All Roads Lead to Third

Kindhearted Thelma, along with her adult son Luke and three elementary school-age sons-Roger, Ray, and Ricky-are soon to be homeless. They are given a chance to leave Detroit's skid row and start over in Kentucky, where Thelma has family. Highlighting their last few days on Third Street, where the boys frequently shine shoes to earn money, the story focuses on the myriad of unusual characters they are exposed to regularly. They embark on the adventure of their move, full of hope for a fresh start and a determination to improve their lives. Encountering both expected and unexpected obstacles-as well as exploring the humanity of flawed individuals-the story follows them as they adjust from life in the inner city to one in the hills of Appalachia. When the adults disappear and the three younger boys find themselves alone in this strange environment, they are forced to rely upon their street savviness and one another for their survival. A contrast between urban and rural life in mid-twentieth-century America, All Roads Lead to Third is an exciting yet harrowing story of a struggling family forced to use their wits, fists, and love for one another to survive a cold and harsh world. Inspired by a true story, some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent...and the guilty.