Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Road to Tomorrow by Mary Metcalfe



Domestic abuse, children’s deviant behavior, TBI/PTSD, all intertwined in a love story, describes Road to Tomorrow.

The main character, Andrea Garrett, left her two children with her twin brother, in order to escape her abusive military husband, Sean. Sean’s parents kept a deep secret about their son - he killed animals as a young child. The military wasn’t aware of Sean’s dark side, thinking he was going to make the perfect soldier. Andrea was young and naïve, thinking he was going to make a perfect husband. Everyone was wrong.

While Andrea fled, she had an accident, and people from a small town came to her rescue, in more than one way. Her new friends included characters from Mary Metcalfe’s other book, New Beginnings.

I thought it would be fun to read another of Metcalfe’s books - to follow her characters. Sadly, it was not. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know I do not enjoy stories that are predictable, and for me, Road to Tomorrow was predictable.

The love story between Andrea and her new boyfriend, Kyle, seemed textbook boring. Her kids were too perfect, even her friends, new and old, portrayed perfection.

However, I do think Metcalfe’s messages were necessary and effective: get your child help at first signs of trouble, do not sweep it under the rug; women should leave abusive relationships; and the military and civilians need to educate themselves about TBI and PTSD. I think Metcalfe did an excellent job with Sean’s character suffering from TBI.

I would recommend Road to Tomorrow for the young adult reader.

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