Jay

W. Roycec Adams
Unlimited Publishing (2005)
ISBN 1588321207
Reviewed by Sondra Fowler for Reader Views (1/06)

"Jay" is the story of a teen age boy who, after the death of his mother, chooses to run away and become a hobo rather than enter a foster home. Many colorful characters are met along the way including another run away boy, LT, a young hobo who becomes a mentor of sorts to the untried Jay.

It was a quick, easy read well within abilities of early teen readers. The characters and situations are nicely written. I would be interested to see what this author could do with a more complicated adult plot.

I found the book itself to be dark and somewhat melodramatic. Even thought Jay had lost his mother, and balked at a foster situation I found it very disturbing that a boy as young and uncertain as Jay was would think to escape by hitching rides on trains. Though the writing itself was descriptive and engaging the story seemed open ended with little in the way of closure.

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