Dirt Road Home: A Novel [Paperback]

The story of of the orphan boy Moon, begun in Watt Key's award-winningAlabama Moon, continues withDirt Road Home

After his recapture, gutsy 14-year-old Hal Mitchell is sentenced to live at Hellenweiler, an institution that is more like a jail than the boys' home it's supposed to be. Hal could walk out in just a few months if he keeps out of trouble. But in a place like Hellenweiler, the more he tries to avoid the gangs and their violence, the stronger Hal's fellow inmates try to make him fail. This title has Common Core connections.

Key does a fabulous job of keeping his readers involved in the story and vested in the characters. Even reluctant readers will most likely find this one hard to put down. --VOYA

Key nicely paces his tale, steadily building the tension. . . . There's more than enough action to keep the fidgitiest adolescent boy glued to the page here. Mobile Press-Register

With authentic characters and a candid first-person narrative, Key's story offers a disturbing appraisal of life in a juvenile facility, and a riveting battle for justice. Publishers Weekly

The short chapters, quick pacing, and plentiful dialogue make Key's impressive second effort an especially appealing choice for reluctant boy readers. The Horn Book

A gripping tale of a 14-year-old caught in a justice system that is not about justice at all. Kirkus Reviews

Hal quickly learns that the boys who want to fight him aren't his real challenge--it's the guards who allow it to happen. Birmingham Magazine

. . . Hal's efforts to contain his rage and navigate brawls keep the atmosphere tense and pacing fleet. . . . for comeuppance it doesn't get much more satisfying. Booklist

The tension, positioning, threats, and shifting allianlóå