A Hundred Days from Home

By Randall Wright

An adolescent boy struggles with the loss of one friendship and the flowering of a new one. "The mouth of the basin had washed away so that the pool had emptied with the runoff from the storm, but the tree still stood, now taller than Elam, the center of a sandy bowl." "Elam's mouth dropped open in surprise. Irises had shot up, crowding the edges of the bowl, their green, spear-like leaves reaching toward the sun. And they were in full bloom, their blues and purples reflecting the depth of the sky overhead." ""It's . . . it's not possible," he said. "It's not."" ""It's magic," whispered Refugio." Elam loves the wilderness of the mountains where he lives. He doesn't want to move to the Arizona desert, but his father thinks he needs a change. Ever since his best friend drowned in a river accident, Elam has been a loner. After the move Elam explores the desert alone, unwilling to befriend the neighboring kids. The dry brown earth makes him long for the lush green of home. But in the parched landscape he discovers something unexpected: a river where no water should be. There he meets Refugio, who also seems to be a loner. Drawn together by a shared love of wildlife, the two forge a tentative friendship. Slowly Elam begins to let go of the guilt and pain from his friend's death, and of his longing to return to the mountains. Randall Wright's stunning first novel is a beautiful and deeply moving exploration of the aftermath of loss and the healing power of nature.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805068856
• ISBN13: 9780805068856
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 11 to 16 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 11

Customer Reviews

Hundred Day Review

Elam's struggle to bounce back after his best friend's death is understandable for everyone but his father. He feels like he needs more time to adjust, yet his father decides to make the drastic move of to a small mining town a few hours away from home. It is here that Elam finds solace in both nature and solitude, and meets a new yet unlikely friend. Maybe the move, although heart-breaking at first, wasn't such a bad idea after all. Elam's new life provides a sense of rebirth in a barren desert. A Hundred Days from Home is a story of hope - a quick read and only slightly predictable.

Hundred Days Review

This book was great. It gives you that feeling you get when reading a really good book. I love the description of everything and the emotions. It show's us the world through an 11 year old boys mind. It's a captivating story and I strongly suggest that everyone read it.

Great book from a new author

Elam is a loner. Since the death of best friend in a river accident, Elam prefers to spend his time in the mountain wilderness. Elam's father doesn't think the solitude is good for his son. He decides to move the family to Arizona, hoping Elam will make new friends and come out of his self-imposed loneliness. But Elam doesn't fit in with the locals his father wants as his friends. Instead, he meets Refúgio, a boy his father doesn't approve of because of his nationality. Will Elam be forced to give up his first real friendship since Brett's death because of his father's prejudice?

A great new Author

A Hundred Days From Home is a great book.It is one of those books that you just can't put down.I am a picky reader and it is hard for me to find a book I can really get into.This book was one I couldn't stop reading.It was touching in parts and kept you wondering in other parts.I am sure there is something for everyone to relate to in this book.I hope all enjoy this as much as I did.

Amazing book!!!!!

This book is amazing. Our teacher started to read it to us in class, but I couldn't wait for him to finish. He let me take it home because I was desparate to read the rest. He's still reading it to us and it's just as good the second time!!Parts of it are sad, but there are lots of happy parts too, and some really amazing ones.Our teacher said this is Randall Wright's first book. He's very good, and I hope he writes lots more.