Runaway Blues

By: Pete Fanning

Narrated by: Ian M. Hawkins

Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Twelve-year old Caleb Wallace has spent his summer at Autumn Springs, coaxing his papa out of his room when he's grumpy, attempting to gain the affections of a certain nurse, and pulling himself together when his grandpa looks right into him with nothing but a dull stare.

Seems the only thing that puts a light in Papa Clem's eyes is a family heirloom - an old folktale involving Robert Johnson's harmonica down in Arkansas. Caleb is happy to listen; two things Papa Clem can still do well are tell a story and play the blues. But when Caleb finds his grandfather all spruced up with his guitar slung over his shoulder, set to take a trip down to the bus station, Caleb isn't sure if it's real or just the dementia talking.

Caleb decides to tag along, and what begins as a joyride around town becomes a three-state drive into time. Caleb and Clem endure bus trouble, layovers, and even play for tips under the Nashville skyline. Caleb, who's never left his hometown, knows he should pull the plug on this journey but can't force himself to make the call. Weary and penniless, the traveling bluesmen step off the bus and into muggy hot Mosby, Arkansas, ready to go looking for Robert Johnson's harmonica. And what they find changes not only Caleb's summer, but his entire life.

©2020 Pete Fanning (P)2020 Immortal Works

Touching story with excellent narration

This is a touching story for anyone who has a loved one with dementia. It's thoughtful, well written and carefully, lovingly crafted. The narrator, Ian Hawkins, brings it to life. I listened to this while recovering from lasik surgery & barely noticed the time passing because I was so invested.

This is one of those stories that's going to stick with me for a long time.

Enjoyable short read

This was an enjoyable work about a boy dealing with his beloved grandfather’s dementia. Would be a great read to help kids understand memory loss.

A surprising gem of a book!

I expected Runaway Blues to be a typical young adult novel, but I was surprised by the depth and realism in this book. I've had family members who struggled with dementia, and the thoughts and feelings of Caleb as he deals with his grandpa strike a chord. And speaking of chords... I was wonderfully surprised by the poetic description of music and the way it moves a person. The narrator was also a perfect choice for this book, equally able to convey the conflicted emotions of a 12-year-old boy as well as his gruff grandfather, whether talking of memories or singing the blues.