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bookishbellee's review
5.0
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
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
martha_schwalbe's review
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
The binding on this book made it hard to read. Strange because I've never struggled with the bookbinding before.
bitchesbebookin's review
5.0
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.
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.
thatbookmom's review
4.0
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
Sidenote: this book was especially fun because I live in NC and knew of a lot the places that were mentioned in the book
mikaelaandherbooks's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Torture, and Child abuse
samanthajoysbooks's review
4.0
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!
spinesinaline's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood, Cancer, Gun violence, Medical content, and Sexual assault
inkyteacups's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
§ I received an ARC of this book from the author to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel. §
Cordy lives in a small southern town and has never left it before. However, when bad news hits home, he decides to leave his turtle shell and embark on a risky journey through the States. The goal? To find his runaway brother, and bring him back home so that the family is once more reunited before it is too late.
The book shows us each of Cordy's steps of his journey, and how he learns about new things, new people and their views on life. Those companions fall into certain tropes - i.e. the gentle giant - but stray away from being stereotypical.
One of the most important aspects in this book is never forgotten: Cordy's love for Jazz music. It lingers in every page, and the fact that it stems from the author's interest does not come as a surprise. You can feel it while reading. I enjoy this aspect a lot, even though, I do not know anything about Jazz music.
Sadly, there is a drawback: Despite the well-written characters and their stories, the book never sucked me in. It lacked that little catch that would usually get me hooked. As a result, it took me a long time to finish "On The Way To Birdland".
Nevertheless, the overall experience was a pleasant and enjoyable one. The result of Morelli's work is a great story that shines a light on family bonds, and coping with trauma.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse
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