 |
Jordan McClellan was the youngest of three siblings born in Oklahoma to Eamon and Rachel McClellan. Jordan spent most of his life trying to live up to his father's expectations and believed he would never measure up. Jordan's brother, Danny, was a star athlete whose skills as a baseball pitcher earned him a spot in the Major League. His sister, Becky, was another standout athlete in basketball. Jordan's academic accomplishments got short shrift in the McClellan household, where athleticism and farm labor were touted. A fateful accident involving carelessness would leave Danny's career in tatters, nearly kill Eamon, and leave Jordan sputtering for years with survivor's guilt. Jordan began to drink to ease his troubled mind, but this habit led to a fatal car accident, landing Jordan in jail for a lengthy period, where he would be left to ponder his actions and contemplate a way forward.
The chronicle of the McClellan family is one of triumph and tragedy, life and loss, with Jordan McClellan's journey at its center. Jordan is a relatable character as he strives for his father's approval, yet he will also push back when his father's words become hectoring. Eamon McClellan is a stoic man who believes in the value of hard work and righteousness. He loves his family, yet isn't always expressive in that regard. The fraught relationship between Eamon and Jordan is conveyed in a way that is credible and not overdramatic. Jordan's story is one of redemption and learning to forgive oneself for past actions. This book will evoke a range of emotions as the story unfolds, but it will leave the reader feeling more than fulfilled by its conclusion.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review