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An affecting story of love and grief

Road to Nowhere

Marian De Smet

Eppo is taking a trip. Hitchhiking to France he is picked up by Tabby, who has her own reasons for leaving home. Tabby talks nineteen to the dozen; Eppo is an introvert. Through his eyes we join them on their journey, which has more to do with what lies behind them than with where they are going. In flashbacks we gradually learn more about Eppo’s motives: he is fleeing his sorrow at losing his foster brother, who meant more to him than a brother.

A gripping and authentic tale of love, friendship, grief and loss
NBD Biblion

Marian De Smet uses a poetic, pared-down style, with never a word too many. The two damaged souls, apparent opposites, reveal their stories only very gradually. Her faultless sense of timing allows De Smet to divulge the right elements at precisely the right moment. Eppo’s immeasurable grief and the emptiness his foster brother Maarten has left behind, as well as the cautious love between the two boys, are subtly drawn without a trace of sentimentality. De Smet presents a powerfully developed psychological novel with characters that stay with the reader long afterwards.

With her controlled, expressive style and the extraordinarily poignant tale of mourning and love, De Smet establishes herself as a highly-talented author for young people.
Trouw
Now and again, a book comes along that gets under your skin. ‘Road to Nowhere’ stays in your mind long afterwards, leaving you speechless.
Jaap Friso