!
*I received a free copy of this book from Historical Fiction Book Tours. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
March 12, 2020
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is a fairly clean young adult book. There are no bedroom scenes, and all profanities are very mild and will probably no offend most people. The violence included in the book is necessary and not overly descriptive nor gratuitous.
I am not familiar with much of the history surrounding Chavez and labor unions. I appreciate the fact that this book tackled such a tempestuous time in history, and the author was able to detail the story from the perspective of young people, thus targeting a sector of the population that often takes little to no interest in history. I applaud the author for putting out such a book that brings history alive in such an authentic way. In fact, my only complaint is relatively mild (dropping my rating to 4.5 as opposed to 5). The book is over four hundred pages, and there is a good chance that young adults may not be willing to invest the time and energy to read such a novel. The action keeps moving, but it could be off-putting.
I applaud the author for creating such an emotionally-involving story with characters around the age of young people. Although the book deals with a time period over fifty years ago, most of the issues with which the main characters are dealing are relatable and intriguing. If young people (and even older people like me) want to be immersed in a historical time period that is typically ignored in popular culture and even school, this just might be the book to read and recommend to others.
First of all, this is a fairly clean young adult book. There are no bedroom scenes, and all profanities are very mild and will probably no offend most people. The violence included in the book is necessary and not overly descriptive nor gratuitous.
I am not familiar with much of the history surrounding Chavez and labor unions. I appreciate the fact that this book tackled such a tempestuous time in history, and the author was able to detail the story from the perspective of young people, thus targeting a sector of the population that often takes little to no interest in history. I applaud the author for putting out such a book that brings history alive in such an authentic way. In fact, my only complaint is relatively mild (dropping my rating to 4.5 as opposed to 5). The book is over four hundred pages, and there is a good chance that young adults may not be willing to invest the time and energy to read such a novel. The action keeps moving, but it could be off-putting.
I applaud the author for creating such an emotionally-involving story with characters around the age of young people. Although the book deals with a time period over fifty years ago, most of the issues with which the main characters are dealing are relatable and intriguing. If young people (and even older people like me) want to be immersed in a historical time period that is typically ignored in popular culture and even school, this just might be the book to read and recommend to others.
August 5, 2020
This book was described to me as 'a historical fiction with baseball'. I like historical fiction and baseball, so I was sold. I got so much more than I bargained for, though. The Road to Delano is fascinating, heartbreaking and thought-provoking. Sure, there's baseball, but the heart of the story focuses on the friction between the fieldworkers and growers during the time of early unionization.
Told from the point of view of two high school seniors who dream of leaving their simmering farming community to play ball in L.A., The Road to Delano takes us through that awkward moment between childhood and adulthood when dreams clash with reality. While Cesar Chavez teaches nonviolent action, local law enforcement and farmers stick to the same old acts of racism and corruption that have ruled for generations. Lives are threatened and loyalties are tested. It's enough to make your blood boil, but in a way that inspires you to do better. I honestly learned a lot from this story. The history was surprising, and the lessons stand the test of time.
The writing is phenomenal and the characters are gripping.
Bonus: there is a mystery that keeps you guessing, a lot of hold'em poker shenanigans, a shocking ending, and, yes, a lot of baseball!
Told from the point of view of two high school seniors who dream of leaving their simmering farming community to play ball in L.A., The Road to Delano takes us through that awkward moment between childhood and adulthood when dreams clash with reality. While Cesar Chavez teaches nonviolent action, local law enforcement and farmers stick to the same old acts of racism and corruption that have ruled for generations. Lives are threatened and loyalties are tested. It's enough to make your blood boil, but in a way that inspires you to do better. I honestly learned a lot from this story. The history was surprising, and the lessons stand the test of time.
The writing is phenomenal and the characters are gripping.
Bonus: there is a mystery that keeps you guessing, a lot of hold'em poker shenanigans, a shocking ending, and, yes, a lot of baseball!
May 18, 2021
I began working on this book in 2010. Looking back it seems like a long time. It was challenging to research, and even more difficult to write. The story came to me in little pieces. I met many California writers during my travels in workshops, and many of them contributed in ways I never expected. I remember one workshop, an elderly woman who was very quiet during all the discussions after one session took me aside. She told me her story as a young attorney working in and around Delano back in the 1970s. Her first job out of law school, she worked for a migrant legal aid group who inspected farmworker housing. Her story riveted me. This was not unusual. Stories came from everywhere, as if they were buried treasure, and I had to find them. Almost after every workshop or group of writers, I worked with, someone had a piece of the puzzle. Writing the novel required me to excavate a past long buried, and nearly forgotten. But not entirely because it always existed on the periphery of most people's memory. This whole experience of digging into a subject I knew only from a distance has changed my view of our history in California, its richness and depth, and history in general. There is so much more to tell. I'm excited to have this book go out into the world. I hope you enjoy it!
January 19, 2020
This is a novel set in California during the grape harvesters strike, gives an interesting perspective on the striker’s lives and hardships. The history’s insights are true to the times. It a story about Jack a high schooler whose family has lost all their land to an unscrupulous landowner and his efforts to right wrongs he experiences. He and his friend Adrian are obsessed with baseball and hope to use their gifts to get scholarships to college. His girlfriend Ella plans on going to college with them. All three witness the deprivation the workers go through and end up changing their lives. Ella joins an organization that focuses on the living conditions of the workers while Adrian joins his father who works for Cesar Chavez. In the meantime Jack learns how to play poker (like his father) and takes on the landowner who cheated his mother of her land.
The story flows seamlessly from Sugar ( Jack’s father) to the big poker game. Thanks to Rare Birds and netgalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
The story flows seamlessly from Sugar ( Jack’s father) to the big poker game. Thanks to Rare Birds and netgalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
February 29, 2020
This is the first that I have read by this amazing author and it definitely will not be my last! Jack is trying to leave Delano behind, but when he discovers his father's death was no accident, he knows he has to find the answers that will lead him to his killers! Filled with heartwarming emotions, as well as, dangerous situations, this great novel has something to keep each reader intrigued. I look forward to reading more of author John DeSimone's work! I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions!
May 8, 2020
With Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan playing on the radio, the Vietnam War raging and the entire world changing, best friends Jack and Adrian just want to get out of Delano, California, and all of its troubles. And they’ve got a ticket out in their hands: they’re both outstanding baseball players.
However, when an old family friend appears with new information regarding Jacks’ father death, Jack’s house on the edge of foreclosure and Adrian in trouble for his father’s alliance to Cesar Chavez's strike-promoting activities, their plans to flee the small-town are on jeopardy. Find out if these two upstanding young men can get out of Delano and the ripple effect every decision taken has, reading “The Road to Delano” by John DeSimone.
The recreation of the social problems of migrants, grape field workers, in this case, is commendable for its accuracy and depth. With the world facing a huge migration crisis nowadays, “The Road to Delano” is a must-read to understand both sides of the problem. The plight of these immigrants is the same as that of the people fleeing their countries today: they just want the opportunity to build a decent life. The novel sends a message of tolerance and kindness that’s very much needed in these times of uncertainty.
The pacing of this novel is perfect. There’s not a single boring moment in the book. I’m not much of a sports fan, but the description of the baseball games is so vivid, it had me holding my breath.
My favorite asset of the novel is the flawless character development. The author pays thorough attention to detail to construct every single character, from protagonists to incidentals. They all have coherent backstories and motives to act the way they do. The characters are multidimensional and, as humans, inherently flawed, which makes them extremely relatable. This helped me get truly invested in the story. John DeSimone, unlike other male authors, creates amazing female characters. In fact, my favorite one is Ella, Jack’s girlfriend, an opinionated, generous and brave young woman, who perfectly represents the new independent feminine mindset that started at that time. The author constructs characters that stay with you long after you closed the book.
Because of the topic, the book contains racial slurs and other displays of discrimination, but I want to applaud the accuracy and sensitivity with which the author represents Mexican workers and Mexican culture. I was gladly surprised to discover this book is not Americentric, but it has a commendable wide perspective.
I would recommend “The Road to Delano” to any reader who enjoys a page-turner mystery, baseball fans, and readers interested in social justice. The recreation of the setting and era are enthralling. Even if you’re not interested in social fighting or baseball, anyone who lived through the 1950s and 1960s or is interested in getting a deep dive in this era in America should read this book.
I do want to make the warning that the novel contains violent scenes, profanity, and other instances that make it only suitable for a mature audience. Teenagers could learn a lot from the book, but I would advise caution. The novel could use a second editing round, but the mistakes and typos are minor and do not diminish the reader experience.
However, when an old family friend appears with new information regarding Jacks’ father death, Jack’s house on the edge of foreclosure and Adrian in trouble for his father’s alliance to Cesar Chavez's strike-promoting activities, their plans to flee the small-town are on jeopardy. Find out if these two upstanding young men can get out of Delano and the ripple effect every decision taken has, reading “The Road to Delano” by John DeSimone.
The recreation of the social problems of migrants, grape field workers, in this case, is commendable for its accuracy and depth. With the world facing a huge migration crisis nowadays, “The Road to Delano” is a must-read to understand both sides of the problem. The plight of these immigrants is the same as that of the people fleeing their countries today: they just want the opportunity to build a decent life. The novel sends a message of tolerance and kindness that’s very much needed in these times of uncertainty.
The pacing of this novel is perfect. There’s not a single boring moment in the book. I’m not much of a sports fan, but the description of the baseball games is so vivid, it had me holding my breath.
My favorite asset of the novel is the flawless character development. The author pays thorough attention to detail to construct every single character, from protagonists to incidentals. They all have coherent backstories and motives to act the way they do. The characters are multidimensional and, as humans, inherently flawed, which makes them extremely relatable. This helped me get truly invested in the story. John DeSimone, unlike other male authors, creates amazing female characters. In fact, my favorite one is Ella, Jack’s girlfriend, an opinionated, generous and brave young woman, who perfectly represents the new independent feminine mindset that started at that time. The author constructs characters that stay with you long after you closed the book.
Because of the topic, the book contains racial slurs and other displays of discrimination, but I want to applaud the accuracy and sensitivity with which the author represents Mexican workers and Mexican culture. I was gladly surprised to discover this book is not Americentric, but it has a commendable wide perspective.
I would recommend “The Road to Delano” to any reader who enjoys a page-turner mystery, baseball fans, and readers interested in social justice. The recreation of the setting and era are enthralling. Even if you’re not interested in social fighting or baseball, anyone who lived through the 1950s and 1960s or is interested in getting a deep dive in this era in America should read this book.
I do want to make the warning that the novel contains violent scenes, profanity, and other instances that make it only suitable for a mature audience. Teenagers could learn a lot from the book, but I would advise caution. The novel could use a second editing round, but the mistakes and typos are minor and do not diminish the reader experience.
April 13, 2020
The Road to Delano is novel, but it’s based in truth even if the characters aren’t all based on specific real people, and John DeSimone has written that truth in a way that is vivid and cinematic, while still being emotionally real.
While I’m not a lifelong Californian like the author, I did spend my teen years in the San Joaquin valley, in Modesto and Fresno, and while those years were in the 80s, not the 60s, I remember all too well the news coverage of Cesar Chavez’s last hunger strike – the one that was contemporary to my life – as well as picket lines at grocery stores. To this day, I feel guilty whenever I buy grapes.
It is for that reason that this novel gripped me so much. I knew the vagaries of the United Farm Workers’ battle for basic rights and fair work conditions, but I didn’t have a real connection to it. This book gave me that. It gave me context. It gave me a better sense of the history of central California. And, by framing the story as a novel, it also gave me just enough distance that I didn’t have to clench my fists, or walk away from the text and cool down before going back.
As the daughter of activist parents (my parents formed the Amnesty International chapter in Modesto when I was twelve or thirteen), I really appreciated some of the cultural touchstones that DeSimone worked into his story. As someone who grew up with Joan Baez’s music (my Mom was a fan) and later got to meet her (she came for a benefit and slept in a sleeping bag on our floor!) the scene with her singing “Blowin’ in the Wind” – even though it wasn’t a scene of terrible importance to the plot – really made me feel like I was in the book, and not just reading it.
That was made easier because of DeSimone’s deft use of dialogue. (I hadn’t realized the word “bitchin'” was quite that old – I thought it was from my generation). Similarly, his characters, especially Jack, Adrian, and Ella – but also the growers, the families, the other members of Jack and Adrian’s baseball team – were dimensional. These were not real people, but they easily could have been, and they certainly felt real.
If you’ve ever heard the name “Cesar Chavez” and wanted to know the context of his fight, if you’ve ever seen people protesting the sale of grapes, if you’ve ever heard the song “Deportee,” or even if you’re just vaguely familiar with the plight of farm workers in America you will find value in this novel. But even if you’re just picking it up because it seems interesting, it is a worthy read, and an important story.
Goes well with beer and tacos. Because I needed both after finishing this novel.
While I’m not a lifelong Californian like the author, I did spend my teen years in the San Joaquin valley, in Modesto and Fresno, and while those years were in the 80s, not the 60s, I remember all too well the news coverage of Cesar Chavez’s last hunger strike – the one that was contemporary to my life – as well as picket lines at grocery stores. To this day, I feel guilty whenever I buy grapes.
It is for that reason that this novel gripped me so much. I knew the vagaries of the United Farm Workers’ battle for basic rights and fair work conditions, but I didn’t have a real connection to it. This book gave me that. It gave me context. It gave me a better sense of the history of central California. And, by framing the story as a novel, it also gave me just enough distance that I didn’t have to clench my fists, or walk away from the text and cool down before going back.
As the daughter of activist parents (my parents formed the Amnesty International chapter in Modesto when I was twelve or thirteen), I really appreciated some of the cultural touchstones that DeSimone worked into his story. As someone who grew up with Joan Baez’s music (my Mom was a fan) and later got to meet her (she came for a benefit and slept in a sleeping bag on our floor!) the scene with her singing “Blowin’ in the Wind” – even though it wasn’t a scene of terrible importance to the plot – really made me feel like I was in the book, and not just reading it.
That was made easier because of DeSimone’s deft use of dialogue. (I hadn’t realized the word “bitchin'” was quite that old – I thought it was from my generation). Similarly, his characters, especially Jack, Adrian, and Ella – but also the growers, the families, the other members of Jack and Adrian’s baseball team – were dimensional. These were not real people, but they easily could have been, and they certainly felt real.
If you’ve ever heard the name “Cesar Chavez” and wanted to know the context of his fight, if you’ve ever seen people protesting the sale of grapes, if you’ve ever heard the song “Deportee,” or even if you’re just vaguely familiar with the plight of farm workers in America you will find value in this novel. But even if you’re just picking it up because it seems interesting, it is a worthy read, and an important story.
Goes well with beer and tacos. Because I needed both after finishing this novel.
April 13, 2020
A high school athlete. A failing vineyard. The shocking revelation that will alter the course of a family’s life forever. In John DeSimone’s new novel, The Road to Delano is paved with the kind of challenges that transform a boy into a man.
His dad is dead. His mother may be hiding something. And the family property is about to be sold to the highest bidder. But teenager Jack Duncan has a plan to get out of Delano, the little agricultural town where he resides, a community fraught withe political turmoil. He’s going to college where he’ll play baseball like his life depends on it.
Before he goes, however, he takes an old combine to town to try to sell it and save the family homestead. What he finds along the way, though, is the truth behind his father’s suspicious death. His dad’s death wasn’t just tragic. It was murder! And now armed with new information, he’s bent on uncovering the corruption that saturates California’s Central Valley.
When his girlfriend warns him to steer clear and think about his future, he turns to his best friend, Adrian, whose own father works closely with Cesar Chavez, the American labor leader who helped co-found the National Farm Workers Association. But the plan they hatch lands them in hot water, and Jack must now rescue his friend and his family before they can escape Delano for good.
The Road to Delano is a story of self-discovery, tragedy, corruption, greed, despair, sacrifice, and hope. It challenges us to be better people than we are, even in the face of incomprehensible odds. It also pushes us to utilize our lives the best way we can, to make a difference, not just in our own lives, but in that of others.
Its altruism will resonate with fans of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and its exploration of agricultural communities and their challenges will evoke memories of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Like those classics, this is a tale filled with good people in bad situations, and through fiction relates an important chapter of history that many may have overlooked, highlighting the vital role people like Cesar Chavez played in bringing justice where there was none.
If you love getting lost in the pages of a story that is as juicy as a basket of ripe grapes, DeSimone’s The Road to Delano offers a delicious story readers will savor. This is the kind of fiction that speaks to our thirst for justice and compassion, and lingers in our minds long after the last page is turned.
[As originally published at JathanandHeather.com]
His dad is dead. His mother may be hiding something. And the family property is about to be sold to the highest bidder. But teenager Jack Duncan has a plan to get out of Delano, the little agricultural town where he resides, a community fraught withe political turmoil. He’s going to college where he’ll play baseball like his life depends on it.
Before he goes, however, he takes an old combine to town to try to sell it and save the family homestead. What he finds along the way, though, is the truth behind his father’s suspicious death. His dad’s death wasn’t just tragic. It was murder! And now armed with new information, he’s bent on uncovering the corruption that saturates California’s Central Valley.
When his girlfriend warns him to steer clear and think about his future, he turns to his best friend, Adrian, whose own father works closely with Cesar Chavez, the American labor leader who helped co-found the National Farm Workers Association. But the plan they hatch lands them in hot water, and Jack must now rescue his friend and his family before they can escape Delano for good.
The Road to Delano is a story of self-discovery, tragedy, corruption, greed, despair, sacrifice, and hope. It challenges us to be better people than we are, even in the face of incomprehensible odds. It also pushes us to utilize our lives the best way we can, to make a difference, not just in our own lives, but in that of others.
Its altruism will resonate with fans of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and its exploration of agricultural communities and their challenges will evoke memories of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Like those classics, this is a tale filled with good people in bad situations, and through fiction relates an important chapter of history that many may have overlooked, highlighting the vital role people like Cesar Chavez played in bringing justice where there was none.
If you love getting lost in the pages of a story that is as juicy as a basket of ripe grapes, DeSimone’s The Road to Delano offers a delicious story readers will savor. This is the kind of fiction that speaks to our thirst for justice and compassion, and lingers in our minds long after the last page is turned.
[As originally published at JathanandHeather.com]
July 17, 2020
The Road to Delano is a historical fiction book that portrays a poignant story about a family that lost everything they had, including the head of the family. It turns out the people the family thought to be friends were not true friends. The friends envied them and tried to rob them of all their belongings.
Sugar and Shirley were successful farmers. They had a kid named Jack. After the death of Jack’s dad, Jack was assigned by his mum the responsibility to help save their home from being taken away. The only asset they had. Unfortunately, his assignment was frustrated by an imitation friend of his dad named Herm, who tricked him and stole the only solution to save their home. Jack’s effort to get Herm and retrieve the stolen item was in vain. It almost got him to the wrong side of the authorities. Will Jack and Shirley succeed in saving their home? What happened to them? Grab a copy of the book and find out.
The Road to Delano was not friendly whatsoever. It had ‘demons’ that brought devastation and mysterious events to the people living nearby.
I love the author’s creative ability to develop a gripping and engaging story. He brought out well the disputes that exist among farmers in Delano and the dire consequences of strife and envy.
The language used is simple and easy-to-understand. Additionally, the author gave a voice to the characters. The plot is fast-paced, which enhances the narration flow. There is plenty to learn from the book about friends, family, and farming. The book is worth reading.
Sugar and Shirley were successful farmers. They had a kid named Jack. After the death of Jack’s dad, Jack was assigned by his mum the responsibility to help save their home from being taken away. The only asset they had. Unfortunately, his assignment was frustrated by an imitation friend of his dad named Herm, who tricked him and stole the only solution to save their home. Jack’s effort to get Herm and retrieve the stolen item was in vain. It almost got him to the wrong side of the authorities. Will Jack and Shirley succeed in saving their home? What happened to them? Grab a copy of the book and find out.
The Road to Delano was not friendly whatsoever. It had ‘demons’ that brought devastation and mysterious events to the people living nearby.
I love the author’s creative ability to develop a gripping and engaging story. He brought out well the disputes that exist among farmers in Delano and the dire consequences of strife and envy.
The language used is simple and easy-to-understand. Additionally, the author gave a voice to the characters. The plot is fast-paced, which enhances the narration flow. There is plenty to learn from the book about friends, family, and farming. The book is worth reading.
July 20, 2021
The Road to Delano is predominately set during the Delano Grape Strike in the late 1960s. The Delano Grape Strike was a labor strike between the Hispanic and Filipino migrant workers and the table grape farmers in a fight for fair work and living conditions.
High school senior, Jack Duncan, is very close to graduation and hopefully headed to college on a baseball scholarship. Jack's mom, a widow, has worked hard to keep their home, but a large property tax bill is threatening to force a sale. While Jack is driving their combine in to town in order to sell it, an old friend of his Dad stops him and tells Jack that he hasn't been told the truth of his Dad's death. This information sends Jack on a spiral to find out the truth. Jack confides in his best friend, Adrian, who is the son of a field worker and associate of Cesar Chavez.
There are so many layers to this book that it is hard to write a full synopsis and review as well. The Road to Delano talks about a mother/son relationship, family secrets, systematic and blatant racism, coming of age, baseball, and gambling (specifically hold 'em).
Slight spoiler below...
I was worried that this book would have the typical "white savior" trope and I was grateful that it didn't quite go there. As a person who grew up in a rural area (1980s) that had (and still has) many migrant workers, there are some aspects that are accurate and some that wouldn't have fit my area. I feel like I could talk about this topic all day. I truly appreciated learning more about this specific strike, as I had heard of Cesar Chavez, but didn't know much about him.
High school senior, Jack Duncan, is very close to graduation and hopefully headed to college on a baseball scholarship. Jack's mom, a widow, has worked hard to keep their home, but a large property tax bill is threatening to force a sale. While Jack is driving their combine in to town in order to sell it, an old friend of his Dad stops him and tells Jack that he hasn't been told the truth of his Dad's death. This information sends Jack on a spiral to find out the truth. Jack confides in his best friend, Adrian, who is the son of a field worker and associate of Cesar Chavez.
There are so many layers to this book that it is hard to write a full synopsis and review as well. The Road to Delano talks about a mother/son relationship, family secrets, systematic and blatant racism, coming of age, baseball, and gambling (specifically hold 'em).
Slight spoiler below...
I was worried that this book would have the typical "white savior" trope and I was grateful that it didn't quite go there. As a person who grew up in a rural area (1980s) that had (and still has) many migrant workers, there are some aspects that are accurate and some that wouldn't have fit my area. I feel like I could talk about this topic all day. I truly appreciated learning more about this specific strike, as I had heard of Cesar Chavez, but didn't know much about him.
August 7, 2020
The Road to Delano is a Historical Fiction/ Coming of Age story by John DeSimone.
An adventurous and mysterious tale that is mixed with past realities (that I had to look up because I wasn't aware of it) but the author has done a wonderful job of balancing both.
Jack is your typical hardworking character who's life was thrown upside down at a very early age and now with all his stughles to stay afloat as well as get to the bottom of his dad's death, he also has to deal with the political situation which adds to the list of neverending problems so his actions in the face of distress is commendable.
Adrian, is the show stealer if there ever was one.
The writing and storytellering skills of the author does take you back decades as we picture everything around us.
The ending of sadness mixed with joy gives us the true feeling of what it's like to read a coming of age tale.
I honestly don't know much about International history but because of the factual elements included in this story I decided vto look it up and it's safe to say I now know more than what I did before.
An adventurous and mysterious tale that is mixed with past realities (that I had to look up because I wasn't aware of it) but the author has done a wonderful job of balancing both.
Jack is your typical hardworking character who's life was thrown upside down at a very early age and now with all his stughles to stay afloat as well as get to the bottom of his dad's death, he also has to deal with the political situation which adds to the list of neverending problems so his actions in the face of distress is commendable.
Adrian, is the show stealer if there ever was one.
The writing and storytellering skills of the author does take you back decades as we picture everything around us.
The ending of sadness mixed with joy gives us the true feeling of what it's like to read a coming of age tale.
I honestly don't know much about International history but because of the factual elements included in this story I decided vto look it up and it's safe to say I now know more than what I did before.
April 11, 2020
Not my usual genre however has opened me up to more like this. The road to Delano was very well written with relatable characters. Jack’s dream is to play baseball at college with his best friend Adrian, both hoping for scholarships to fulfil their dream of leaving their homes behind. The book begins with backstory of Jack’s parents and of his fathers gambling and his suspicious death. His mothers home and land - farmland his father worked and built - are in danger of being lost due to unpaid taxes. Jack tries to sell their combine so they can pay the tax bill however it gets stolen, the story unfolds and Jack has to find a way of getting it back.
Land owners mistreatment of workers, picket lines feature which gives the reader an insight of the time the book is set. Will Jack with his friends help get the money for the land?
Highly recommended read.
Land owners mistreatment of workers, picket lines feature which gives the reader an insight of the time the book is set. Will Jack with his friends help get the money for the land?
Highly recommended read.
June 16, 2021
The Road to Delano is a novel written by John DeSimone that tells the story of a high school senior, Jack Duncan. Jack lost his father ten years ago, but the circumstances were very suspicious, and he is determined to find out the truth about the case. In the middle of that, he encounters several issues and people who will, but also won't, help him in his new career.
This book was amazing! It's a very interesting novel and perfect for teenagers and young adults who like being detectives. The characters are very complex and fully detailed, and so is the scenery. I honestly read it in no time because the story is filled with mysteries and secrets to reveal. I enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to the DeSimone next book
This book was amazing! It's a very interesting novel and perfect for teenagers and young adults who like being detectives. The characters are very complex and fully detailed, and so is the scenery. I honestly read it in no time because the story is filled with mysteries and secrets to reveal. I enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to the DeSimone next book
April 12, 2020
This was definitely a compelling story of loss, love, and true friendship. It started out slow at first then it picked up. Jack, at a young age had to help his mom figure out away to keep their house and their farm as it was stolen from them. He had to do all this while staying in school and doing what he loves for his future all the while keeping true and protecting his friend. Adrian was trying to stay alive while trying to get equal rights for farm workers. This book was definitely a testament to true friendships and family loyalty. The ending surprised me though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2020
**I received a digital ARC of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review**
How many roads must a man walk down? Depends on the cards he's dealt.
Jack Duncan is a high school senior with a bright future ahead of him. All he has to do is impress a college scout and win a baseball scholarship. But Jack's rose-colored glasses are about to fall off when the truth about his father's death comes to light, and past conflicts escalate into present worries.
John DeSimone positions Jack as a clueless kid who gradually comes to realize there's more to life than being good at sports and having a girlfriend. How he could have missed the political currents swirling around him is hard to say, given that the major plot conflict involves local labor struggles, drawn directly from the California grape harvesters' strike, with special guest star Cesar Chavez. Everybody in town is far more politically aware than Jack, which seems odd at first, but does allow DeSimone to draw readers into political conflicts of which they may not have been aware (did you study Cesar Chavez at school? I most certainly did not, , much to my dismay). As Jack learns the truth about what life is like for the farm workers, many of whom are poor, brown migrants, he realizes the weight of his privilege and the unfairness that plagues the life of anyone who dares cross the local political machine, especially his best friend Adrian, who is also poor and brown. It doesn't help that Adrian's dad is one of the union organizers working with Chavez to improve labor conditions in California's central valley.
It's really hard to write a book about an innocent's political awakening, but DeSimone does it the right way, having Jack slowly come to political consciousness over the space of 400 pages. Through Jack's eyes, we learn just how far rich white folks will go to preserve the status quo, a little bit about grape farming, and a good deal about cards, which was a surprise and a pleasure. Because Jack is a baseball player, we're also treated to quite a few gripping sports scenes; in fact, DeSimone is at his best when writing tense emotional encounters: whether on the baseball diamond, at the card table, or in the fields with union organizers and striking laborers, DeSimone's characters and their difficult choices under pressure will keep the reader riveted and guessing.
There is only ONE thing I did not like about this book, and that was the way it ended. Spoiler below:
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After an otherwise fine novel, it was really disappointing to get to the end and see Adrian sacrifice his life for Jack's. Adrian gets accused of crimes he didn't commit, goes to jail, loses his college scholarship, and isn't allowed to graduate from high school because white people are assholes. But it's okay, because he's going to fight the good fight alongside his dad and Cesar Chavez as an organizer! Except, no, because he's going to take a bullet for his BFF Jack, so Jack can presumably go on to be an enlightened grape farmer who will treat laborers fairly. I get that it's Jack's story and not Adrian's, but having the young brown man die for the white hero is a choice that left a bad taste in my mouth. It reduces Adrian to a prop in Jack's political and emotional development.
Abrupt ending aside, I really enjoyed this story. It's more than a little Steinbeck, in a very good way, and the master himself is namedropped in the text as an homage/aside. Medium to large libraries nationwide should consider this for their collections, and California libraries should definitely pick this up as a regional choice. Although I didn't like where it ultimately ended, I truly enjoyed this fictional journey through labor history and the development of a young man's conscience. Recommended.
How many roads must a man walk down? Depends on the cards he's dealt.
Jack Duncan is a high school senior with a bright future ahead of him. All he has to do is impress a college scout and win a baseball scholarship. But Jack's rose-colored glasses are about to fall off when the truth about his father's death comes to light, and past conflicts escalate into present worries.
John DeSimone positions Jack as a clueless kid who gradually comes to realize there's more to life than being good at sports and having a girlfriend. How he could have missed the political currents swirling around him is hard to say, given that the major plot conflict involves local labor struggles, drawn directly from the California grape harvesters' strike, with special guest star Cesar Chavez. Everybody in town is far more politically aware than Jack, which seems odd at first, but does allow DeSimone to draw readers into political conflicts of which they may not have been aware (did you study Cesar Chavez at school? I most certainly did not, , much to my dismay). As Jack learns the truth about what life is like for the farm workers, many of whom are poor, brown migrants, he realizes the weight of his privilege and the unfairness that plagues the life of anyone who dares cross the local political machine, especially his best friend Adrian, who is also poor and brown. It doesn't help that Adrian's dad is one of the union organizers working with Chavez to improve labor conditions in California's central valley.
It's really hard to write a book about an innocent's political awakening, but DeSimone does it the right way, having Jack slowly come to political consciousness over the space of 400 pages. Through Jack's eyes, we learn just how far rich white folks will go to preserve the status quo, a little bit about grape farming, and a good deal about cards, which was a surprise and a pleasure. Because Jack is a baseball player, we're also treated to quite a few gripping sports scenes; in fact, DeSimone is at his best when writing tense emotional encounters: whether on the baseball diamond, at the card table, or in the fields with union organizers and striking laborers, DeSimone's characters and their difficult choices under pressure will keep the reader riveted and guessing.
There is only ONE thing I did not like about this book, and that was the way it ended. Spoiler below:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
After an otherwise fine novel, it was really disappointing to get to the end and see Adrian sacrifice his life for Jack's. Adrian gets accused of crimes he didn't commit, goes to jail, loses his college scholarship, and isn't allowed to graduate from high school because white people are assholes. But it's okay, because he's going to fight the good fight alongside his dad and Cesar Chavez as an organizer! Except, no, because he's going to take a bullet for his BFF Jack, so Jack can presumably go on to be an enlightened grape farmer who will treat laborers fairly. I get that it's Jack's story and not Adrian's, but having the young brown man die for the white hero is a choice that left a bad taste in my mouth. It reduces Adrian to a prop in Jack's political and emotional development.
Abrupt ending aside, I really enjoyed this story. It's more than a little Steinbeck, in a very good way, and the master himself is namedropped in the text as an homage/aside. Medium to large libraries nationwide should consider this for their collections, and California libraries should definitely pick this up as a regional choice. Although I didn't like where it ultimately ended, I truly enjoyed this fictional journey through labor history and the development of a young man's conscience. Recommended.
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