Lauren Ducommun

Sarah Walton’s latest book, The Long Road Home, is a picture book retelling of the parable of the prodigal son. It is beautifully bound with a blue cloth cover, gold foil, linen finish endpapers, along with a lovely paper dust jacket. Christina Yang’s illustrations are light, airy, and imaginative, and I love the creative nod to a Chinese or Arabian folk tale.

In The Long Road Home, Wander yearns for independence and to find his own happiness. Akin to the prodigal son, he takes his portion of the inheritance from his father and goes off to find true happiness. He journeys through several cities: Perfection, Prosperity, Popularity, and Desperation. [I believe that these cities are the “elements of John Bunyan’s The PIlgrim’s Progress” that is referred to. I did not notice anything else reminiscent of Bunyan’s allegorical tale.]

He is unable to find happiness in the city of Perfection, and spending money on trinkets in the city of Prosperity leaves him empty inside. Seeking to find value in performance, he leaves the city of Popularity feeling lost and unlovable. Finally, in the city of Desperation, he finds himself penniless and hungry.

Repeated throughout this fable are the words from Wander’s father: Wherever you go, my son, I want you to remember that I love you with a never-ending love. Wander returns home, where he begs his father for forgiveness and repents of his foolish actions. The father welcomes him home, reminding him, “You are valuable in my eyes not because you’re good enough, talented enough, successful enough, or likable enough, but because you are my son.”

The Long Road Home is a pleasant retelling of the beloved parable of the prodigal son. It is simple and drives home the phrase “I love you with a never-ending love”, reminding us of the great love the Father has for his children.

Saying that, this was a very simplistic tale with a very predictable pattern. However, the story flows well and has a gentle and calming tone. Readers will enjoy hearing this parable told in a new way. I also appreciate Walton’s desire to go against the modern message that we should do whatever feels good or makes us happy and to remind us of “our heavenly Father, with a heart ready to forgive and arms ready to receive.”

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

The Long Road Home
by Sarah Walton
Crossway, 2024
56 pages