The Road to Ever After by Moira Young

Davy emptied the brooms from his bag. He laid them on the ground according to size. Made of twigs, grass and feathers, there were twelve in all. He used the largest for smoothing the earth in preparation and broadly sketching the outlines. The smaller grass and feather ones were for finer detail.

Published by Macmillan in October 2016

Pages - 240

Summary

Davy David, an orphan, lives by his wits in the dead-end town of Brownvale. When a stray dog called George turns Davy's life upside down just days before Christmas, he sets in motion a chain of events which forces them to flee. A mischievous wind blows the two of them to a boarded-up museum on the outskirts of town where they meet the elderly recluse, Miss Flint. She has planned one last adventure before her time is up and hires the reluctant Davy and George to escort her.

*****

Oh this wondrous book! It gently reaches inside and grabs your soul, holding it up to the sky. It is the most spiritually uplifting book I've read in a long time. You come away from  it, desperate to be a better person. You start to believe in magic. 

Davy  appears like an angel in disguise. I'm not sure if that is how he's supposed to be viewed, but that's how I see him. He has goodness bursting out of him. He is so sensible and wise for such a young boy. When his world collides with Miss Flint's, you struggle to see how they will ever get along. Miss Flint isn't the most friendliest of people. She is extremely crabby, but Davy really can't refuse her offer as he needs to get out of town quickly. As the story progresses you warm to Miss Flint and the relationship she has with Davy softens. You start to wonder who is really saving who.  I loved that this book revolves around the relationship between a child and an elderly adult, because this type of relationship is often so important to a child, especially if they are close to their grandparents.  It reminded me of Goodnight Mr Tom. 

The ending took my breath away. I had to read it twice because it was such beautiful writing and it filled me with hope. If this is heaven, then I want in! 

I can totally see why this book is described as It's A Wonderful Life meets The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, because I couldn't describe it better if I tried. It also reminded me of A Christmas Carol and The Christmas Box. 

 The following quote filled me with promise. 

"And to die is different from what any one supposed."

It portrays death as just another journey we have to go on, but with such a beautiful destination.

This book is like a warm hug during dangerous times. An ideal book to put in a stocking for Christmas Day.