Back Roads

Back Roads is a 1999 novel by Tawni O’Dell. It follows the story of Harley Altmyer, a 19-year-old boy who takes custody of his three sisters after his mother murders his abusive father. As Harley struggles with day-to-day life, truths about the past are revealed, forcing him to face a reality he worked hard to suppress. Back Roads was an Oprah’s Book Club selection in March 2000. The novel was also adapted into a 2018 film of the same name starring Alex Pettyfer as Harley.

This guide utilizes the 2000 Signet Book eBook.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain discussions of sexual and physical abuse, and incest.

Plot Summary

Harley Altmyer is interrogated by police about the murder of an unnamed individual, later revealed to be Callie Mercer. He has trouble focusing on or answering their questions, and one of police officers hits him in frustration. He decides to tell them the truth.

The novel goes back in time to a few months earlier. Harley, 19, meets with his therapist, Betty, and talks about the daily struggles of raising his three younger sisters, Amber, Misty, and Jody. Harley’s mother, Bonnie, is in prison for murdering his father. As he drives home, Harley reflects on his father’s abuse toward him and Amber and recalls how close his father was to Misty because she was the only one of the children who was good at hunting. At home, Harley finds Amber preparing to go out. Harley and Amber argue. Harley is unhappy with Amber’s sexual activity and worries she’ll become pregnant. He also does not want her to go out, since Harley has to work and someone needs to watch the younger girls. Harley has two jobs, one as a bagger at a local grocery store and one as a deliveryman for Barclay’s Appliance store. That night, Harley is at the grocery store when he runs into the family’s neighbor, Callie Mercer, a married mother.

After work, Harley returns home to find Amber gone. He goes to bed, reflecting on how they have yet to clean out their parents’ bedroom, even after their father’s sister came and took away all their father’s things. Their father’s family has disowned them, leaving them on their own with the exception of occasional visits from their father’s brother, Uncle Mike. As Harley attempts to sleep, he hears Amber stumble into the house. He goes upstairs and catches her having sex on the couch. Harley retrieves a gun his uncle gave him and scares the boy away with it. He then drags the couch outside and sets it on fire.

Over the weekend, Harley takes Jody to see Bonnie in prison. Harley hasn’t seen Bonnie since the trial, but Jody insists he go with her into the visitation room. Harley is surprised that Bonnie is happy to see him, and he wonders if she wants to be in prison. He has a panic attack and has to be removed from the visitation room. The guards think Bonnie hurt him, so she is barred from having visitors for six months.

Amber arranges a date for Harley with one of her friends. Harley is hyper-focused on the fact that he is still a virgin. He has also developed a crush on Callie, looking forward to seeing her each time she shops at the grocery store late at night. During the date, Harley thinks about Callie and how he wishes the girl was more like her. When the date moves to an intimate setting and the girl kisses Harley, he panics and pushes her roughly from him. The girl tells everyone at school that Harley hit her, causing Amber to become angry with him.

Harley visits Callie at her home when he goes to pick up Jody from a playdate. They have a conversation about art, and Callie is surprised by how knowledgeable Harley is about it. A few days later, Callie drops an art book off at the Altmyer home. Harley studies the book to have something to talk about with Callie.

Amber gets into bed with Harley, causing him to have a sexual dream that disturbs him. He chases her away and goes to the Mercers’ house. Callie finds him, and they have sex near a small creek. Over the next few weeks, Harley and Callie meet several more times for sexual encounters. Harley and Callie set up a regular meeting time at the office of an abandoned mining company.

Harley’s dog digs up a bloody shirt from the woods that belongs to Misty. Harley questions Amber about it. Harley begins to reflect on Misty’s relationship with their father and wonders if he sexually abused her. Amber discovers an envelope of money in Misty’s things and learns that Misty stole the money from Bonnie before their father died. Bonnie was saving the money to run away with Misty. This adds to Harley’s feeling that Misty was being sexually abused by their father. Harley meets with Bonnie, who confesses that Misty shot and killed their father. However, she claims Misty was aiming at her, not their father.

Amber moves out of the house, accusing Harley of hurting her but refusing to tell him what he did. She returns a week later but remains angry with Harley. Jody tells Harley that Misty told Amber something about him, but she doesn’t know what it is. A short time later, Amber comes to see Harley at his job at the supermarket and tells him she’s leaving permanently. He begs her to stay, and Amber relents. That night, Amber comes to Harley’s bed and attempts to have sex with him. Harley wakes up and banishes her from his room. The next morning, Harley speaks to Misty and discovers that Misty has taught Jody that incest is normal.

Harley is at work when he has a sudden memory of sexual encounters between himself and Amber when they were little. Harley turns to Betty for help. Betty tells Harley that what happened between Harley and Amber was their attempt at comforting one another during the trauma of their father’s abuse. Betty expresses concern for Amber before giving Harley sleeping pills to help him rest. Harley wakes up late in the evening and realizes he has a meeting with Callie that night. He sneaks out of Betty’s office.

Harley arrives at the mining company office to find Callie dead. She’s been shot. Amber comes to Harley and confesses. Harley comforts Amber, then takes her home. Harley turns himself in to the police and confesses. However, the dog finds Amber’s blood-soaked clothing and the police discover it when they go to speak to the Altmyer girls. Amber is charged with Callie’s murder, and Harley is placed in a psychiatric hospital.