This is very shallow, basic,, almost flippant and dull YA book. While billed as a reflection on teenage homelessness, the bulk of the story focused on everything but, treating the homelessness as a peripheral issue. However. I do appreciate what the author tries to do, showing that homelessness *is* just another thing, rather than THE thing. A person can be homeless but still smart and talented and worthy of love, compassion, and friendship.

If I were a high school student, I’d probably enjoy it more than reading it as an adult.

I received an arc from Netgalley for an honest review. This novel is amazing. I’m so happy I’ve gotten a chance an read this novel. I think everyone of all ages should read this book. Abby Lunde is a homeless teenager. Her and her family are living in a van. Her mother made some mistakes that made her lost her job and her step dad was laid off which caused them to wind up homeless. This is a heartbreaking but beautiful story. I loved it, I loved Abby, Zach, Josh and Amber as characters in this story. C.H Armstrong’s writing really captivates the reality of people dealing with homelessness in everyday life. She is a great writer and story teller. Please go read this novel.

This is a beautiful book about how easy it is for life to fall apart, and what you do afterwards.

Abby's mum makes a mistake at work that costs her, her job. Her stepfather is made redundant and suddenly this average family is living in their van. They leave for a new town and Abby has to start school and try and hide the fact that she's actually homeless. The novel is sweet and heart-breaking and there are moments of humour in there too. It's a compassionate and thoughtful story that balances the difficulties of something serious, with the usual problems of adolescence and it feels real to me.

5/5 STARS!

This book was so moving and captivating! The story of Abby’s struggle as a homeless teen in a new town breaks your heart but her strength and perseverance stitch it back together!

C.H. Armstrong writes an absolutely tragic tale of how one bad decision can have a ripple effect and change the lives of everyone around you. The Lunde family found themselves sleeping in the back of their van in a Walmart parking lot as a means to survive. Seeking out every soup kitchen, pantry or temporary shelter available in town and making the best of a very bad situation.

The author’s ability to pull you into the story as if you were there, experiencing it for yourself was incredible. I loved the teen perspective this book provided on social justice issues as well as economic ones. How difficult it was for Abby to hide, fib and disengage, just to fit in and go unnoticed.

But she didn’t go unnoticed. She caught the attention of the most popular guy in school and gained a group of friends who were the opposite of the ones that turned their back on her in Omaha. She built an unwavering own support system within the walls of her new high school, with peers, teachers and administrators. She thrived and broke out of her shell, despite the difficult home life she was forced to return to each and every afternoon.

The romantic aspect of this story was sweet and endearing. I loved the chemistry between Abby and Zach. His willingness to accept her, despite the truths she’d kept from him, really showed his true character and love for her.

I adored this read for both the characters and the storyline.

This book was a surprise because I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Tge book centers around Abby, a seventeen year old homeless teen. Unlike some stories, where the teens runaways or is addicted to drugs. She's homeless along with the rest of her family because of a scandalous decision by her mother.

This book really pulled on my heartstrings because I can remember the turbulent emotions of teen years and I can't imagine trying to deal and be homeless! I was pleasantly surprised with the spiritual element in the novel and I thought it was a fabulous touch!

I enjoyed discovering the rocky relationship between Abby and her Mother. I believe, most of us can sympathize because we have had those ups & downs with our own mothers.

I recommend reading this coming-of-age novel, for anyone that is a YA or New Adult book lover! Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.

*4.5*

was totally blown away by this book, really. I was expecting to like it, but not love it as much as I did.
"Roam" is a YA contemporary story about Abby, a teenage girl who suddenly finds herself living on the streets with her mother, little sister and stepdad thanks to stupid mistake that her mother made. Abby finds herself divided between being an homeless teen and living the best life she can at school.
This read truly opened my eyes. I suffered with Abby and for her, and I cried a lot, both happy and sad tears. I was so happy that she was able to find herself again, and that she had the chance to find some amazing friends, Josh before all. He was one of my favourite characters, and he was so sweet in giving her all of those Disney nicknames. I also liked the diversity in this book, even if one particular line, where Abby first met one of the boys (don't want to say who because spoilers) and discovered that he is homosexual really bothered me. She said something along the lines of "are you sure?" and I hate that, cause yeah, he's sure thank you very much, you don't ask that to a person who is certain about his/her/their sexuality. Hence the 4,5 stars and not 5.
Beside that, though, I loved everything. Like, for real. The romance was really good, and I don't care if it was a bit too fast, I was enchanted by Zach as much as Abby. He was sweet and caring and I was beyond fascinated by him.
The familiar bonds in this book were truly amazing. I loved how Abby's family was stronger when everyone was there, and I loved how, despite the differences and the struggles, everyone kept on loving each other and they always tried to understand the other person.
I have to say I am truly happy to have read this book, really.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publishing house for giving me this chance.

Being a teenager is hard. Being a teenager living with her family in their van is harder. That’s what life is for Abby Lunde in Roam by C.H. Armstrong.

Life was good for Abby in Omaha. Sure her mom was a teacher at her high school, but she was a cheerleader and she had good friends. Her baby sister wasn’t too annoying and her step-father was her Dad and he was pretty good. That’s until her mother had an affair with the high school football coach. She lost her job; Abby was bullied and kicked off the cheerleading squad. Her friends abandoned her. To make things worse, her step-father’s company closed down. With her parents unable to find work, they lost the house. So they moved to Rochester, MN to start over. Living in their van until they can afford someone to live.

From the start, Abby is a success in her new school. She acquires two best friends. Girls are also best friends with the town’s one out gay boy (who is stereotypically Disney-obsessed). The rich, good looking, smart, guitar-playing Quarterback has fallen for her. The Quarterback’s jealous ex-girlfriend bullies Abby. She just needs to hide her living situation until her parents can get them back on their feet and all is great.

Writing that made me realize the stereotypes in the book, but I don’t recall any people of color. Maybe because they were all financially well-off and unless it’s an academically smart Asian person, people of color are generally portrayed as lower-income.

I’m actually fine with there being no people of color in Roam. Sometimes that’s just the neighborhood and there are other books for other neighborhoods. (Please seek out and read those books too!) The stereotypes and utopian aspect of Roam is a little frustrating though. David Levithan did it in Boy Meets Boy because he wanted to write about the world he wanted to live in. I’m not sure C.H. Armstrong was that intentional. Which leads me to my one real criticism of Roam: I’m not sure how much time the author spends with teenagers. I suspect not much. While John Green’s characters are often criticized for their expansive vocabularies, the speech in Roam is often rather formal and a little too “wisdom of an adult”. The adult characters have it a little too, but it’s mainly the teenagers and mainly in the second half.

I definitely enjoyed reading Roam and I’m thankful homelessness is being discussed in this way with no fault or drugs or even mental illness as the cause. The ending is a tad perfect, but I’m happy Abby got it.

Roam is a beautiful narration of what life is like for a homeless teen, and it took a look at what most wouldn't really see just by looking in. Abby is such a wonderful character who I fell in love with I wanted to give her a hug threw the most times. I think young readers will benefit from this book. Stunning read!

First I would like to than Net Galley for granted me mu wish and allowing me to read this ARC. I have to say that this story really touched my heart because it touches on real life issues that young adults go through on a daily basis.

Abby has everything in her one day and the next due to something her mother did they are up and moving to another town. Abby can't believe it because this is her last year of high school and she doesn't want to up and change schools even though she doesn't have any friends and she doesn't have a boyfriend either. But her mother has messed up and her actions have caused the family to have to move. Only when the family moves to a new town they are homeless and are having issues that are causing the family to fight.

Abby is pissed off at her mother but her step father keeps trying to tell Abby that things will get better. Abby starts a new school and she is instantly being bullied which causes her to shut down instead of stand up for herself. Things get worse and Abby thinks her life is over but she holds on and decides to stick it out with her family.

This is a must read story about homelessness and bullying and family sticking together. Everyday teens go through these issues and some deal with it and others give up and commit suicide. Abby chose life thank God but it could have gone the other way.

A contemporary YA novel that doesn't pull any punches. Abby is a typical high school girl who wants to be liked, have friends, go to dances and look nice. The only difference is, she and her family are homeless and living in her mom's van, and Abby doesn't want anyone to know. Tension builds as the weather gets colder in Minnesota and Abby fears being found out. The author touches on many current issues through a delightful cast of characters, showing just how resourceful teenagers can be and how difficult situations can make you stronger. An excellent read.

C.H. Armstrong knows how to write an incredible plot that is not only educational and eye-opening, it is heart-warming too. Abby was your typical teenager. She had good friends, a nice school and a roof over her head, then through no fault of her own, but one that her mum caused by a lack of judgement all that was taken away from her. Her best friends turned on her and made her life hell and with losing their home the family had no option but to pack up and leave and live in their van.

The book is set in the USA and I’m in the UK and it’s hard to think that this family would be left to live in their van as this just wouldn’t happen in the UK, we have emergency housing, shelters, hostels, charities for those families that are homeless. unfortunately, not so much help if you are single and homeless though.

The book is told from Abby’s perspective as she tries to fit in and actually makes some lovely new friends but she is always wondering what will happen when they find out she has nothing, will they dump her like her old school friends. She is quite rightly cagey and worried. Even little things like using her lunch card which she uses to buy her dinner using the states free school dinner scheme for those on low income, or having to brush her teeth and have a quick washing in the school bathroom before school starts.

Her friends including Josh, Wendy, Tera, and Zach are all likeable and fit the story perfectly. Zach is her love interest and I’ve heard people say that it’s not realistic that they would have begun dating so quickly. I’m sorry but this is not true. It does happen, especially with teenagers. I’ve been there and so have most of my friends I grew up with.

I love that Josh calls all the girls by Disney names – Abby becomes Ariel because of her red hair. I actually used to know someone who did something similar though his were movie character names. There had to be one person who took an instant dislike to Abby, the villain of the book, Trisha. I’ve met my share of girls like her. The type who think that it’s fun to bully others or try to shame them someway, trouble is what they don’t realise is that it makes more of a statement about themselves than it does about others.

I had one little niggle and that was with her sister Amber calling her ‘sister’ all the time rather than Abby. This is explained in the book as to why she does it but it is still really annoying, though Amber is a little cutie and will make you laugh.

Overall the book was a wonderful, poignant read and I enjoyed it the whole way through. I learned a lot about Rochester and homelessness too.

I think the topic of homelessness was handled well, but the book as a whole just didn't do anything for me. I couldn't really get into any of the characters - they all just felt flat and stereotypical: the new girl who everyone immediately likes, the hot quarterback boyfriend, the jealous ex-girlfriend, the funny gay friend...

Then I found myself skimming much of the plot because it was moving pretty slowly with a lot of chatty dialogue, and I just wanted to skip ahead to where something happened. Some of the dialogue is kind of weird and outdated... Abby makes a joke about her car being manufactured by Fred Flintstone, but then she has to add "It's my feet!" because I assume most teens wouldn't get the joke? Looney Tunes pops up too - not sure how many teens would get the Sylvester and Tweety references. And then some of it kind of feels like a needless explanation... we get a big lesson on how if someone with asthma gets the flu it can lead to complications, and we also get informed of how Facebook and Instagram work together... I don't know. Just felt a little heavy handed in some places for me.

I also felt like Abby found A LOT of helpful adults in her life willing to bend over backwards to help her find scholarships, sign up for standardized tests, and apply to college... and maybe I'm just a cynical, terrible person, but I just feel like most teens would unfortunately not be that lucky. Abby kind of got everything handed neatly to her, and I just felt like this was a little too inaccurate for my tastes. Everything just wraps up really, really neatly for Abby in terms of her social life in high school and her plans for her future.

TL;DR: While I have been lucky enough to not experience homelessness so far, I felt like I got a realistic peek into the life of a teen going through homelessness and how her daily life would change because of that. However, the stereotypical characters, the slow-moving plot, and the sometimes awkward dialogue kept me from enjoying this one.

This is a frank depiction of the life of a homeless youth. The uncertainty and constant lying. The shame and confusion. How hope falls apart. And some of the scenes are visceral and realistic. At the same time, much of it felt too positive. Everything works out for the protagonist's benefit. She lies to her friends. They forgive and accept her. Her family is found squatting. They are accepted and assisted. Even the bully (who is by no means a complex character) is apologetic and changed when the truth is revealed. So while I appreciated the portrayal of the religious people as generous and compassionate without judgement, I didn't like the book on the whole.

Abby had a good life in Omaha, but due to her mother's awful mistake, they lost their home and had to start anew in Rochester.
Abby hated her mother for it, and for good reason. They were homeless and had to sleep in their car. Who would want that kind of life? Especially as winter had arrived and the temperatures outside were teeth-shatteringly cold.

We follow Abby and her family and you see how typical a teenager she is even though her circumstances could not be more different from all those rich kids in her new school. One of whom catches her eye and heart immediately. As well as the new friends she makes. That's probably one of the things that somewhat annoys me - how quickly she seems to make new friends after all the awful experiences she had in her last school. If I were her, I would've been a bit more cautious.

The reason I rated this 3 stars (or more like 3.5), is because it was a bit too predictable for me. All the things that I thought were going to happen, happened. I did enjoy the story and subject of the book and growth of the characters immensely, I just wish there had been more "what the hell just happened" moments for me.

After a string of bad luck, Abby and her family find themselves homeless and living in their van. They move from Omaha to Rochester in search of better opportunities where Abby and her younger sister enroll in school. As Abby begins to make friends and start a new life, she tries to hide that her family has a near empty bank account and no place to stay.

I enjoyed this YA novel. I felt like the issue of homelessness for families and teens hasn't been addressed much and I do think it's important. This book shows how anyone can be homeless. Most people are a few turns of bad luck and a couple paychecks away from hard times and it can truly happen to anyone. I recommend this book to YA fans looking for a fresh perspective on high school life.

Title: Roam
Author: C.H. Armstrong
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Abby is 17, new to town, and she and her family are living on the streets as a result of her mother’s bad decision. They had to leave Omaha behind because of the backlash—and the friends who abandoned them.

Now they’re ready to make a fresh start. Abby dreams of having a boyfriend, going to college, and a career in music, but the winter is bad, and they never know where their next meal is coming from. Her stepfather is having trouble finding a job. Her mother is similarly out of luck. Abby’s family needs help, but she’s afraid to tell her new friends the truth, after the devastation of losing all her friends at her old school.

Roam was a difficult book to read. The subject matter is heavy—and sad. I cannot imagine being homeless, much less homeless with two kids. Abby is a strong person, but guarded, after everything she’s been through. Sometimes, asking for help is the hardest thing to do.

C.H. Armstrong holds a B.A. in Journalism, and lives in Minnesota. Roam is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Central Avenue Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "Roam" by C.H. Armstrong. Homelessness is a real issue that many people face in life and this book paints a really good portrait of what that looks like.

Abby hated this town already. Everywhere she looks screams of wealth and privilege. Abby’s mother had pretty much ruined their lives when she had an affair with Coach Hawkins and was caught and put on SnapChat. They had Omaha where Abby had grown up and now lived in this town and were homeless and no one had jobs. Abby’s mom had been able to leave her teaching job without being fired but now they lived in a different state and she needed to renew her teaching license if she wanted to try to get a teaching job here. Amber was Abby six year old sister, Amber whines that she misses BooBoo bear and just doesn’t understand and is confused by what has been going on the last two days. Abby is ready to tell her mom how she real feels about her and the messed up situation she has put them all in. Nick - her stepfather and the other father she has ever known- catches abby’s eye and his expression says let it go Abby, please. If Nck left them it would be even worse. Nick is the one who keeps them going, keeps Abby from strangling her mother and the only one who can help them out of this mess. Nick says tomorrow they will get the two girls in school and he and their mother will go to the Salvation Army and see what they had to offer. They had left Omaha one step ahead of eviction and took what they could fit but left a lot behind. Than Ambers mother asks Abby to sing to Amber to help her go to sleep but amber says no until Nick asks her to. Singing used to be a relaxing outlet for Abby and something Abby did effortlessly and often to see her mother smile. Nick doesn’t ask much of Abby and she didn’t want to be the reason Nick gave up and left them. Abby closes her eyes and sings and almost forgets the last six months. Now Abby is signed up for school and a senior. A hot rich popular young man named Zack is the office aid and gives her a quick tour and takes to her second class as the first one is almost over and tells her to look for him for lunch as they have the same lunch time. Zack would be put off if he knew Abby’s secret. She met another guy named John who nicknamed her ariel because of her red hair and he quickly became a friend. Josh walked her to lunch and she sat with him and met his two friends who readily accepted Abby. Than Zach came up to her and said he thought she was sitting with him, abby explained Josh walked her here from class and she had sat with him for lunch. Zach said to sit with him the next day and went back to his table. Than Abby learns the girl she had made an enemy of by standing up for herself was Zack ex girlfriend trish and she was pretty evil. Back in Omaha Abby had lost all her friends even her two best friends Emma and sarah after her mother’s scandal came out. Nick and Abby talk and he says he thought about leaving but he couldn’t leave her and Amber and he still loved her mother. Abby and Zach hung after school and picked up amber and went to the library together. Zach had asked Abby to go to the football game Friday evening as he was quarterback and would be playing and he would really like her there.he also asked abby to homecoming. Nick gave her the money to go that one time but he also told her to make up with and forgive her mother before it was too late. Nick and her mom warn Abby to be careful as they don’t want to see her get hurt. The kids in her new school were wealthy while they were homeless, with little money and living in her mother’s van. They used walmart for the bathroom and to wash their hair and take a sponge bath. The van was parked in Walmart parking lot every night. They have an evening meal at the Salvation army six nights a week and can eat at the church one night a week. The girls can have breakfast and lunch for free at school. But Abby can’t help but want some happiness and says so. For some reason Zach likes her and she likes him back. Than one Saturday afternoon when Abby and her family are at the church for their free lunch some new volunteers come in and Trish is one of them. She takes a picture and in ends up on facebook right away. Abby knew she would probably lose Zach and her new friends and was crushed.
I felt this book was very realistic and could probably be non fiction for the most part. I have worked with the homeless people and they are basically the same as anyone else except down on their luck for different reasons. As Abby said they are still people who for one reason or another have lost their home which do what they can to survive. As abby and her family was doing. The point made was Abby and her family’s hard journey while homeless. This book showed people who were suppose to be Abby’s friend but turned their backs on her but than she made real friends in her new school and she had a real boyfriend who stood by her doing her rough times. I smiled at times while reading this and choked up at others. I ,loved the plot and the pace of this book. I felt this book has a lot to say and did a great job saying it. Hats off to this author and the way she brought out the problem of homelessness and what people went through. Homelessness is a real problem many people face day in, and day out. A great book on a harrowing problem especially in very cold weather and I highly recommend this book.

To put it plainly, Roam is an emotional rollercoaster of a novel that I never knew I needed. Full of heavy references such as homelessness, bullying, substance abuse and relationship breakdown. When it hits, it hits hard, leaving the reader emotionally broken and feeling drained.

The MC Abby is determined and strong, resolute on helping her family to escape the poverty into which they have recently fallen. Her mother and stepfather rely upon her help look after her younger sister while they look for jobs in their new neighbourhood of Rochester. She puts on a brave face when she goes to school, never letting on to her peers from affluent homes that she currently relies on charity and Walmart bathrooms to get by.

I found myself drawn to this contemporary masterpiece, unable to put it down until the final page. At the beginning there was hope and an internal belief that nothing could thaw my cold icy heart. By the end, my face was red and streaked with tears, i had far too much caffeine on board and it was suddenly 2am local time.

To anyone who is thinking of reading this novel, I strongly suggest you get on it as soon as possible. For those who are not planning on reading Roam, I strongly suggest you change your mind because if need be, I will come and bludgeon you with it until you do.

A powerful and compelling contemporary YA book, Roam by C.H. Armstrong will break your heart but leave you feeling that there is still some goodness to be found in an often difficult world.
Abby Lunde is having a difficult time. She is seventeen years old and homeless, living with her mother, stepfather and little sister in the back of the van they used to move to Rochester in search of a new start. A chain of small incidents snowballed until they had no other options, between job losses and an affair that almost destroyed the family, life as Abby knew it has come to an end.
It's always difficult being the new kid at school, especially as a teenager , but it's a lot worse when you have such a big secret to hide, and though Abby does make friends, and even attracts the attention of one of the hottest guys at school, she is constantly on edge. It doesn't help that she was the victim of a bullying campaign at her old school, and between that and the shame she feels about her living situation, she really is in a dark place. When her worst nightmares come to life, and her secret is revealed in the most public way imaginable, how will she cope, and will she lose the few friendships that she has tentatively begun to build?
I really found myself moved by the plight of Abby and her family, the book does an excellent job of showing how easy it is to go from relative security to living on the edge of society, in a believable way. As a character Abby is so real, her fears and doubts, her determination and her rare moments of happiness are so vivid that I found myself feeling along with her. I also loved the relationship she had with her little sister, and step father,and thought the rebuilding of her relationship with her mother was beautifully and realistically handled. The day to day difficulties of being homeless, little things like washing, laundry, and even not having an address or phone to apply for work are so well described, and I found myself really imagining how difficult it would be.
I loved this beautiful and ultimately uplifting book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I read an ARC from Central Avenue Publishing , supplied via NetGalley but all opinions are my own.