Gone and Back Again

by Jonathon Scott Fuqua

Caley’s family is on the move again. His mother and stepfather have made another in a series of bad decisions, and once again, Caley, his older brother Fulton, and little sister Louise are pulling up stakes. With each move, Caley’s mental state grows a little worse. This time they’re living in Naples, Florida, where Caley’s stepfather has finally found a job. Sad and confused, Caley attributes his problems to Star Trek, the glow from his clock radio,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933368772
• ISBN13: 9781933368771
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Soft Skull
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.7" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read

This is a concisely written and thoughtful book that expertly conveys the story of a boy and his youthful journey as part of a dysfunctional family. The book is written with such an honesty that the reader is transported into the story and time and fully able to feel the range of emotions that the main character Cay feels -- from fear and depression, to anger and even the unexpected humor at the absurdity of it all. I strongly recommend this book.

hoping for more

I just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it! It is a rare book that I pick up and actually get past the first few pages. This story captured me and had me enthralled to the last page. I enjoyed the title's reference to Tolkien's character Bilbo Baggins. Remember Bilbo told the tale of his adventures in his story, "There and Back Again". Now I am anxious to reread "The Hobbit". (If only I had a copy as I vacation in Trinidad!) I am elated Mr. Fuqua penned this story and hope for more to come on Caley's journey through life. I would be sad indeed if this is the end of the line. Cay, although he didn't realize it, is a tough kid. I'd like to see how he grows up. In this story, the life, troubles and fears of Caley can touch everyone. This is one of those literary gems which cross generational and ideological divides by dealing with a character with which we can all relate on many levels.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Eleven-year-old Caley has every reason to keep to himself. After his parents' divorce, he and his two siblings keep moving every couple of months. His father is an unpredictable, emotionally abusive alcoholic. His mother is paralyzed by depression to the point of negligence. He doesn't get along with either of his stepparents. And when he finally makes a friend, it's one whose problems are even worse than his own. But things are even worse inside his own head, where severe depression has taken hold. Every time his family moves, Caley's mental state deteriorates. While this book is intense and so heavy in some places that it's hard to read, that only goes to show how effective Jonathon Scott Fuqua is at capturing Caley's depression. He also works a bit of black humor in to keep the story from getting too melodramatic, and he never overstates things. Also, the language is at times beautiful. Lines such as, "The gray clouds appeared stuck like gray cement on a board," provide some lovely description devoid of cliché, as do observations such as Caley's about his mother: "She'd changed after the divorce. It was like her goodness and affectionateness seemed to be hibernating or were gone." I would recommend GONE AND BACK AGAIN to mature teenagers who don't mind a book with heavy subject matter. Reviewed by: Katie Hayes

A powerful and insightful book

Growing up is hard enough: Add divorce, an alcoholic father, a mother seemingly paralyzed as a parent by her depression and two verbally abusive step-parents and then you have story that can be truly bleak at times. Jonathon Scott Fuqua's Gone and Back Again is a painful and honest story written from the perspective of Caley, the middle child. A few times I had to stop reading to wipe the tears off my face because of the sheer sadness I felt, not only for Caley but for his entire family. But moments later, I was reading again! This was one of those books that I could not put down until I had reached the end. I highly recommend it. Jennifer Thie, author of And Then Came Arthur