by Paula Fox
First published 2005
A boy grapples with questions that seem simple but reveal deeper uncertainties about where he fits in the world. The title's query about miles to Babylon becomes a thread running through his experiences as he navigates family relationships and tries to understand his place. Fox creates a story where everyday moments carry weight and childhood observations expose adult complexities. The boy's journey unfolds through small incidents that build into larger realizations about identity and connection. His search for answers leads him through encounters that test his understanding of loyalty, truth, and what it means to belong somewhere. The emotional center rests in the gap between a child's need for clarity and a world that offers few straight answers.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, search-for-answers
Period: 20th-century
104 pages · Library Binding · Turtleback Books