Book Review – Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

This book provides a classical setting and makes you appreciate the ability to use a cell phone and access your bank account from anywhere. I thought Adam was a fine character. As an eleven-year-old, Adam is probably more mature and well-behaved than is possible, but the overall goodness in him is clear. He’s loyal to friends (and animals) and works on forgiving those who hurt him and doesn’t hold grudges, even when doing so might teach him about not trusting people right away. Reading this book reminded me much of Pinocchio as it’s a road tale where moral character is formed and tested even when falling into the wrong crowd. This book has fewer overt lessons, but they are there.

While I enjoyed the book overall, and reading it was quick and fun, the plot is what I liked least about it. There are, indeed, moments of character growth and plot, but there’s so much walking and Adam thinking about his dad and his dog. The repetitive nature diminished my joy of the book. There’s also too little in the character growth of Adam. One of the major plot points that made me pick up the book was a sponsor for Adam to attend Oxford (back in ye ol’ day), and it’s hardly considered and brushed off even by Adam’s father, who also might be a secret villain of the story.

I think the book is best read by a pre-teen, early teen who enjoys the setting and is ok with reading a rather long page count book without major action points. A fine book but not a favorite.