In Omaha, Nebraska the Lunde family live a perfectly normal life until seventeen-year-old Abby's mother, who teaches at the high school, is caught having an affair with the coach. Abby is ridiculed unmercifully even by those she considers her close friends. Her mother resigns and soon after, her stepfather loses his job. With no income, they are forced to make some hard decisions.

The family of four head out in their van for Rochester, Minnesota with the hopes of finding jobs and rebuilding their lives. However, sometimes things don't happen as imagined. The winters are very cold, money is running low and they find themselves confined to what little they do have, a van.

Parking in the Walmart lot, they all attempt to sleep, but not much room and frigid weather make it very hard to accomplish. Abby and her young sister start school but trying to hide the facts that they have no home or money are sometimes challenging and embarrassing.

The girls walk to the library, approximately two miles away, after school. They wait there to be picked up since Mom and Stepdad are searching throughout the day for helpful homeless programs as well as jobs.

Abby discovers that many of the kids at the high school are very well-to-do, yet she makes a few friends very quickly, as well as one enemy. Trish Landry is a popular rich girl and ex-girlfriend of the football quarterback who just happens to be Abby’s new boyfriend.

Though the family does a very good job of trying to hide their homelessness, eventually secrets are exposed. Will it be a repeat of what happened at Abby's last school, or will her new friends stick with her?

My Thoughts

What Concerned Me: Very little concerned me, but I half wondered if the ending was tied up a little too neatly.

What I Liked Most: Though the main story is one of homelessness, other plots weave through making it interesting on several levels.

Homelessness is handled in a way that will most likely touch your life forever. This would be a very good book for classrooms to read.

CW: slut shaming, bullying, use of a racist term, alcoholism, possible drug abuse

A situation no one ever expects to find themselves in. A situation no child should ever have to face.

Abby Lunde is facing life as a homeless teen. She and her family are living in her step-father's minivan, following a mistake that spiraled and forced them to the streets. Will she be able to find some semblance of normal as she figures out how to keep warm, get enough to eat, keep clean, all while attending classes and trying to graduate?

I want to say that C.H. Armstrong did write about some good points. When her main character Abby was riding through town and reflecting upon the things she saw outside in an early scene, she saw things that showed how there's more than one way for wealth to be evident. It can be clothes or someone's car, but it can also be something you might not think of right away, like the state of their lawn.

Everywhere I look screams wealth and privilege—from the carefully manicured lawns to the kids in the car next to us. The cost of their clothing alone would probably eat up Nick’s whole paycheck—if he still had one. But he doesn’t, and neither does Mom.

There were several moments when Armstrong really infused her writing with what must have been the sheer amount of emotions that Abby and her family were feeling, from anxiety to terror and so on. Abby recounts the moment when her parents tell her that they will need to leave their apartment because they can no longer afford it:

"We left Omaha this afternoon, just one step ahead of eviction. The landlord visited two days ago, warning us we had seventy-two hours to pay the current and last month’s rent or she’d return with a police escort and a locksmith. There was no point in fighting it, Nick said, so we spent all day yesterday packing only our absolute necessities. We left everything else behind—there just wasn’t enough room."


How do you make that kind of decision? What to take, what to leave? When you know you have to leave and there's no other choice, how do you keep from curling up in a corner and refusing to deal with it?

That being said, the strengths (what I talked about and others) being what they were, there were more minuses that outweighed them and made the book such a disappointment that I was thoroughly uncomfortable.

There were times when certain conversations came up that felt wholly unnecessary, such as this one between Abby and Josh, a boy she meets at her new school:

?“But how? I mean—you don’t look gay!” I blurt out.

Josh lifts an eyebrow. “What is gay supposed to look like?”

“I—I don’t know. I’ve never really known anyone who’s gay.”"


Oh boy...there's a lot to unpack there, but I couldn't fathom a few things, such as why how Abby thought that a) she knew she hadn't met someone who was gay before, and b) why this kind of conversation was even here to begin with? You can't tell someone's sexuality based on their appearance.

Then there is Josh's behavior in regards to his friends, particularly with naming his female friends his "harem" and renaming them by Disney princess names, even when they ask him not to and especially with there being a girl of Middle Eastern descent in this group (want to bet which princess name he used for her?). Then his Fruit Loops level "humor" (quote "who peed in your Fruit Loops?" unquote)...I really couldn't stand him after that.

There's was also the relationship between Abby and Zack that didn't make sense to me. It was one of the things that made me uncomfortable, more confused. The accelerated development, the intensity, Abby's reactions to Zack's familial benefits, it all didn't really track as the makings of a healthy relationship from start to finish.

Regarding another uncomfortable moment, it was when Abby, at a football game with her friends, used a racist term in her internal narration which meant it could never be challenged:

"When the buzzer signals game over, I celebrate along with my tribe as Rochester South brings home a hard-won victory of 28-27."


I do not remember ever seen Native American representation in this book. This just seemed so weird and out of place, so wrong, that I felt uncomfortable, when "group" could easily have been substituted.

To sum it up, while there were some strong points in the realm of the homeless representation, I thought there were essential problems with the characters, relationships, and offensive material that made this a very difficult book to enjoy and nigh on impossible to finish.

The book is about Abby and her family, who become homeless. I really liked the story, well written and realistic, about Abby's life as a teenager, trying to fit in. Thank you, NetGalley!

An entertaining teen read. The reason I'm only giving it 3 stars, though, is because the main character seemed a bit blank. This can be used as a tool for the reader to project their own traits onto the character and therefore relate more to them (like Bella in Twilight), but that's not a tactic that I enjoy in fiction.

I want to thank net galley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.
It’s about a girl named Abby who has to deal with all the usual things teenagers have to go through but her and her family are homeless.
The story starts with the family moving because they have been evicted from their home after the parents lose their jobs.
Abby is ashamed of her family’s situation so she tries to keep it a secret from her new friends.

Overall this book was an eye opening read. At times it was truly heartbreaking and thought provoking.
It gives a real insight to what it means to be homeless.
I gave it 4 stars.

I think this was an interesting telling of a teenager that was in hard times. However, I personally thought there wasn’t enough focus on the hardships the protagonist was facing, but more focus on... teenage drama.

Suffice to say, I still enjoyed reading it, and I would definitely recommend it to some people that I know would like to read this book.

A great read, especially for teachers and high school students. Homelessness is a growing problem in our society and it has a profound effect on students within our schools. Reading this book might bring some of the problems faced by our homeless students to light and elicit in their teachers/peers the empathy and understanding necessary to make the students comfortable and successful in their environment.

DNF, this was just not my cup of tea. The writing was find and the characters were ok but I just couldn't get invested in the plot, it felt very slow to me. I think this is the kind of book that if I picked up at a later time in a different headspcae I could really enjoy, but it didn't work for me now at this time.

This book quickly had me hooked and stayed with me for several days after I'd finished it.

Roam is the story of a 17 year old girl and her family who find themselves homeless due to her parents' unexpected unemployment. They move States and the story shows Lena's struggle to fit in at a new school where most of the students are pretty rich, trying not to let her circumstances become known.

The story is told in two timelines, the present day at her new school and with flashbacks to let us know how they came to be in their situation.

As an adult reader, this book was a stark and moving reminder of how close many of us are to disaster. And I hope that this would open teenagers eyes to how difficult life can be for others and how precarious life is for some. I've already recommended this to my students and asked our school librarian to stock it once it's published.

Roam is an honest and heart-breaking story about life as a homeless teenager.

Starting a new school is difficult at the best of times but when you’re living in the back of your van with no money or food, it can seem virtually impossible. This is the position Abby finds herself in.
After both her parents lose their jobs and are evicted from their home, they decide to move to Rochester where there is a support network available for the homeless. Abby, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, decides to keep this a secret and attempts to be a ‘normal’ teenager. But as friendships grow and a romance develops, can she continue to live a lie?

I really enjoyed this book. Thought provoking and distressing at times, Roam gives a real insight into what it means to be homeless; sleeping in a van, eating at soup kitchens and using the bathroom facilities in Walmart to stay clean! The challenges faced by the whole family were tough to read about, especially as a parent, but the overwhelming kindness of strangers was what really hit me the hardest. It made me sit back and appreciate what I have and what more I could do to help those less fortunate than myself.

Now don’t get me wrong, this book is not without its flaws. The instant popularity that Abby finds at her new school and her insta-love with the school’s quarterback are a bit cheesy. Alongside that is the naive and slightly offensive reaction Abby has to finding out her friend Josh is gay (she asks him if he’s sure?!?!) However I’m prepared to forgive all of that because the book is trying to portray a very positive message about homelessness. It demonstrates that not all homeless people expect or want handouts and that what they really need is empathy and kindness. There’s also a strong message about the importance of forgiveness.

Overall this was a great read and I loved that it covered a topic that is not often discussed in YA fiction.

Well worth a read in my opinion - 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 5)

Roam will be available from February 5th 2019.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Central Avenue Publishing) for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

I write this review through tears. I was planning on posting this later but I need to write this now because I haven't been this emotional after a book in a very long time. 🤧

Roam is phenomenal. It is brilliant. I am not a big contemporary reader and I often feel let down but Roam is stunningly beautiful and needs to be read by everyone. ❤

"being a homeless teen is hard... Hiding it is harder"💔

I read this in one sitting. Abby's story resonated so deeply and I'm still torn between heartbreak and bittersweet hopefulness. 💞

I'm INCREDIBLY passionate about homelessness and providing assistance to those I can whenever I can. Reading this reasserted EXACTLY why it is something so close to my heart. 💓

This book is a lesson in empathy wrapped as a contemporary novel. It's not preachy. It's raw and emotional. It's believable. It's beautiful.💖

Roam conquers homelessness, the relationship between family both blood and adopted, bullying, ptsd, LGBTIQ pride, and the innate goodness of humanity ❤

I can't recommend this book enough. It's out February 5th and if you can get your hands on it, bought or borrowed please read it ❤

Thank you to NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and C.H. Armstrong for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

My rating is actually 4.5 stars but since there aren't half stars, I always round up.

Like:
- The family relationships: meaningful, realistic, but tense at times
- Abby is a great character: kind, relatable, hard working

Love:
- Highlights the resources available to people struggling with lack of housing, food, money, clothing, etc.
- The overall concept: a homeless teenager navigating life, high school, family, friends and her future as normally as possible
- Great representation of an underrepresented population
- Abby’s relationship with her friends and boyfriend
- The teachers and other adults looking out for her in a non judgmental, discrete manner #TeacherGoals
- A realistic look at the day in the life of a person dealing with the struggles of being homeless

Dislike:
- The character of Trish: mean girl/bully to many people

Wish that:
- The premise of them becoming homeless made more sense. It’s sort of explained at the end, but there were still a few loose ends.
- The ending was done better- wrapped up the story a little too quickly and neatly

Overall, an absolutely captivating read about an under discussed topic. A book that should be in the curriculum of many high school English and humanity classes.

This book was amazing, and it is about a problem/problems a lot of people and families are facing-homelessness. In this story we see the hopelessness, despair, and misery, told in the point of view of a 17 year old girl, named Abby Lunde, and this tells her family's story.

After Abby's Mother does something that causes her to lose her job, and ultimately everything, they have to leave and move to Minnesota to live in a van in the Walmart parking lot-there is nowhere else for them to go. They couldn't stay where they were as they were evicted. on top of everything else the days are getting colder and snow is coming. All the shelters are full. They eat at soup kitchens and Abby is always worried her friends may see her.

Abby has to learn to be so careful to hide her shameful secret, as she tries to appear normal as the new girl at a new high school, she is 17 years old. She makes a few friends and then she meets a nice young man. Unfortunately she has caught the attention of her boyfriend's ex girlfriend who is willing to do anything to get him back-even if it means hurting someone.

This is Abby's story to tell, and you will feel her despair and also her other feelings as you get swept up in her circumstances. I gave this book 5 stars and hope a lot of people read it! Especially young adults.

4/5 ⭐️
I found this book really interesting. Being from Minnesota I definitely know how bad the weather can get. I felt bad for Abby and her family and how they had to struggle so much. Life can be unfair sometimes.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good YA novel about a homeless teenager and struggles within the family. I love the message of the novel.

I have never cried so much reading a book as I did while reading this one. It was so hard to read from a perspective of someone who is homeless, and still I can't even imagine what it would be like to live under such circumstances. This book moved me so much, and I'm so thankful I had my wish granted on NetGalley. The characters and their relationships were amazing to read about. Go read this book! And have some tissues with you...

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

ROAM is about a girl and her family who become homeless and live in shelters and their van. Given that I’ve never read a book featuring a homeless MC, I was enthusiastic about the premise and representation.

I think the author meant well in writing Abby’s story, and, from the reviews on here, many people seem to have enjoyed it. On a surface level, the writing was good and the plot made sense—though it felt over simplified to me in its execution.

The other characters Abby meets also feel two dimensional. There’s the mean girl, the football guy, and a token gay character (the representation there is less than stellar, and other reviewers have done a wonderful job expressing why.) I couldn’t connect with any of them, and at times Abby felt completely detached from her living situation—like, yes she was homeless but also she was preoccupied with the boy who liked her? I understand characters can have overlapping issues, but it was hard to figure Abby out when she bounced back and forth.

Ultimately, I am giving this 3/5 stars because I do believe the thread on homelessness is very important to see in fiction and I’d like to see more authors approach similar topics.

Hard hitting and gritty read, reminds us how lucky we are and how lucky some people aren’t. This follows a homeless teenager as she and her family struggle to make a life for themselves in a new town. Completely moving and emotional, the characters are so well written you want to get in there and help them yourself. A wonderful compassionate read from a brilliant author.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion .

Abby is not unlike most teens. She desperately wants to be accepted. After moving from her hometown due to circumstances created by her mother, Abby and her family find themselves living in the back of their van. If being a teenage isn’t hard enough, Abby must know juggle the life of a teenager with secret of being homeless. Abby catches the attention of a star football player. Her secret life must stay a secret if she expects to make it in her new school.
This book is a great story that touches the heart. Can one simply look past the surface and truly like someone based on what’s inside?

I was delighted to have my wish approved and be afforded the chance to read and review this advance ARC and thank the publisher Central Avenue Publishing, for granting my wish.

It’s sobering to realise that even though you think you are comfortable for many families they are only one or two dramas away from being homeless.

My name is Abby Lunde and I am homeless.

For Abby being homeless was of no fault of her own, but for bad decisions by her Mother, and her Step-Fathers sheer bad luck in that his place of employment went bust.

The family move towns to Rochester as its considered to be more amiable to homelessness. Thankfully Abby gets to move school and away from the social ostracization of her previous school where she is dropped by her friends and the cheerleader team, and the school administration fails to intervene to what is bullying. Abby’s mother was a teacher forced to resign her position after having an affair with another teacher.

Abby is slim, pretty and has a confidence that allows her to adapt to living in a van and looking after his younger sister. I did wonder if maybe her experience at her new school would have been way different if she was none of these. She meets the school heartthrob Zac, and incurs the wrath of the resident Mean Girl, Trish.
This is a lovely book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but it’s not without its problems. I know enough about Employment Law to know that her mother’s Constructive Dismissal from her job is problematic. The family depend highly on religious groups and churches for help, but I found the religious undercurrent uncomfortable. I also found the token ‘gay guy’, a bit superfluous. He was a great character, but I think his sexual orientation brought nothing extra to him.

All in all a great read though, I really enjoyed and came away thanking my lucky stars that I am lucky enough to never have been in the families position. And for Abby her dreams really did come true.