On the Way to Birdland

by Frank Morelli

Self-proclaimed teenage philosopher Cordell Wheaton lives in a sleepy, southern town where nothing ever happens; not since his hero, jazz musician John Coltrane, left some seventy years earlier to “follow the sound.” Cordy’s life has been unraveling since the night his father and his brother, Travis, exploded on each other. The night Travis’s addiction transformed him from budding musician into something entirely different. The night Travis took his saxophone and disappeared. When Cordy’s father falls ill, the sixteen-year-old vows to reunite the Wheaton family. He embarks on a modern-day odyssey with forty bucks in his pocket and a dream to find his brother and convince him to be Travis again—by taking him to a show at Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, and reminding him of the common bonds they share with their legendary hero. Cordy’s journey is soon haunted by ghostly visions, traumatic dreams, and disembodied voices that echo through his mind. He starts to wonder if the voices are those of the fates, guiding him toward his destiny—or if he’s losing his grip on reality.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Philosophy, Music, Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

FRANK MORELLI is the author of the young adult novels ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND (2021) and NO SAD SONGS (2018), a YALSA Quick Picks nominee and winner of an American Fiction Award for best coming-of-age novel. His latest middle grade novel, BREAKING NEWS, is set to release on April 28, 2022.

A Philadelphia native, Morelli now lives in High Point, NC with his best friend and muse, their obnoxious alley cats, and two hundred pounds worth of dog. Connect with him on Twitter @frankmoewriter and IG @frankmorelliauthor.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was even more all over the place than i expected from that all over the place description.

but...in a good way? i think?

review to come / 3.5ish stars

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tbr review

this had me at spooky travel-y ghostly YA contemporary

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challenging myself to read as many review copies as possible this month because i'm addicted to projects!

ARC 1: spaceman of bohemia
ARC 2: in search of us
ARC 3: aerialists
ARC 4: the sound of drowning
ARC 5: unleaving
ARC 6: the other side of luck
ARC 7: romanov
ARC 8: the storm keeper's island
ARC 9: gut check
ARC 10: when force meets fate
ARC 11: sisters in hate
ARC 12: before i disappear
ARC 13: big time
ARC 14: stolen science
ARC 15: have a little faith in me
ARC 16: invitation to a bonfire
ARC 17: the splendor
ARC 18: how to be luminous
ARC 19: the little women cookbook
ARC 20: while we were dating
ARC 21: the lost girls
ARC 22: wait for it
ARC 23: your life has been delayed
ARC 24: a million things
ARC 25: the royals next door
ARC 26: the love hypothesis
ARC 27: we light up the sky
ARC 28: the printed letter bookshop
ARC 29: on location
ARC 30: how rory thorne destroyed the multiverse
ARC 31: the map from here to there
ARC 32: the last chance library
ARC 33: on the way to birdland

[Juliet Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows 16 year old Cordy Wheaton as he is in search for his missing brother Travis, along the east coast. He encounters many colorful characters along the way, each acting a mentor to him. Cordy, and his brother Travis, share a love of John Coltrane, and Cordy lives his life through the words of many great philosophers. The story flashes to dreams and thoughts Cody is having, filled with doubt and trauma. The story has a nice twist at the end, though I figured it out earlier on. This is marked as a YA book, however I think the process Cordy is going through, anyone who has faced losing or growing distant from a loved one can relate to. The writing is fantastic, the descriptions vivid and never coming across like filler.

[Ann Campanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

On The Way To Birdland is a musical riff put into words, one that infuses the jazz of John Coltrane through a wild adolescent journey. The reader follows sixteen-year-old Cordell Wheaton’s escape from Highpoint, North Carolina, by train, semi, boat, car, even a hog truck to Philadelphia, where he hopes to find his brother, all the way to New York City. A novel of magnificent scope, author Frank Morelli grapples with family relationships, the grip of addiction, fate versus destiny, and how we find our place in the world. While acknowledging the challenges young adults face, this novel does not talk down to them but meets them where they are and lifts their eyes to the possibilities that abound.

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss

On the way to Birdland is a story about how sometimes we need to cover physical distances, only so that we could open doors inside of our own selves. It’s a rather heavy story, but it’s very good YA, and I think it could resonate with a lot of young people – especially those who have dealt with some kind of trauma, perhaps even PTSD, those who are lonely or who have been betrayed, have family trouble. That, and it had quite a few twists, big twists along the road! Definitely worth a read.

Please read the full review here:
https://avalinahsbooks.space/on-the-w...



I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter

[Amy McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

contacted me and asked if I would like to read his new novel. The ARC was gifted to me but all opinions are my own 👌🥰

(Swipe to see synopsis)
TW - drug abuse, depression & PTSD

We follow 16year old cordy on a journey of self discovery, from his small town in North Carolina to Bird Land Club in NYC

The story is woven together by music, it's clear from the very start that Jazz music, in particular, John Coltrane, has bonded Cordy and Travis and is part of the catalyst that sends Cordy on his journey.

I felt instantly connected to Cordy. We see him struggle with the loss of his brother, the growing disconnect between him and his parents and ultimately how is own depression is changing him, but as we get deeper into the story, we see just how resilient he is, how driven he is by the love for his family and how much he wants to forgive himself and others

With so many twists and turns along the way, the story is almost written like the road he's travelling, and takes the reader along for the ride. Such amazing imagery throughout you feel like you're seeing these places for the first time with him.

What I loved most
⬇️⬇️
The characters we meet along the way really made this book for me, I loved how, unknowingly to Cordy, they help start to heal his trauma. From laugh out loud quips to real poignant moments, I fell in love with each one and was so glad Cordy had these experiences.

The main things I've taken from this book are family, music and taking that leap of faith can heal all and maybe, if you're lucky you can find yourself along the way.
On the way to Bird land is released on the 8th of June 2021

Would highly recommend reading it.
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The story made me emotional. Cordy is a great character, and I loved how the author portrayed him. He is naive and curious but sets a goal and is keen to follow it until the end.

Similarly, the author wrote the story beautifully where you feel as though you are next to Cordy throughout the story. I also liked the snippets of Cordy’s dreams and how they eventually merged with the current storyline. At times I also felt like I was reading a modern version of a Mark Twain classic. Cordy reminded me of Tom Sawyer as he goes on his journey and meets various people over his adventure. Cordy meets some memorable characters along the way, and it was beautiful to read some of their conversations. After reading the story, I felt like Cowbird, Emma Rose, Levi, Nasser, and Lula. Some of my favorite moments were when Cordy goes onboard the Ama Kamama or meets Jack. Moreover, the author keeps you on your toes when Cordy will find Travis. Throughout the story, you wonder what happened to Travis and where he went.

Moreover, the ending shocked me. It is not an ending that I usually feel comfortable with, but in this case, I thought it worked very nicely. One of my favorite quotations from the book, which sums up the story well, is when Cordy tells Levi:

“If you don’t leave, how can you live life? How can you understand how the world works? How can you progress?”

Overall, “On the Way to Birdland” is uplifting, moving, adventurous with a touch of mystery. It is a beautiful contemporary Young Adult novel, and I look forward to reading other books by the author.

[Shane Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND via Voracious Readers and Frank Morelli.

As soon as an advertisement email for ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND came into my inbox, I was hooked. A modern Odyssey, brothers finding their way back to each other, music as a driving force, and a personal coming-of-age story to wrap all these themes in? I was sold immediately. Receiving a physical copy only made it that more special. I didn't even finish the first page before grabbing my tabs.

"I didn't always lie around in my room with my curtains drawn and my finger scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, scrolling through social media feed, searching for that single, hot take that would somehow make my life matter."

We follow philosophy-loving Cordell Wheaton break free from his (self-chosen to deal with the world and everything in his head) bedroom confinement after his brother disappeared six months ago. With the overheard news of his father being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Cordell knows he can't stay in his room and watch his father die while his brother is off elsewhere, unknowing, never fixing what broke between him. So he sets off to find his older brother, Travis, saxophone player, fellow Coltrane fan, and, recently, a labelled addict by High Point, North Carolina. But his brother's addiction doesn't change Cordell's love for his brother, or his need to find him. "Sometimes, you gotta think about whatever brought you out here in the first place. I don't know what that is for you but it has to mean something if it scared you out of the cave."

"All of this makes me realize how important it is to crawl out of your shell and go for a wander. Because the shell can't protect you from everything. Nor can it teach you anything. Sometimes the only real protection, or the only lesson, is to run. Or fight. Or to sacrifice for others." Unbeknown to his parents, Cordell leaves High Point, North Carolina, the place where he's carried his own tortoise shell on his back, too heavy to bear any longer, and sets off to find Travis. What he does find, first, however, is a train to stow on, a girl called Emma Rose with her own story, and the first leg of his journey that almost makes him give up. Until he runs my favourite character, Cowbird. I loved Cowbird, from how he spoke about himself, to how he saw the world, and what he wanted to do for people like Cordell, lost on the road with no direction but a massive driving force. Cowbird leads him on to, Captain Adomi, which leads him on to a country singer with bigger dreams than the town she grew up in, which leads him on to a pig pen, until he reaches Washington, and then moves onto Philadelphia with a Coltrane fan group that help him further appreciate Coltrane and all he's given the musical world--and the social world, and individuals who turn to his music.

ON THE WAY TO BIRLDAND is a beautifully prosed book full of discouragement, loss of yourself, finding yourself again, only to lose and gain hope like the sun rises. It's about meeting strangers who can change your life, and about the unending faith you can have in one thing and as long as you keep that one thing on the horizon, you can make it anywhere no matter what, even when everything seems so dire. Cordell is tested endlessly and at incredible length. He goes from having so many comforts to starving, thrown into the sea, literally rotting in a hog pen, or constantly on the run from the police. But he breaks out, and he runs, and he fights, and when he does give up he never fights the next thing that gives him another hand up. Combining Greek myth with philosophy to give larger-than-life lessons and lines to stay in your mind, this book is not short of memorable and iconic.

This book is healing. It's slowly uncovering a wound, seeing how it festered because it was ignored or repressed, and then the aftermath of PTSD. Throughout the book, whenever Cordell falls asleep or outright passes out from exhaustion--because seriously, I got so stressed out at Cordy's endless on-the-go, someone give that boy a couch and a nap or something--he has really violent, intense flashbacks to a warehouse and voices he doesn't recognise--until *SPOILER* he recognises his brother in one flashback. *END OF SPOILER* For the longest time, he sees them as dreams, just dreams, nothing more, until he hits Washington and talks to a war veteran about PTSD.

"You don't have to talk about. All you have to do is listen. Know you're not alone. But you'll figure it out. And you'll learn to stop blaming yourself too."

As someone who suffers from PTSD reading their whole interaction unlocked something in me, and listening to that advice was one of the best things I've ever heard.

As a boy who's suffered with agoraphobia and anxiety and spent 90% of my life in my bedroom, dealing with a lot of childhood trauma, bullying, loss, and changes, ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND was so, so healing. I picked up this book during moving from my own flat--where I lived with my boyfriend who had to move back to the US for a few months while we sorted visas--back to my mum's--my own cave and tortoise shell--and losing that independence and having to explain why I felt like I was losing my freedom at 23 years old, being told I belonged at home, under my mum's roof, when it was the root of a lot of my trauma, reading ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND was important. It reminded me of the few months ahead of me, that the cave isn't permanent, you can get out, you can keep your eye on the horizon and know you're never truly stuck in one place. Cordell's story reminded me of my goals, of how far I've come already, and holds a place in my heart to keep going forward. During last year and the year before, I had to keep coming out as a trans man to a family who listen to my coming out but don't entirely accept my identity because they don't believe it's who I really am. Their views can influence me, can cause doubt, but this book solidified that belief in me: I know myself. I know who I am, and just because I can't always explain it to others it doesn't mean I'm invalid.

"You don't need anyone telling you who to be but Cordell Wheaton. He's the one who knows who he wants to be. And the only one with the power to become that man in real life... If you don't know where to start becoming the human you want to be, then this is as good a place as any to start in the world."

Thank you, Frank Morelli, for this beautiful book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, as a trans gay man trying to find his freedom and place and ambition in a world that seems to want to put me down. But through Cordell, I was reminded that no matter how lost I feel there's always hope and a road even if it doesn't always look visible. I know me, and I know my life, and I know there's healing ahead even if it hurts a lot. Thank you, Frank Morelli for this life-changing story.

[Frank Morelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to use this space to provide an explanation on how philosophy and mythology are inextricably linked to the very core of On the Way to Birdland, and how that makes it an incredibly important novel for young adults to read in our present day.

In the novel, my protagonist Cordell Wheaton, is on a mission to find his estranged brother and reunite his family before it’s too late. With his father fighting a terminal illness and his brother, Travis, in the throes of addiction, Cordy has no choice but to load his backpack with the forty bucks he has to his name, add in a few clean pairs of underwear, and hit the open road guided by nothing but his uncanny grasp of key concepts in the realms of ancient philosophy and mythology. Here’s a young man who’s barely left the safe confines of his hometown in rural North Carolina, and he’s ready to risk it all because some dudes named Plato and Socrates armed him with all the knowledge he believes he’ll ever need.

But why? And why would a young adult author like myself bring ancient teachings into a novel he hopes will make a significant impact on the youth of the present and the future? Well, to put it simply, some of the ground level concepts conceived by Plato, Socrates, and other brilliant minds over two thousand years ago are still glaringly relevant today…perhaps even moreso.

I’ve always been fascinated by the allegory of “Plato’s Cave”. It’s the general idea that, if placed in a cave in total darkness but for the light of a fire raging behind them, human nature would dictate that a group of humans could only piece together their collective reality through the images and details portrayed around them. So, if say another group were to stand behind the fire and cast reflection on the cave wall, the original group would naturally perceive these cast shadows as their one and only truth, and decisions would ultimately flow out of that very incomplete data set.

It’s an intriguing idea. It’s also much less complicated than it sounds, and its application to everyday life in the present time is becoming increasingly hard to argue against on a daily basis. For, as much as we like to present our world as being hopelessly interconnected and beneficently-aided by the latest technologies, as a human race we still often find ourselves trapped in the cave–that is, inextricably mired within the established social constructs of our teams, our tribes, and our ideological equals. What’s worse? Most of us are blissfully unaware of the important events that occur and the details we never get to observe just a stone’s throw from the mouths of our respective caves.

As someone who spent the first twenty years of his life living in the same relatively small community in the Northeast of the United States, mostly filled with people who looked like me, spoke like me, and even perceived the same dangers as me…and then spent the next twenty years as a fish out of water, soaking up cultural modes of being I never knew existed, I can tell you there’s more going on out there than most of us can tell. From within our caves.

So that’s where I started. With a character in Cordell Wheaton who’d never seen the world outside his own boundaries, now thrust outside the cave–outside the realm of his personal tortoise shell–to learn about himself, the world, and the rest of the folk in it in a way he never thought possible. Through first-hand experience. And through this character, I wanted to show young adult readers that our understanding of the world around us too often relies upon us experiencing life vicariously through social media posts rather than up front and in-person–the way humans have sharpened their grasp on the nature of reality since the beginning of time as we know it, and probably before that.

So, this simple allegorical concept of the cave, which weaves its way through the entirety of On the Way to Birdland, was magnetized to a whole host of other philosophical concepts and questions, such as the nature of Arete (honor) for example. And, of course, these philosophical concepts began popping up in droves as I read through piles of mythological tales, all presumably designed to communicate these all-important lessons about our humanity.

For a young man with little to no life experience and a real lack of confidence in his physical abilities, the need to latch on to concepts that helped guide him on his journey was a necessity for Cordell Wheaton. It proved that the time he spent alone wallowing in his bedroom about his lack of friends, passing the time with his nose in philosophy books was not time wasted. It was actually what prepared him to step out into life. Real life. The one outside the cave and directly in the brightest patch of sunlight.

But what’s more important is that Cordy’s base of ancient knowledge and guidance allows him to gain a firmer grasp on his own blurred reality, to move well beyond his comfort zone and gain a true understanding of people, places, and ideologies that may have differed greatly from what he was used to in his own backyard. And that, my friends, is why philosophy and mythology play such a major role in my upcoming novel.

Because sometimes we all need to be reminded of life’s most important lessons, even if we think we already got a handle on them way back in ancient times. I think our present begs to differ.

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an e-ARC!

There’s a whole cast of unusual and (mostly) helpful characters that Cordy meets along the way too, folks who whether they intend to or not help him along his physical and internal journey as he tries to gain a better understanding of his family and his own place in the world.

While it’s a fun story about a teenager traveling cross-country on his quest, it’s not without heavier topics. This is an underage teenager who’s set out on the journey without informing his family so he faces many dangers on the road, has to grapple with past trauma, and learns from others he meets on the road about the struggles they’ve faced and are currently facing.

I really enjoyed the adventurous tone of the story, and if you love jazz music, John Coltrane in particular, and American geography, there’s lots to get lost in as Cordy travels up the country towards Birdland.

While I liked most of the characters, I felt I needed to read Cordy through a bit of an unreliable narrator lens, especially with how naive he is vs how suave and intelligent he thinks of himself as. He’s on the run and there’s a missing person report out for him, yet he introduces himself to every stranger on the road with his full name and hometown! What are you doing, Cordy?

I was also uncomfortable with Cordy’s seeming idolization of such historical figures as the Founding Fathers. At one point in the book, he considers how they would’ve considered the present world and its treatment of, among others, a Black man, in terms of the rights they originally set out for the country. I would’ve preferred more nuance in this discussion, especially as many of the Founding Fathers were slaveowners.

There’s also one character who we’re made to hate and unfortunately their meanness and ‘evilness’ is presented through fatphobic statements. Their weight and eating habits are constantly brought up in every passage they’re mentioned in as a reflection of their character. There are a lot of other ways to depict an evil character than to conflate fat with bad.

I was impressed with the ending. I did start to guess where it was going but it was a natural progression that still felt unexpected. Though I do wish we’d had more time to settle in with an expanded ending, as it felt rather abrupt after how long the whole journey had been stretched out.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be honest, as always, but in the beginning of this book I was not taken in. I had to build a little trust with the narrator to get invested into this story.
I am not much into books where the main character travels from place to place, HOWEVER, this book gives off "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and a modern day "The Alchemist" vibes.
Once in that frame of mind, I began to enjoy this book a whole heck of a lot.
Frank Morelli weaves the story of Cordy Wheaton, a boy who leaves home with a plan in mind and who soon quickly realizes that some of the best laid plans don't come to fruition and that it is about the journey and not the destination.
While the main storyline of the book is occurring, there are moments where we seen Cordy really vulnerable and that was interesting to read. Frank's description of PTSD and how Cordy deals with it, is refreshing, what I mean is that it is different and nice to see authors writing about mental health conditions in a way that is not debilitating to the character and bringing more of an awareness to the condition.
Many thanks to Frank for sending me a copy of his book.
What a journey of self discovery.

[Lisa McCombs]

Cordell Wheaton lives his sixteen-year-old life in High Point, North Carolina, home of jazz musician John T. Coltrane, whose words and music compose the magical symphony of guidance. Wrapped in a world of bullying, without the Trane and his brother’s role modeling, Cordy wouldn’t recognize the great out there as anything other than being the victim. When he learns that his father is dying from lung cancer, Cordy is determined to locate his wayward brother, Travis, and bring him home to reunite with his family. Travis has “followed the sound” of his hero’s saxophone genius that directs Cordy to do the same. As his travels to the Trane’s residence in Philadelphia progress, he meets and is motivated by the lessons of a plethora of characters that eventually lead him to his final stop along the way.

On the Way to Birdland by Frank Morelli a delightful mixture of Forest Gump and The Wizard of Oz. Probably the most entertaining and heart-tugging story, I’ve read in a long while, the character of Cordell Wheaton will haunt the reader’s thoughts for days after the final page is turned. Throughout his journeys, Cordy references the many accomplishments of the great musician he revers while proving himself to be a philosophical mentor. Picturesque detail and believable dialogue move the story convincingly in this magical tale of self-discovery as the main character undergoes a unique rite of passage. Various themes and plot points make O the way to Birdland a valuable addition to any young adult library.

[Natalie Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on tight for the ride.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read for young people about one sixteen year old adolescent’s journey inside himself, it has a bitter sweet feel to it as the author describes the seemingly meaningless feelings and experiences of our main character ‘Cordell Wheaton’.

Our story begins with the revelation that Cordell’s brother ‘Travis’ has left home without warning and this has affected Cordell behaviour and thoughts patterns, he no longer gives a toss about consequences, he feels like he needs to rebel against society. After getting into a fight he is suspended from school leaving him with nothing but his thoughts.

Cordell has many issues, along with his brother running away he has his highly religious terminally ill father to contend with, his spiralling emotions and issues that lead him to feeling angry and confused at himself and everybody around him. He seems to have suffered more than most kids his age. But our main man has a plan! That plan is Philadelphia, the place where his brothers hero Jazz legend ‘John Coltrane’ found himself.

Young and impressionable Cordell firmly believes that Philadelphia is where he will find his brother and so he sets off on a journey of self discovery, hope and excitement.

Personally, I’m not into Jazz music but the book did leave me feeling like I wanted to know more about this Jazz legend ‘John Coltrane’ and I had a pleasant time reading up on him and even found a few tunes of his that I enjoyed! So much for not liking Jazz music!

Overall this is a beautifully written coming of age story full of twists, turns, lessons and hope, told in a very honest way. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, one minute I was laughing and the next I was overcome with sadness for Cordell!

A solid 5 star read!

I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[A.L. Sirois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love jazz, and I'm a big fan of John Coltrane, and both figure into this book. The plot, in a nutshell: Cordy Wheaton leaves his home town, High Point, NC (which was Coltrane's home town), in search of his druggie brother, Travis, who has gone missing. Cordy is convinced that Travis has gone to Philadelphia, PA, where Coltrane found himself as a musician. Cordy wants to find Travis because their father is dying, and Cordy feels he must find Travis so that Travis can make his peace with the old man. Along the way Cordy meets a collection of interesting and eccentric individuals, all of whom have some lesson to impart to him. Cordy himself is very interested in Greek philosophers, which is a tad unusual for a 16-year-old boy. During his travels, he has a recurring nightmare of sorts.

The book is well-written and the characters are distinct from each other. My gripe is that they tend to stay in their episodes -- Cordy is always there, but I wanted to see some of those characters stick around. Some of them DO return at the end -- but that ending wasn't quite what I hoped for. When I was about 4/5 of the way through the book, I figured out what the gimmick had to be. And I was right. I'm not going to put in a spoiler, and other readers will be fine with it. I will certainly read more of Frank Morelli's work because he's a very good writer.

[Erin-bitchesbebookin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a story of a boy who is trying to get to Birdland which is a jazz venue adored by him and his brother. He thinks he needs to do this for his brother, that it might even save his family. So, the whole book is about the journey.

The fast paced journey this book takes is such a coming of age story with battles of inner self hidden in every move the characters make, and the author’s ability to force our attachment to the characters is phenomenal. My heart really loved the main character, Cordy. There is so much for one to learn at that age, and Cordy gets his fair amount of growth here. The story telling is refreshing. There is heartbreak, family issues, coping, meeting new people, and an ending that caught me by surprise. There is suspense and even moments where I said “OH NO!” Which in my book is worth the read. I don’t know about y’all, but I love meeting new people, and the diversity of characters Cordy meets, alone made me want to keep reading.

How far would you go for your family?

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good coming of age story and a little young adult thriller/suspense. This book is a trip, quite literally.

[♣Bookishbellee♣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh did I love it- Cordy Cordy Cordy how my heart hurts for you, how I loved you and your wonderful journey, how I yearn to go on your path of self discovery (a wonderful, loving one at that) with you

There was a surge of emotion with this one and it didn’t stop until well after I’d finished. Cordy’s story is one that many, young and old, can relate to - touching on themes of mental health, the struggles of healing, trauma, forgiveness, addiction, and even jazz 🎶 but most importantly finding yourself

Frank’s writing is beautiful and gripping and I highly recommend if you’re in the mood for an emotional, captivating read

[samantha joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very impactful. Wonderful writing and wonderful characters. There were elements I wasn’t expecting and I loved how as you read it you got to know so many people with different struggles and backgrounds. Great book!

[Jennifer Hottinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music and a trip Cordell ventures on to find his brother as dad is sick. Forty dollars, traverse roads and disturbing visions will not stop Cordy from trying to bring his family back together! Deep YA novel!

[Daisy Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the main character. This book is a must read

[Meigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and impactful, ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND is a coming-of-age tale that takes readers on a journey of discovery, hope, family, and the things we do for the ones we love. ⁣⁣
⁣
Cordy Wheaton only wants his brother back home where he belongs. After a fight with his father, Travis leaves town without letting Cordy know where he’s going. The brothers were once closer than close, with a shared love of jazz and John Coltrane providing the glue that bonded them together. Piecing together memories of their life and things they’ve shared, Cordy narrows down where he thinks he could find Travis — at the Birdland in NYC, the same place John Coltrane once ran to. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Author Frank Morelli gives readers an extraordinary tale of brothers and growing up and finding ways to heal and forgive, and he doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Cordy has a lot to deal with at such a tough and impressionable age — his father has a terminal illness, his brother is an addict, and he feels like he has to face all of these obstacles and these challenges on his own. His solo journey provides plenty of time for thinking and growing and changing, and I love that many of the people he met along the way are instrumental in teaching him and guiding him through all of these big struggles. ⁣

I smiled right alongside Cordy, my heart broke when his did, and I felt hope where he felt hope. Morelli did such a phenomenal job making me *feel*, and combine that with characters you can’t help but love and a journey that will keep you wondering if — if he’ll find Travis, if he’s where he thinks he is, if they’ll ever be reunited, if he’s even still alive — and I have no other choice but to add this beauty to my favorites shelf. Such arm-twisting!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bottom line — ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND is a fantastic tale of adventure tale that gives readers plenty of food for thought while delivering a lovely story of growing up and forgiving and discovering yourself and your purpose. This is my first book by Morelli and it definitely won’t be my last. 5 stars. ⁣⁣
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Thanks to the author for the digital review copy!

[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Standing up to yourself is one of the hardest things a human being can do."

I'd like to thank the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! This book comes out June 8th!

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

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What I liked most about On the Way to Birdland was the characters! Especially the ones that Cordy meets on his travels. I enjoyed learning about their lives and how they got to where they are today. I thought Cordy was an interesting main character and he provided a unique insight to his situation. The writing flowed well and was easy to follow as the plot progressed. However I wished that some scenes were more drawn out as they felt to go by a little fast, especially at the end. I also appreciated the settings and numerous places that Cordy went. The constantly changing scenery kept things interesting and held your attention. Overall this was a quick read with lots of interesting characters and travelling!

[LeighAnne (that.bookmom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was beautifully written as it follows 16yo Cordell "Cordy" Wheaton on his journey from High Point, NC to Philly to find his brother Travis. I love how personal and real the story felt, how it dealt with hard situations a lot of young adults face and how it centered around the jazz music of John Coltrane. I absolutely loved all of the side characters Cordy meets along the way (as he hitchhikes by semi truck, boat, train, car...) especially Captain Adomi and Cowbird. As Cordy continues on his journey he learns about forgiveness, resilience, love and family. He helps others and they help him heal. Thank you to the author, Frank Morelli for sending me this digital ARC!

Sidenote: this book was especially fun because I live in NC and knew of a lot the places that were mentioned in the book 😊

"I live in high point NC which is about two notches below wisdom tooth removal on the fun scale" lol

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy for an honest review but this has not influenced my review. I loved the lyrical writing of the story and the theme of jazz throughout the story. The book follows young Cordy on a journey of self discovery, we meet many characters along the way as much as the twists and turns the story goes though. Cordys character development is extremely well written and is quite heavy for a YA novel but the themes of PTSD, addiction and death. The story has me through the wringer I highly recommend.

[Sidney Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazingly complex and touching. Morelli accurately portrays a feeling of being stuck in a small town, yet loving it for what it is. This book will take you on an adventure that slowly reveals the characters’ personalities but also makes you think about your own philosophy on life.

It doesn’t actually take this long to read this book, but I got logged out of goodreads and couldn’t get back in until now. Highly recommend it no matter how long it takes, though!

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds a little of The Lincoln Highway, but for young adults. Corey is on a journey, both one filled with traveling and also one of learning and acceptance. I enjoyed many of the characters.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Digging deep into the soul and emotions of the main character, this book takes a journey which leads to more than might be first expected.

Cordell's life has been unsettled since his brother, Travis, left him and his father alone. Cordell isn't sure how to regain balance, and his father isn't exactly helpful in the matter. But one thing is for sure, Cordell has not lost is love for music. When his father falls ill and everything in Cordell's life seems to unravel, he decides it's time to bring Travis back. But that's not an easy task, especially when Cordell doesn't have much backing to start with. When he does find Travis, he, of course, doesn't want to return. But the struggle to convince his brother to come back isn't the only problem Cordell faces, he's beginning to wonder if he himself might be slipping into a bad place.

This is not the type of read I usually dive into, but I do love taking a jaunt into new directions, at times. This book is deep and digs into all sorts of questions about family, purpose, and finding ones place in life...and with themselves. I did appreciate that this one centers around Jazz, a very original direction especially for this age group. It also addresses some very tough family circumstances, something many teens have to deal with in some form or another. There is a lot readers can sympathize with, and it does open them up for thought.

The writing style is a very, personal one, which allows the reader not only to accompany Cordell on his journey, but has him almost speaking to the reader directly and allowing them to know his exact thoughts and feelings the entire way through. Despite this very up-close approach, the author doesn't allow the other characters to fall by the wayside but gives them depth and purpose. Most are more than intriguing to meet and leave their own impact.

Readers who love to dig deeper into the world around them, thought process, discovering more to life or simply enjoy tons of character depth are going to appreciate this one quite a bit.

I received an ARC and found the characters very compelling.

[Martha Schwalbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The journey of Cordy to find his brother was intriguing, the events, the characters.

I read a paperback copy with a really tight binding so the book didn't stay open without holding it with two hands. This made it really frustrating to read. I asked students about how they feel about holding books and they like to read in bed or with the book flat on the desk or table.

It's an interesting dilemma, one I've never encountered before.

[aideen 😛 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hi

[Charvi]

Dnfed

I couldn't really sink into the story and the writing wasn't able to grip me either. This is probably a me thing so don't let my review stop you from picking up this book.