When you sit down to read NIGHT ROAD by Kristin Hannah you
might wish to have a box of tissues nearby. I quickly
became absorbed in the story of Alexa "Lexi" Baill and her
journey through the system.
As a young child Lexi was in and out of foster care as her
mother made many attempts at being clean and sober. Lexi
always knew she was different from other kids, and tried
hard to guard her feelings until she finally had a family
member come forward to claim her, and give her the life that
every child should have...one in a loving, rich (not always
money mind you, but compassion and caring) family.
As Lexi starts high school with a new family, she's not sure
where she fits into the social structure of Pine Island.
However Lexi isn't the only one who doesn't quite fit in
Pine Island. Neither does Mia Farraday, the twin sister of
one of the most popular boys in school. Lexi and Mia end up
bonding and becoming as close as sisters. The Farraday
family takes Lexi in and treats her almost like their own
until one horrid night close to graduation when everything
changes.
The tragedy that strikes affects everyone in a most profound
way. It's really hard to say without spoilers who might
be most affected, but I can say that no one is left unchanged.
Throughout NIGHT ROAD, Ms. Hannah takes readers on an
emotional journey. As you read, you see Lexi and Mia both
come into being their own person, and gaining confidence to
move forward in life. You also get a glimpse into the
struggles between the economic classes. With deft skill,
Ms. Hannah has the reader taking this journey without ever once
thinking it was pushing the boundaries of real life.
Night Road might be a bit of a tough emotional journey, but
at the end I believe readers will embrace the path taken.
Jude Farraday is a happily married, stay-at-home mom who
puts everyone’s needs above her own. Her twins, Mia and
Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill enters
their lives, no one is more supportive than Jude. A former
foster child with a dark past, Lexi quickly becomes Mia’s
best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three
become inseparable. But senior year of high school brings
unexpected dangers and one night, Jude’s worst fears are
confirmed: there is an accident. In an instant, her idyllic
life is shattered and her close-knit community is torn
apart. People—and Jude—demand justice, and when the finger
of blame is pointed, it lands solely on eighteen-year-old
Lexi Baill. In a heartbeat, their love for each other will
be shattered, the family broken. Lexi gives up everything
that matters to her—the boy she loves, her place in the
family, the best friend she ever had—while Jude loses even
more.
When Lexi returns, older and wiser, she demands
a reckoning. Long buried feelings will rise again, and Jude
will finally have to face the woman she has become. She must
decide whether to remain broken or try to forgive both
Lexi…and herself.
Night Road is a vivid,
emotionally complex novel that raises profound questions
about motherhood, loss, identity, and forgiveness. It is an
exquisite, heartbreaking novel that speaks to women
everywhere about the things that matter most.
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