Our Journey Is Our Own

by Heather Preis

Bailey isn't home this time. It's only Kat, Mom, and Dad here. And Dad is hitting Mom again. He's growing more violent, and Kat needs to stand up and help her. But when Kat visits the school counselor and tries to call the police, the counselor tells her what she already knows-that calling them might only make things worse. So what is she supposed to do? Meanwhile, her brother, Bailey, is off at college, hoping to heal away from home. He can feel the traces of his father streaming through his veins, especially when he finds his best friend hitting his girlfriend, Jasmine. And now that she and Jack are broken up, Jasmine is veering closer to Bailey. With the damage he knows he's capable of, though, he can't let her get any closer. But tragedy is just waiting to strike. Kat's best friend is killed, Mom is beaten to the point of hospitalization, and Bailey must come home and go toe to toe with his father, and himself. Kat and Bailey must rely on each other and their budding friendships to gain the confidence to forge their own paths outside of the damper of their family home. Our Journey Is Our Own is a heartstring-pulling coming of age novel that expertly approaches complex themes of domestic abuse, identity, teen grief, and mental health while offering hope to those who feel hopeless.

324 pages, Hardcover

Published March 10, 2021

Reviews

[Angela Panayotopulos]

"All of life’s decisions can be made with your head, your heart, or your gut. First, you listen to your head. If you still don’t know, you listen to your heart. Sometimes, if you think that your heart is biased, you go with your gut. There are no wrong answers. There are only winding paths to life’s grand journey. Your journey is your own.”

OUR JOURNEY IS OUR OWN is a heartbreaking, heartwarming, and well-written quick read that follows the coming-of-age journeys of Kat and her brother Bailey as they navigate growing up amidst the bruising backdrop of an abusive household. While Bailey's off at college, Kat copes with the help of her best friend, Hunter. Theirs is a special friendship that runs deep, sometimes tinged with chemistry and always embedded with compassion. And this, sadly but poignantly, makes a tragic turn of events even sadder.

Kat shares a lot of history (and patterns) with Bailey, and their relationship is beautifully rendered with all its flaws and camaraderie. The theme of abuse, especially toward women--and of the vulnerability and helplessness that enshrouds such families within a society that can't or won't help enough--resonates powerfully throughout the narrative in the interwoven storylines, as does the theme of deep and faithful friendships (/unfulfilled romances). The high school and college settings were a nostalgic blast to the past. The flashbacks to Kat and Bailey's childhood were also insightful--and honestly, I wanted more of that: more backstory on the mom and dad--how they met, how their own childhoods were, why they are the way they are as a dysfunctional couple. It could help explain (though not justify) her doormat demeanor and his violent tendencies, providing insight into a red-flag situation that, from the outside, continues for years inexplicably with an open-ended conclusion.

The prose is simple and elegant and just evocative enough, the pace is brisk and tempered with little passages from Kat's journal that underline the turmoil within her and try to help the reader transition between scenes even when there aren't chapter breaks. The dialogue is very well written throughout, with a natural cadence and believable style, peppered with fantastic banter and some real nuggets of wisdom.

"They were just kids, after all. They were just children trying to figure out their place in the world. It was hard to figure it all out, though, when they were living for other people. Kat lived for her mother. Her mother lived for her father. Bailey lived for Lina. Hunter had lived for his parents. Flynn lived for everyone else. But maybe that was the point. To live only for yourself could lead to a very lonely life. Perhaps the point to living, and in some cases dying, was to leave an impact on others."

[Valery]

Our Journey Is Our Ownby Heather Preis is a heartbreaking journey with what seems like an all too real situation. There's a lot going on in Kat's life, but mostly her mother is getting beaten by Kat's father. To add to that, Kat's best friend dies. With all of this happening, this book could have become mired in excess emotion. But it rises above the mundane and shows that there is usually a way out and a way to rise above and survive your situation. This book is a skillfully written coming of age novel, engaging for both teens and older folks as well. The subtle and elegant prose works well here, conveying the complexity of familial situations that are often quite emotional and tenuous. Truly a one of a kind book that pulls you in immediately and keeps you reading until the end. Highly recommended.

[Cheryll Wenchel]

Our Journey is Our Own shows the affect domestic abuse, both physical and verbal, has on children growing up in such an environment. Kat, the main character of the story and now a teenager, struggles with her feelings towards her abusive domineering father and her submissive mother who continues to take the abuse. This behavior creates a child who is guarded in her feelings toward others and questions her own self-worth. Ms. Preis gives us just a peek into the all too real world of children who struggle with this daily.

[jennifer davis]

I devoured this book in a few hours. I could not put this book down. Kat and Bailey broke me. Seeing two different ways children of Domestic violence handle their life during and after. There emotions and feeling were so raw. I felt it to my bones. Jasmine and Flynn had me hoping for the best. The patience they had with these two. The understanding they had. This book was so heartfelt. This book is a representation of how domestic violence effects everyone around them. I cried reading this book. I loved how this book ended.

[Clare Seibert]

Easy read

I've found this book easy to get into. It grabbed from the 1st page. It's real honest writing. It juggles several issues. One being dealing with parental domestic abuse as a teen. Teens also dealing with their own life issues, and also suffering loss as a teen. All issues common to young people today. This book really speaks to people of all ages. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

[Jessica Miller]

This book was powerful and emotional from beginning to end. Heather Preis doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of domestic abuse, yet she weaves in themes of friendship, love, and hope in a way that feels authentic. Kat and Bailey’s perspectives complement each other beautifully, showing how trauma affects siblings differently but also how they can find strength in each other. A moving and unforgettable read.

[James I.]

Our Journey Is Our Own is a beautifully written and deeply emotional coming-of-age story. The themes of family violence, identity, and grief are difficult, but Heather Preis tackles them with sensitivity and hope. Kat and Bailey’s bond as siblings was especially moving, showing how even in broken families, love can be a lifeline. This book broke my heart and mended it at the same time. Highly recommended.

[Karen Riddle]

I couldn't even tell you what the plot is in this book. Different people, in a family experiencing their own 'life'?? I guess that would work if it came together at the end, but when I was finished, I thought there had to be more and kept trying to turn the Kindle page to no avail.

[Heather]

This is an intriguing read, but the ending could use some help.

[Steven Gellman]

I love a book that makes you feel all the emotions and this one delivers. You will root for Kat and Bailey from beginning to end. Keep the tissues handy and enjoy.