Check out my stop on the blog tour for The Road to Delano by John DeSimone!
The Road to Delano
by John DeSimone
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: March 10th 2020
Rare Bird Books
Summary:
A high school senior, Jack Duncan dreams of playing college baseball and leaving the political turmoil of the agricultural town Delano behind. Ever since his father, a grape grower, died ten years earlier, he’s suspected that his mother has been hiding the truth from him about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. With his family’s property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it. On the road, an old friend of his father shows up with evidence that Jack’s father was murdered. Armed with this new information, Jack embarks on a mission to discover the entire truth, not just about his father but the corruption endemic in the Central Valley. When Jack’s girlfriend warns him not to do anything to jeopardize their post-graduation plans and refuses to help him, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez. The boys’ dangerous plan to rescue the Duncan family farm leaves Adrian in a catastrophic situation, and Jack must step up to the plate and rescue his family and his friend before he can make his escape from Delano. The Road to Delano is the path Jack and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.
The Road to Delano by John DeSimone
My rating: 4 of 5 starsI was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is a fairly clean young adult book. There are no bedroom scenes, and all profanities are very mild and will probably no offend most people. The violence included in the book is necessary and not overly descriptive nor gratuitous.
I am not familiar with much of the history surrounding Chavez and labor unions. I appreciate the fact that this book tackled such a tempestuous time in history, and the author was able to detail the story from the perspective of young people, thus targeting a sector of the population that often takes little to no interest in history. I applaud the author for putting out such a book that brings history alive in such an authentic way. In fact, my only complaint is relatively mild (dropping my rating to 4.5 as opposed to 5). The book is over four hundred pages, and there is a good chance that young adults may not be willing to invest the time and energy to read such a novel. The action keeps moving, but it could be off-putting.
I applaud the author for creating such an emotionally-involving story with characters around the age of young people. Although the book deals with a time period over fifty years ago, most of the issues with which the main characters are dealing are relatable and intriguing. If young people (and even older people like me) want to be immersed in a historical time period that is typically ignored in popular culture and even school, this just might be the book to read and recommend to others.
Buy on Amazon!
Chapter 6
Ash Wednesday
|
M
|
onday at lunch, Jack and Ella
settled on the grassy school quad. The morning haze, a gray dullness, hung over
them. Ella in a long skirt and T-shirt printed with her favorite saying played
her guitar. Jack ate slowly, as Ella gently strummed a Joan Baez song.
settled on the grassy school quad. The morning haze, a gray dullness, hung over
them. Ella in a long skirt and T-shirt printed with her favorite saying played
her guitar. Jack ate slowly, as Ella gently strummed a Joan Baez song.
She let the last chord vibrate in the air. “You look far
away today, Jack.”
away today, Jack.”
“Just thinking.”
“Worried about the
big game?” She strummed a C chord.
big game?” She strummed a C chord.
“Not really. I’m ready for those guys.” As crucial as the
Arvin game was to his chances for a scholarship, his head spun with Herm, the
sheriff, and lost combine. He needed to set all that aside.
Arvin game was to his chances for a scholarship, his head spun with Herm, the
sheriff, and lost combine. He needed to set all that aside.
But how?
“You’re worried
about losing that combine, aren’t you?”
about losing that combine, aren’t you?”
He shrugged and glanced off into the haze. Herm’s beat-up
face filled him with too many questions, ones he would rather not ask.
face filled him with too many questions, ones he would rather not ask.
“What do you think
happened to it?”
happened to it?”
Jack did his best to suppress a frown. He spent the next
twenty minutes explaining how Sheriff Grant found Herm Gordon face down in the
mud and how their combine had gone missing. Short of stealing someone else’s
machine and selling it to pay the taxes, he didn’t have too many ideas about
what he could do to save his mom’s place.
twenty minutes explaining how Sheriff Grant found Herm Gordon face down in the
mud and how their combine had gone missing. Short of stealing someone else’s
machine and selling it to pay the taxes, he didn’t have too many ideas about
what he could do to save his mom’s place.
“Jack, you have to protest. Write to the newspaper. Make
noise until the sheriff finds your combine. Someone knew you needed that money
to save your property.”
noise until the sheriff finds your combine. Someone knew you needed that money
to save your property.”
Ella’s sense of urgency hovered over her, an impending sense
of doom that required her to stand up and shout to drive it away. She had been
this way since he first met her, always ready to protest. Vietnam had taken up
most of her attention. But it was their trip to Berkeley a couple of years ago
that had set her on fire, and had almost got Jack arrested in front of Sproul
Hall.
of doom that required her to stand up and shout to drive it away. She had been
this way since he first met her, always ready to protest. Vietnam had taken up
most of her attention. But it was their trip to Berkeley a couple of years ago
that had set her on fire, and had almost got Jack arrested in front of Sproul
Hall.
Two years ago, their sophomore debate team had joined the
junior and senior team on a field trip to UC Berkeley to observe a statewide
competition. They left Delano before dawn and talked for the entire four-hour
bus ride. That was something he had never done with any girl. They sat across
from each other, an aisle between them. Her darting green eyes held his
interest. Life shot out of them, beautiful and intelligent in the same instant.
junior and senior team on a field trip to UC Berkeley to observe a statewide
competition. They left Delano before dawn and talked for the entire four-hour
bus ride. That was something he had never done with any girl. They sat across
from each other, an aisle between them. Her darting green eyes held his
interest. Life shot out of them, beautiful and intelligent in the same instant.
They debated the war in Vietnam, who killed JFK, the
likelihood of a gunman on the grassy knoll, the Selma march, the Freedom
Riders, Malcolm X, the Black Panthers—she had an opinion on everything. Mostly,
she made sense. The girl’s intensity at times unsettled him, but it mostly
intrigued him.
likelihood of a gunman on the grassy knoll, the Selma march, the Freedom
Riders, Malcolm X, the Black Panthers—she had an opinion on everything. Mostly,
she made sense. The girl’s intensity at times unsettled him, but it mostly
intrigued him.
During the debate competition in a Berkeley auditorium,
shortly after the lunch break, Ella leaned into him in the dark. “Meet me
outside on the steps in a few minutes.”
shortly after the lunch break, Ella leaned into him in the dark. “Meet me
outside on the steps in a few minutes.”
Without waiting for an answer, she rose and disappeared.
Jack stewed in his seat, trying to figure out what she was up to. He wouldn’t
miss much if he left. Besides, her sense of adventure piqued him. A few minutes
later, he found her outside the glass doors on the steps. In the breeze, her
brown hair, straight and long, riffled across her mischievous smile.
Jack stewed in his seat, trying to figure out what she was up to. He wouldn’t
miss much if he left. Besides, her sense of adventure piqued him. A few minutes
later, he found her outside the glass doors on the steps. In the breeze, her
brown hair, straight and long, riffled across her mischievous smile.
“There’s an FSM rally on the other side of the campus. Go
with me. We’ll be back in plenty of time.” “A what?” he asked.
with me. We’ll be back in plenty of time.” “A what?” he asked.
“You know, the Free Speech Movement. Please, go with me,” she pleaded with her green eyes. “Mario Savio
is going to speak.”
is going to speak.”
From the way she threw out his name, he was someone Jack
should know. He had never heard of the Free Speech Movement, or Savio, whoever
he was. Jack glanced back to the doors.
should know. He had never heard of the Free Speech Movement, or Savio, whoever
he was. Jack glanced back to the doors.
“They’ll be in there for hours.” She took his hand. He
marveled at her warm grasp. He liked it.
marveled at her warm grasp. He liked it.
They made their way through a maze of buildings. She must
have had this all planned out. She led him directly to a large plaza packed
with students milling about. Some sat, most stood talking and smoking, and
clouds of strange smelling smoke wafted over the crowd. A line of cops stood on
the fringes of the crowd. They fidgeted with their batons.
have had this all planned out. She led him directly to a large plaza packed
with students milling about. Some sat, most stood talking and smoking, and
clouds of strange smelling smoke wafted over the crowd. A line of cops stood on
the fringes of the crowd. They fidgeted with their batons.
The two of them were so far back, they could hardly make out
what the speaker was saying. Ella pushed her way toward the front, and Jack
held on. Had she done this before? She stopped when they were about twenty feet
from the speaker, who read a list of students who were being expelled. People
were booing.
what the speaker was saying. Ella pushed her way toward the front, and Jack
held on. Had she done this before? She stopped when they were about twenty feet
from the speaker, who read a list of students who were being expelled. People
were booing.
A new speaker came to the microphone, a tall wiry-haired
student in a white shirt and sheepskin-lined jacket. Electricity seemed to
shoot right out of his hair. The crowd around Jack murmured, likely wondering
what this guy was going to say. Ella squeezed his hand tighter. He didn’t dare
let go of her, afraid they’d get separated in the jostling crowd.
student in a white shirt and sheepskin-lined jacket. Electricity seemed to
shoot right out of his hair. The crowd around Jack murmured, likely wondering
what this guy was going to say. Ella squeezed his hand tighter. He didn’t dare
let go of her, afraid they’d get separated in the jostling crowd.
The crowd hushed when the man with the electric hair started
to speak. He had a machine-gun delivery. His message burst from him with so
much energy the entire crowd leaned in for more. His lips moved like waves,
every word coated with fire.
to speak. He had a machine-gun delivery. His message burst from him with so
much energy the entire crowd leaned in for more. His lips moved like waves,
every word coated with fire.
I ask you to consider if this
university is a firm…we’re the raw materials.
university is a firm…we’re the raw materials.
And we don’t mean to be made into
any product…to be bought by anyone.
any product…to be bought by anyone.
We’re human beings!
The crowd
applauded, and Ella loosed her hand to clap and shout.
applauded, and Ella loosed her hand to clap and shout.
There’s a time the operation of the
machine becomes so odious… you can’t take part.
machine becomes so odious… you can’t take part.
You’ve got to put your bodies upon
the gears…upon the levers… and you’ve got to make it stop.…Unless you’re free,
the machine won’t be prevented from working.
the gears…upon the levers… and you’ve got to make it stop.…Unless you’re free,
the machine won’t be prevented from working.
The crowd broke into more applause. Kids were yelling their
agreement. Jack wasn’t clear what machine the guy was talking about, or what
freedom he didn’t have, and what gears needed to be stopped. Then the speaker
introduced Joan Baez, and the crowd went crazy with chatter and clapping.
agreement. Jack wasn’t clear what machine the guy was talking about, or what
freedom he didn’t have, and what gears needed to be stopped. Then the speaker
introduced Joan Baez, and the crowd went crazy with chatter and clapping.
She started singing a Bob Dylan song, and a hush fell over
everyone.
everyone.
How many times can a man turn his head And
pretend that he doesn’t see?
pretend that he doesn’t see?
The
answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind… Ella hopped up and down on the
balls of her feet.
answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind… Ella hopped up and down on the
balls of her feet.
Baez started up another song, “We shall overcome…,” and
everyone joined in, the crowd swayed with the words. Something great, something
powerful was about to break open here. He took Ella’s hand, and she gave him a
complicit smile. She held him tight as if she feared she would float away in
the euphoria of the moment.
everyone joined in, the crowd swayed with the words. Something great, something
powerful was about to break open here. He took Ella’s hand, and she gave him a
complicit smile. She held him tight as if she feared she would float away in
the euphoria of the moment.
When the song ended, she pulsed forward. Jack dared not let
her go as they slipped between applauding students who hovered around the
famous singer. Ella ascended right up to the great Joan Baez, her long black
hair draped over her shoulders, her guitar slung over her neck.
her go as they slipped between applauding students who hovered around the
famous singer. Ella ascended right up to the great Joan Baez, her long black
hair draped over her shoulders, her guitar slung over her neck.
Ella tried to talk
calmly, but she only stammered.
calmly, but she only stammered.
“Did you want an
autograph, honey?”
autograph, honey?”
Ella had a confused look as if the question she wanted to
ask had slipped away.
ask had slipped away.
“Do you go to
school here?”
school here?”
Ella shook her
head. “Delano High School.”
head. “Delano High School.”
“Look,” Baez pointed over Ella’s shoulder. “You guys got to
get out of here. There’s going to be trouble.”
get out of here. There’s going to be trouble.”
At the far end of the crowd, cops were forcing students to
move. Cop cars with lights flashing swarmed into the quad forcing students
toward them. Panicked voices, screams, and shouting rose in the quad. Police
vans rolled into the quad, lights flashing, the short squawks of their sirens
stirred up the crowd.
move. Cop cars with lights flashing swarmed into the quad forcing students
toward them. Panicked voices, screams, and shouting rose in the quad. Police
vans rolled into the quad, lights flashing, the short squawks of their sirens
stirred up the crowd.
The man with wiry hair grabbed the microphone beside Baez.
“Everyone sit down. Resist them. Don’t let them take you. You have a right to
be here.”
“Everyone sit down. Resist them. Don’t let them take you. You have a right to
be here.”
Baez fished in her purse and pulled out a black pen. “Here,
let me sign something, then you two split.” She hovered her pen looking for
something to write on while Ella stood motionless. Finally, the singer reached
up and scrawled her name in big looping letters on Ella’s forehead.
let me sign something, then you two split.” She hovered her pen looking for
something to write on while Ella stood motionless. Finally, the singer reached
up and scrawled her name in big looping letters on Ella’s forehead.
“Go!” Baez pointed
off to her left.
off to her left.
Jack led Ella down the side of the steps, away from the
surging crowd. Students were shouting as the cops swung batons, pushing and
shoving them into the center. Jack ran along the front edge of the students
sitting cross-legged on the ground. Several cops ran toward them from their
right. Jack, with Ella in tow, sprinted away from them across the open plaza,
heading for the shelter of a building.
surging crowd. Students were shouting as the cops swung batons, pushing and
shoving them into the center. Jack ran along the front edge of the students
sitting cross-legged on the ground. Several cops ran toward them from their
right. Jack, with Ella in tow, sprinted away from them across the open plaza,
heading for the shelter of a building.
“Hey, you two,
stop!” Heavy footsteps gained on them.
stop!” Heavy footsteps gained on them.
Jack clutched her hand, nearly dragging her. He desperately
wanted to reach their seats in the auditorium. They ran full out down the side
of a building, between another two into a smaller plaza. They dodged students,
dashed around a fountain, and then behind another building.
wanted to reach their seats in the auditorium. They ran full out down the side
of a building, between another two into a smaller plaza. They dodged students,
dashed around a fountain, and then behind another building.
“That way,” Ella said, pointing over his shoulder to a long
hall. The footsteps were still behind them. They made their way down the side
of the long hall, into a parking lot where they ducked between two cars, then
down a lane.
hall. The footsteps were still behind them. They made their way down the side
of the long hall, into a parking lot where they ducked between two cars, then
down a lane.
“There! There!” Ella said. Jack saw the auditorium in front
of them. If they could just make the doors.
of them. If they could just make the doors.
“You two stop now!” Jack ran with everything left in him
through the lot, across a small plaza, up the steps, and into the lobby. They
blasted through the double doors into the darkened auditorium.
through the lot, across a small plaza, up the steps, and into the lobby. They
blasted through the double doors into the darkened auditorium.
“Oh, no!” Jack
said, stunned. It was empty.
said, stunned. It was empty.
“The buses are right outside. Over there!” Ella said,
pointing to a side door down by the stage. They hustled down the aisle, both
breathing hard, and turned to the door. Just as he reached for the crash bar, a
shaft of light flooded in from behind them. Jack held up. A silhouette stood in
the open auditorium door.
pointing to a side door down by the stage. They hustled down the aisle, both
breathing hard, and turned to the door. Just as he reached for the crash bar, a
shaft of light flooded in from behind them. Jack held up. A silhouette stood in
the open auditorium door.
“As soon as I open this, he’ll see us,” Jack whispered to
Ella, who was crushed up against him.
Ella, who was crushed up against him.
“We can make the
bus.” Her breath was hot on his ear.
bus.” Her breath was hot on his ear.
The door closed, plunging them into darkness. A beam of
light flashed and began sweeping the seats, steadily moving toward them.
light flashed and began sweeping the seats, steadily moving toward them.
Jack pushed the bar, and they burst into the sunlight. A
line of yellow buses, motors idling, were strung along the curb. Halfway down,
Jack found the Delano High bus and pushed Ella up, then he jumped up the step.
The two stood in the small aisle by the driver. Every eye on the bus stared
them down. Every eye wanted to know where they had been. Heat seeped into his
cheeks. He calmed his breathing.
line of yellow buses, motors idling, were strung along the curb. Halfway down,
Jack found the Delano High bus and pushed Ella up, then he jumped up the step.
The two stood in the small aisle by the driver. Every eye on the bus stared
them down. Every eye wanted to know where they had been. Heat seeped into his
cheeks. He calmed his breathing.
“It’s about time you two showed up,” Mr. Thompson said. The
only two seats left on the bus were in the front row next to him. Jack took the
window, and Ella sat between them.
only two seats left on the bus were in the front row next to him. Jack took the
window, and Ella sat between them.
“Sorry, Mr. Thompson,” Ella said, demurely. “I was in the
bathroom. I got lost, and Jack showed me where the buses were.”
bathroom. I got lost, and Jack showed me where the buses were.”
He sighed and shook his head. “You can roll now, Howie,”
Thompson said to the bus driver.
Thompson said to the bus driver.
The bus door soughed close, and the driver revved the motor.
Jack closed his eyes, letting all the tension out of his body. He wanted to
laugh, but he dared not.
Jack closed his eyes, letting all the tension out of his body. He wanted to
laugh, but he dared not.
Just then someone banged on the door. It opened, and a cop
stepped up into the bus.
stepped up into the bus.
“I’m looking for
two demonstrators who ducked in here.”
two demonstrators who ducked in here.”
“All of our students are accounted for, officer,” Mr.
Thompson said. “We have to get on the road.”
Thompson said. “We have to get on the road.”
“These two.” He
pointed at Jack and Ella with his Billy club.
pointed at Jack and Ella with his Billy club.
“They look familiar.”
“They’re with us,”
Thompson said.
Thompson said.
The officer squinted and inched closer, staring at Ella.
“What’s that on your forehead?”
“What’s that on your forehead?”
Mr. Thompson
leaned over to have a look.
leaned over to have a look.
Before Ella could
answer, Jack asked, “Are you aware of what day
answer, Jack asked, “Are you aware of what day
it is, sir?”
“What?” The cop
had an angry look.
had an angry look.
“It’s Ash
Wednesday.”
Wednesday.”
“Yeah, so?”
“We were at the church this morning.” Jack pointed vaguely
behind him. “And that’s how they anoint now.” A few months before, Jack had
seen a TV special on the changes in the Catholic Church.
behind him. “And that’s how they anoint now.” A few months before, Jack had
seen a TV special on the changes in the Catholic Church.
“They don’t do
ashes like that.”
ashes like that.”
“Everything changed with Vatican II.” Jack had been learning
about the power of rhetorical questions in debate. Now would be a good time to
test one out. “Are you at peace with your religion, officer? Is that why you’re
singling her out?”
about the power of rhetorical questions in debate. Now would be a good time to
test one out. “Are you at peace with your religion, officer? Is that why you’re
singling her out?”
The officer looked as if he was gagging, trying to get an
answer out of his mouth.
answer out of his mouth.
“Officer,” Mr.
Thompson urged. “We have to get on the road.”
Thompson urged. “We have to get on the road.”
He backed out of the bus, the door closed, the motor revved,
and with the grinding of old gears the bus haltingly rolled forward, gained
speed, and headed home.
and with the grinding of old gears the bus haltingly rolled forward, gained
speed, and headed home.
Darkness had fallen. Jack let his mind wander as he stared
out the window at the passing cars trying to understand what had happened
between them today. Holding Ella’s hand was like being captured by a tornado.
He had to admit he didn’t want to let her go.
out the window at the passing cars trying to understand what had happened
between them today. Holding Ella’s hand was like being captured by a tornado.
He had to admit he didn’t want to let her go.
She rested quietly beside him. Mr. Thompson snored. They
were still an hour away from Delano when Ella squeezed Jack’s hand. She leaned
close and kissed him on the cheek. She put her mouth to his ear.
were still an hour away from Delano when Ella squeezed Jack’s hand. She leaned
close and kissed him on the cheek. She put her mouth to his ear.
“I’m a Presbyterian. But for one moment I was a Catholic. I
will never forget that.”
will never forget that.”
Her words made him smile. He wasn’t Catholic, but that
didn’t matter. He wouldn’t forget today either. When her parents heard about
her meeting Joan Baez and hearing Savio speak, they never allowed her near
Berkeley again.
didn’t matter. He wouldn’t forget today either. When her parents heard about
her meeting Joan Baez and hearing Savio speak, they never allowed her near
Berkeley again.
After they arrived back at campus, Mr. Thompson took him
aside. He said he’d let this episode slide, but only if he showed the same
initiative and creativity in debate for the rest of his high school career. He
felt himself in a squeeze. Ella was a top debater. This was her territory.
aside. He said he’d let this episode slide, but only if he showed the same
initiative and creativity in debate for the rest of his high school career. He
felt himself in a squeeze. Ella was a top debater. This was her territory.
He’d be in her whirlwind. Then there were the ramifications
of getting caught leaving the debate. He had far less to fear from a cute girl.
of getting caught leaving the debate. He had far less to fear from a cute girl.
“Sure,” he told Thompson. They
shook, and no one talked about it again, except for Ella just about every time
they kissed.
shook, and no one talked about it again, except for Ella just about every time
they kissed.
About the Author
John DeSimone is a novelist,
memoirist, and editor. He’s co-authored bestselling memoirs, The Broken Circle: A memoir of escaping
Afghanistan, and others. He taught writing as an adjunct professor at Biola
University, and has worked as a freelance editor and writer for nearly twenty
years. His novel, The Road to Delano,
is a coming of age novel set during the Delano grape strike led by Cesar Chavez.
BookSirens said, “It’s more than a little Steinbeck, in a good way….” He lives
in Claremont, Ca, and can be found on the web at www.johndesimone.com
memoirist, and editor. He’s co-authored bestselling memoirs, The Broken Circle: A memoir of escaping
Afghanistan, and others. He taught writing as an adjunct professor at Biola
University, and has worked as a freelance editor and writer for nearly twenty
years. His novel, The Road to Delano,
is a coming of age novel set during the Delano grape strike led by Cesar Chavez.
BookSirens said, “It’s more than a little Steinbeck, in a good way….” He lives
in Claremont, Ca, and can be found on the web at www.johndesimone.com
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