Degotoga by Hugh Willard

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

Hugh J. Willard tells an amazing story of self-discovery in his novel, Degotoga. This is not the typical book I find myself reading. At the same time, it shares some common themes, in particular, the theme of survival and discovering what a person is capable of when not given any other option. 

Degotoga is the story of a boy becoming a man and finding out who he truly is while accepting where he comes from culturally. Our main protagonist is sent on a vision quest, per his Cherokee heritage, to help reconnect his family and set right all that has been lost over time. Willard's ability to develop his characters in a book under 300 pages is impressive.  He not only creates relatable and realistic characters, but also creates a unique world during our protagonist's vision quest. 

Few books have made me want to learn more about a culture than Willard's, Degotoga. The brief insight to the Cherokee culture and the importance of family values is one I hope to learn and read more about. 

Ultimately, the lessons learned by all of the book's characters can go a long way with the book's readers as well. Self-discovery and acceptance is something everyone struggles with at some point in his or her life. This story shows that it is ok to take a step back and find your true self.