A Song For the Road - by Rayne Lacko (Paperback)

About the Book

"When a tornado destroys his Tulsa home, fifteen-year-old Carter Danforth is trapped in the pawnshop where his father hawked his custom, left-handed Martin guitar six years earlier before taking off, leaving him with nothing but a hankering to pluck strings and enough heartache to sing the blues. Carter's mother, meanwhile, is injured during the storm and winds up in the hospital. She wants Carter to fly out to Reno and stay with her sister, but he's already spent her hidden cash stash to buy his dad's guitar. Rather than tell her the truth, he embarks on an epic road trip in search of his father in California. But Carter isn't a runaway. He reckons he's a 'running to.' On the road, Carter picks up licks, chord changes, and performance techniques from a quirky cast of southwestern charmers: a rock star, a thief, a bluesman, a chanteuse-turned-chef, and the dream of a girl back home. By the time he reaches the end of old US Route 66, Carter has learned how to deep-fry yucca blossoms--and tell the truth of his life through music"-- Back cover.

Book Synopsis

When his house is destroyed by a tornado, fifteen-year-old Carter Danforth steals his mom's secret cash stash, buys his father's guitar back from a pawnshop, and hitchhikes old Route 66 in search of the man who left him as a child.

Review Quotes

"A sweet, twangy tale about a boy finding his future on the way to his past."

-Kirkus Reviews

"A boy, a guitar, and the open road. In A Song for the Road, Rayne Lacko brings this timeless archetype to full, vivid life as fifteen-year-old Carter embarks on a journey that will define him as an artist, a son, and a man. Beautiful music abounds in these pages--in the story, the language, and the hearts of these well-defined characters. Tune up your six-string, grab a mic, and join Carter as he takes his memorable song on the road."

--Mark Sarvas, award-winning author of Memento Park

"I really loved Carter's gentle sweet soul and the magic of his journey. Really lyrical and exquisite moments; I felt really drawn in by its tenderness and charm. Very nicely done!"

--Noelle August, author of the Boomerang novels

"Rayne Lacko brings forth the power of music in her inspiring coming-of-age novel A Song for the Road. The protagonist, a teenaged boy, is 'reawakening all the feelings he was trying every day to hold down.' Torn between facing his suppressed feelings and pursuing his passion, Carter chooses making music on his own terms. His choice is rewarded with personal healing and new friendships. A wonderful read about the magic of music and creating your own path."

--Heidi Daniele, author of The House Children

"Full of heart and soul, A Song for the Road is a beautiful road trip through friendship, self-discovery, and the kindness of strangers. Carter's story of searching for his father and finding his own musical identity will strum on your heartstrings and make you sing with joy."

--Lisa Manterfield, author of The Smallest Thing and A Strange Companion

"His father's old guitar leads fifteen-year-old 'Cotton' Danforth on an emotional journey to reconcile his past and find his future in this sweet story about the power of song to bridge what divides us. Musical teens will love this book. So will any adult who's been moved to strum a few chords. I only wish it came with a soundtrack."

--Pam McGaffin, author of The Leaving Year

"A lyrical, absorbing coming-of-age tale, A Song for the Road delights, surprises, and tugs at the heartstrings in equal measure. I fell in love with Carter Danforth on his epic cross-country journey to reunite with his estranged father--and so will you. An uplifting story of friendship, family, and the healing power of music."

--Anjali Banerjee, author of Maya Running, Looking for Bapu, and Seaglass Summer

"A Song for the Road is a brilliant metaphor for life. That Carter Danforth is one determined young man, and as memorable a hero as you'll ever find. Bravo, Rayne Lacko!"

--Andre Hardy, former NFL running back

"Carter Danforth, a gifted teen musician, tugs guitar strings and heartstrings in Rayne Lacko's entertaining new young adult novel, A Song for the Road. Readers will love this inspiring physical and metaphorical journey of growth and self-realization through the American Southwest."

--Ron Bahar, author of The Frontman

"Fifteen-year-old Carter Danforth is loaded down with guilt, dreams, and his dad's old Martin guitar. Hitting the long highway between Tulsa and LA may be his best hope or worst decision ever. Author Rayne Lacko takes us on a powerful coming-of-age journey that gets under the skin, calluses the fingertips, and works its way into the heart. A Song for the Road is packed with gritty wisdom, succulent humor, and great music. I'll be rooting for Carter for a long tim

About the Author

Rayne Lacko writes about emotions, creativity, and the healing power of music in Dream Up Now: The Teen Journal for Creative Self-Discovery and the YA novel A Song For The Road, an Eric Hoffer Book Award finalist. A social-emotional learning specialist with a master's in humanities, she lectures on writing and literature, advocates for social justice, and travels for inspiration. Rayne's short stories and poetry have appeared in international publications and anthologies. She lives on a forested island in Washington, US, where the trees whisper story ideas.