There is no specific time period for this story but in some ways it feels like a book that could have been written in the 1920s or 1930s. Davy lives in the dreary town of Brownvale. The Parson has outlawed so much:
"Parson Fall's iron heart held great sway in Brownvale. His large congregation lived under his rule. Liquor and dancing were forbidden. The only hymns they sang were those that he himself composed. His black-clad figure was a familiar sight, striding Brownvale streets with jealous energy, sharp-eyed for the smallest transgression."
Davy is a street kid. He survives by doing small chores for the people in the town. He works hard to stay under the radar of the Parson and his henchman Mr Kite. Davy finds pleasure in three things. He loves to go the the movie house and sit on the side and watch the old time movies. Miss Shasta, the owner of the cinema, turns a blind eye and lets Davy enjoy this simple past time. Secondly Davy loves to go to the library. Mr Flint, the librarian, is also his friend. Davy does not borrow books. He has one special favourite in the reference section - Renaissance Angels. Which leads me to his third activity. Davy loves to draw. He has no paper, he has no pens, he has no paint. But he does have the town. Davy uses an assortment of thick and thin branches and sticks to draw angels in the dirt around the town. This infuriates the parson, and puzzles some people.
Davy is joined by a small and very faithful dog which he later names George Bailey. The pair find themselves on the run and this takes them into an old museum where they meet the eccentric Miss Flint. She seems wise to all that Davy has been doing and yet somehow also naive about the ways of the world. She tells Davy, who is only thirteen, that he will drive her back to her old family home. She even has a smart, but way too large, chauffeur uniform ready for him.
Thus begins a mad cap, but also poignant journey across the country. Miss Flint is determined to reach her old home by Christmas and that means they only have a few days. On their first night in a run down hotel something mysterious happens to Miss Flint.
A few observations about this book.
I found this book at a recent book sale. I picked it up because the cover (the one at the top of this post) appealed to me. This book was on sale because it had been "sitting on the shelf" in the shop since 2017. Why? This is a problem with book selling and book buying. How can anyone know a book is good? You can like the cover. You can read the blurb. You may know the author or have confidence in the publisher but one of the most powerful ways to find a book is via a recommendation. On the other hand no book seller has time to read every title that arrives. Booksellers rely on publisher reps, publisher catalogues and possibly book reviews. That might explain why this book (which I think is a treasure) slipped under the radar. I feel lucky that I found it.
Next observation - audience. The idea of planning the place and time of your death and even using pills to expedite this (euthanasia) is confronting. That scene did leave me shaken so perhaps this book would better suit a mature reader aged 11+. Please don't let this put you off reading this book - Davy makes sure Miss Flint does find peace without needing to take these actions.
Moira Young is a Canadian author. Here is a video where Moira talks about her book and the inspiration behind the plot for The Road to ever after.
If you have read any of these books then you are sure to enjoy The Road to ever after.
