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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘Road Home’ Definitely Worth Traveling

Sudha Nandagopal Northwood Junior High

“The Road Home” by Ellen Emerson White is a wonderful book. It has everything: great writing, realistic characters and an excellent story.

Rebecca Phillip’s life and family have been torn apart by the war in Vietnam. Rebecca went to Vietnam to become a nurse and maybe even find some answers to her questions. It is only after her tour of duty begins and after she sees and experiences the horrors of the war that she realizes Vietnam has nothing to give except more questions.

When Rebecca returns, she hopes for a better life than the one she led in Vietnam. She finds, however, that the war has left a deep and lasting impression on her. She is no longer who she was and family and friends no longer understand her. Leaving home once again, she goes on a journey of hope, healing and love, and it is this journey that leads to the road of self-forgiveness and recovery.

White paints a clear picture of the horrors of Vietnam. Although the story is set during the war, it is not a story about the war. The story is mainly focused on Rebecca’s problems and her life.

The nice thing about this book is it has a little of everything. In some places it is sad and in some places it is humorous. No matter what, it is always interesting.

This book keeps you intrigued right from the beginning. Emerson grabs the reader’s attention and holds on to it until the end of the book. She makes it possible to understand the problems of the people in the Vietnam War while creating an enjoyable story.