On the face of it, a novel of a 15-year-old runaway boy and stolen horse doesn't spark my interest but the author's clear, compelling writing kept me absorbed. Some where Vlautin is referred to as a "poor man's Raymond Carver" or Hemingwayesque and this is true. The writing is simple and effective. ( )

Abandoned by his mother, orphaned of his father, 15-year old Charley sets on a journey across America to find his aunt, the only remaining relative who can possibly offer him a better life. He is accompanied on this journey by a horse he befriends (and steals) - Lean on Pete.

Willie Vlautin's "road novel" is recounted in the first-person. Charley's narrative voice uses simple words to devastating effect. This is a tale which skirts the depths of despair and yet finds hope flowering in the most unexpected of places. ( )

Set in the American West, this is a coming-of-age story of fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson. Charley lives with his dad. His mother abandoned the family years ago. All he knows of his mother’s side of the family is that his aunt lives in Wyoming. Charley and his father had recently moved, so he has no contacts in the area. When his father dies, he is alone in the world. He starts working for Del Montgomery, a man who owns and races horses. Charley gets attached to a horse called Lean on Pete. He believes Del is going to send Pete to be destroyed, so he and the horse embark on a journey to find Charley’s aunt.

This is a sad story. Charley has to deal with many hardships. If you have issues with harm to animals or young people, steer clear. If I had known how this story would unfold, I probably would not have read it. At least the end is not horrible. The descriptions of the American West and Northwest are realistic and vivid. I read this book because the author grew up nearby in Reno, Nevada.
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I loved this book so much! And now I see there's a movie??? Starring Charlie Plummer, aka Miles in Looking For Alaska??? I can't wait to watch that. He'll be perfect as Charley Thompson.

The story is told to us by 15-yo Charley and I like the cadence or whatever you call it that is used for the way he tells it. Very matter of fact...I got up and did this and went here and ate this and came home and did this and went to the track and did this...I found it very believable the way he talks.

I loved hearing about all the things that happen in his life and the people he meets and talks to and the wonderful things he tells to Pete about the life he imagines for the two of them.

I started reading this book yesterday while I was waiting for front brake pads to be put on my car, so imagine my shock and horror when I read this line on page 126: "Then he told me about a brake job he got where they said they'd changed the pads but hadn't." I nearly choked on my coffee. I'm pretty sure Caleb really changed my brake pads because I saw the guy deliver them and then I saw Caleb come and get the box and take it back out to my car.

Before I started reading I predicted that the end of the book would be Charley finding his aunt in Wyoming and she would have enough space for him to keep the horse, Lean on Pete, there. I won't tell you if I was right or wrong, but I will tell you I cried, but I won't tell you if they were happy tears or sad tears.

Charley is now a favorite character and I wish the author would write more books about Charley. I want to know what kind of man he became. ( )

Abandoned by his mother, orphaned of his father, 15-year old Charley sets on a journey across America to find his aunt, the only remaining relative who can possibly offer him a better life. He is accompanied on this journey by a horse he befriends (and steals) - Lean on Pete.

Willie Vlautin's "road novel" is recounted in the first-person. Charley's narrative voice uses simple words to devastating effect. This is a tale which skirts the depths of despair and yet finds hope flowering in the most unexpected of places. ( )