The Long Way Home

Gr 7–10—In this fast-paced sequel to The Last Thing I Remember, Charlie West is a fugitive on a mission to discover the truth about the year he can't remember. He heads home to search for some answers after a harrowing escape from both the police, who believe he murdered his friend Alex, and a terrorist group known as the Homelanders, who believe he has betrayed them. While the book begins mid-action, his backstory is provided through flashbacks and first-person inner monologues, allowing the audience to be brought up to speed quickly. Covert interactions with his friends also offer glimpses into his lost year, providing both Charlie and the listeners with clues that could help solve the mystery of his past. While the intense, thrilling narrative will keep the audience on the edge of its seat, it's Charlie himself who propels the story. Passionate and loyal, he loves his country and God, and while his patriotism and religious conviction could have come across as over-the-top, they instead make him more realistic; his beliefs are a large part of who he is and what motivates him, yet they don't define him. Narrator Joshua Swanson's well-modulated voice perfectly conveys Charlie and his struggles as he fights to clear his name, and his youthful sound lends authenticity to the performance. Action-packed and suspenseful, the audiobook will have listeners eagerly anticipating the next installment.—Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH