May 15, 2020
A tragic accident the year Peyton Cabot turns 15 sends him on a journey of discovery in Luesse's Southern coming-of-age tale. At the end of WWII, Peyton's father returns to Savannah a troubled man with an ever-present bottle of bourbon. The story of his father's bicycle journey to Key West the year he was 15 inspires Peyton to do the same, but his whole world is turned upside-down before he can make the final decision to go. Then his parents send him to Florida to visit a great aunt, and that seems like the perfect opportunity to re-create a portion of his father's fateful trip. With a note in his pocket from the chief of police, Peyton sets out on an adventure that will shape the rest of his life and possibly lead him back to Lisa Wallace, the girl of his young dreams. Luesse's latest historical tale, following Almost Home (2019), was inspired by a true story. Realistic characters and two sweet love stories will provide readers with an escape and inspire hope.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)