53 pages 1 hour read

Tawni O'Dell

Back Roads

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1999

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Tawni O'Dell's Back Roads receives acclaim for its gripping narrative and rich, authentic characters, particularly the protagonist Harley's intense emotional struggles. Critics highlight O'Dell's vivid depiction of small-town life and complex family dynamics. Some note that the relentless bleakness can be overwhelming, but the novel’s raw, unflinching honesty holds commendable literary merit.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Back Roads?

Fans of gripping and emotionally charged dramas like The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd will find themselves enthralled by Tawni O'Dell's Back Roads. This reader appreciates complex characters, raw family dynamics, and the dark undercurrents of small-town life.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes
Life/Time: Coming of Age
Life/Time: The Past
Relationships: Family
Genre
Mystery / Crime Fiction
Modern Classic Fiction
Drama / Tragedy