Review of Road to Delano

[Aurora1114]

[i][Following is a volunteer review of "Road to Delano" by John DeSimone.][/i]

[rwc=id412023-125]4 out of 4 stars.[/rwc][i] Road to Delano[/i] by John DeSimone is a thought-provoking story that is very skilfully written. It is a historical fiction that captures the America of the 1960s in a very descriptive manner.



The story is set in 1960 in Central Valley, California. The main character, Jack, dreams of leaving Delano with a baseball scholarship. Delano was undergoing a highly political turmoil at that time and Jack could not wait to get out of the town and live his own life, away from the troubles of this little town.



When Jack leaves the town to sell his combine, an old friend of his deceased father stops him. Then the unthinkable happens. He informs him that contrary to what he was led to believe, his father was not drinking the night he died. He was murdered. After seeing the police reports which he presented proof, John is devastated. John looks into the matter to find out more about his father and finds himself getting involved more and more in the dark secrets of Delano.



The story is very well researched and wonderfully narrated. I had very little information about the labor strikes and the struggles of the farmworkers and the growers. However, the book thoroughly informed me about the political turmoil without boring me for one bit. The author skillfully divulges all the information to the reader while keeping pace with the whole rhythm of the story.



I loved the most reading about Jack. We see him on his journey as he grows and matures over time as he learns about his father and how their family farm was destroyed. His emotions are raw and heartbreaking and strike a chord with the reader. His actions were understandable, given the circumstances of his father’s death and the unrest in his house.



The novel is suitable for readers who enjoy fiction based on real life. The book was captivating and thrilling from beginning to end and I don’t have one bad thing to say about it. The story navigates many themes, some of which are still relevant today.



I rate this book [b]3 out of 4 stars[/b]. I have rated the book 3 stars because it is brilliantly written and has an engaging and breathtaking plot that hooked me till the very end. The only reason why I failed to rate it 4 stars was due to some typos, nothing which another round of editing cannot resolve.

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[i]Road to Delano [/i]
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