When Theo gets off a bus in Destiny, Florida, he's left behind the only life he's ever known. Now he's got to live with Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam War vet and a loner who wants nothing to do with this long-lost nephew. Thank goodness for Miss Sister Grandersole's Rooming House and Dance School. The piano that sits in Miss Sister's dance studio calls to Theo. He can't wait to play those ivory keys. When Anabel arrives things get even more enticing. This feisty girl, a baseball fanatic, invites Theo on her quest to uncover the town's connection to old-time ball players rumored to have lived there years before. A mystery, an adventure, and a musical exploration unfold as this town called Destiny lives up to its name.
Acclaimed author Augusta Scattergood has delivered a straight-to-the-heart story with unforgettable characters, humor, and hard questions about loss, family, and belonging.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Another wonderful read from Augusta Scattergood...
By Georgia
January is a lucky month for young readers!Augusta Scattergood’s new book, THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY is filled with vivid and unforgettable characters. There is adventure after adventure. Heartstrings are pulled. Best friends are made. Life-lessons are learned. Humor...oh, the humor throughout it all!DESTINY is such a rich story...well-written by a charming and authentic voice with a lovely Southern accent!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Not quite as advertised
By Kendra
Can a book be well written and still be a disappointment? Yes, unfortunately. The problem is with the book description (which may or may not be the author's fault) which describes the story as "a mystery, an adventure." It's really neither. Based on the description, I expected Theo and Anabel to uncover some deep and meaningful truths about their town as they attempted to discover just which baseball players had once passed through Destiny. I expected a mystery. I expected a villain, maybe. If you're reading this book because you're expecting a mystery, pass it by.On the other hand, where this book succeeds is as a period piece and character piece. It captures the flavor of the 1970s fairly well. And Anabel and Theo are refreshingly atypical pre-teens. Both break from conventional gender norms. Theo plays piano despite his uncle's objections. And Anabel routinely skips dance lessons to play baseball or go to the movies. Every character is essentially likeable, even Theo's uncle in the end.Overall, a nicely written book if you temper your expectations. I wish it had been longer. I wish the mystery had been deeper. I wish we could have seen more of how these characters grow, but overall, again, a nice job. Worth reading.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.Theo is a wonderful and authentic character
By sheila
Augusta Scattergood's second novel, The Way to Stay in Destiny, is spectacular! I admire the craft of her writing. Theo is a wonderful and authentic character. Anabel is a great balance to Theo and their friendship is very convincing. I found myself comparing the book to Bud Not Buddy because of the arc of the story and the strength of the characters. There are so many teaching points for both reading and writing workshop lessons to be found within the text. I can see middle grade students enjoying this book and if it were used as a book club selection, the conversations would be quite insightful. Well done!
