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Roam CH Armstrong Books

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Roam CH Armstrong Books

Thought provoking and touching. C.H. Armstrong does an excellent job covering the plight of the homeless especially a young teen in high school. The way the author handles such a tough subject is spot on. I was instantly drawn into the world of Abby Lunde, her family, and circle of friends. In fact, I read this book in one evening.


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Roam CH Armstrong Books Reviews

Roam tells the very important story of Abby Lunde, a homeless senior in high school. Homelessness among children is an issue that is too often swept under the rug and ignored, so it was absolutely wonderful to see a book highlighting it. I did have issues with a few things, and while this is definitely a story that needed to be told, the execution could have been better.

The characters that Armstrong brought to life were, for the most part, likeable and showed growth, which is something that is very important to me. Abby’s mom, a former teacher, had an affair with another school staff member which led to her losing her job. Because of the consequences this caused, Abby is absolutely horrible to her mom. At first I was put off, complaining to myself about how unrealistic Abby’s behavior was, but it got me thinking about different lifestyles and made me start an eye opening conversation on Twitter. I never would have gotten away with talking to one of my parents the way Abby did, and none of my friends would have either, but I learned that some teenagers really are like that. It was a great reminder that everybody is different and we are all going to react differently in intense situations.

This story does feature a gay side character which was great. There were a few cringy instances that I wish had been handled better and really shouldn’t have happened. When Abby finds out that Josh is gay, her reaction is to tell him that he doesn’t look gay. We are in 2019, it’s past time for us to be doing better and there really aren’t any excuses for this anymore. You can’t determine somebody’s sexuality based on how they look and the idea that you can should have been thrown in the garbage a long time ago. It was also incredibly disappointing to see the insensitivity that was given to the topic of mental illness. We really have to start doing better when it comes to mental health. It’s an illness just like any other, and people who suffer are not crazy. I also feel like Abby was suffering from PTSD after being there for a medical emergency her mom had, and I really wish it had been directly talked about more.

Armstrong did a fantastic job of showing what homeless kids go through, from the lack of sleep which affects school and how they have to handle relationships to the embarrassment and shame that they constantly carry around with them. Hopefully those that need Abby’s story will read it and feel less alone with their situation and know that things can and will get better and that they are just as deserving of love.

*A digital ARC was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Abby hated this town already. Everywhere she looks screams of wealth and privilege. Abby’s mother had pretty much ruined their lives when she had an affair with Coach Hawkins and was caught and put on SnapChat. They had Omaha where Abby had grown up and now lived in this town and were homeless and no one had jobs. Abby’s mom had been able to leave her teaching job without being fired but now they lived in a different state and she needed to renew her teaching license if she wanted to try to get a teaching job here. Amber was Abby six year old sister, Amber whines that she misses BooBoo bear and just doesn’t understand and is confused by what has been going on the last two days. Abby is ready to tell her mom how she real feels about her and the messed up situation she has put them all in. Nick - her stepfather and the other father she has ever known- catches abby’s eye and his expression says let it go Abby, please. If Nck left them it would be even worse. Nick is the one who keeps them going, keeps Abby from strangling her mother and the only one who can help them out of this mess. Nick says tomorrow they will get the two girls in school and he and their mother will go to the Salvation Army and see what they had to offer. They had left Omaha one step ahead of eviction and took what they could fit but left a lot behind. Than Ambers mother asks Abby to sing to Amber to help her go to sleep but amber says no until Nick asks her to. Singing used to be a relaxing outlet for Abby and something Abby did effortlessly and often to see her mother smile. Nick doesn’t ask much of Abby and she didn’t want to be the reason Nick gave up and left them. Abby closes her eyes and sings and almost forgets the last six months. Now Abby is signed up for school and a senior. A hot rich popular young man named Zack is the office aid and gives her a quick tour and takes to her second class as the first one is almost over and tells her to look for him for lunch as they have the same lunch time. Zack would be put off if he knew Abby’s secret. She met another guy named John who nicknamed her ariel because of her red hair and he quickly became a friend. Josh walked her to lunch and she sat with him and met his two friends who readily accepted Abby. Than Zach came up to her and said he thought she was sitting with him, abby explained Josh walked her here from class and she had sat with him for lunch. Zach said to sit with him the next day and went back to his table. Than Abby learns the girl she had made an enemy of by standing up for herself was Zack ex girlfriend trish and she was pretty evil. Back in Omaha Abby had lost all her friends even her two best friends Emma and sarah after her mother’s scandal came out. Nick and Abby talk and he says he thought about leaving but he couldn’t leave her and Amber and he still loved her mother. Abby and Zach hung after school and picked up amber and went to the library together. Zach had asked Abby to go to the football game Friday evening as he was quarterback and would be playing and he would really like her there.he also asked abby to homecoming. Nick gave her the money to go that one time but he also told her to make up with and forgive her mother before it was too late. Nick and her mom warn Abby to be careful as they don’t want to see her get hurt. The kids in her new school were wealthy while they were homeless, with little money and living in her mother’s van. They used walmart for the bathroom and to wash their hair and take a sponge bath. The van was parked in Walmart parking lot every night. They have an evening meal at the Salvation army six nights a week and can eat at the church one night a week. The girls can have breakfast and lunch for free at school. But Abby can’t help but want some happiness and says so. For some reason Zach likes her and she likes him back. Than one Saturday afternoon when Abby and her family are at the church for their free lunch some new volunteers come in and Trish is one of them. She takes a picture and in ends up on facebook right away. Abby knew she would probably lose Zach and her new friends and was crushed.
I felt this book was very realistic and could probably be non fiction for the most part. I have worked with the homeless people and they are basically the same as anyone else except down on their luck for different reasons. As Abby said they are still people who for one reason or another have lost their home which do what they can to survive. As abby and her family was doing. The point made was Abby and her family’s hard journey while homeless. This book showed people who were suppose to be Abby’s friend but turned their backs on her but than she made real friends in her new school and she had a real boyfriend who stood by her doing her rough times. I smiled at times while reading this and choked up at others. I ,loved the plot and the pace of this book. I felt this book has a lot to say and did a great job saying it. Hats off to this author and the way she brought out the problem of homelessness and what people went through. Homelessness is a real problem many people face day in, and day out. A great book on a harrowing problem especially in very cold weather and I highly recommend this book.
CH Armstrong really made me think! She tells the story of Abby with empathy and compassion. Reading this story has changed the way that I, as an educator, will look at my students. Congratulations on another great book!
Thought provoking and touching. C.H. Armstrong does an excellent job covering the plight of the homeless especially a young teen in high school. The way the author handles such a tough subject is spot on. I was instantly drawn into the world of Abby Lunde, her family, and circle of friends. In fact, I read this book in one evening.