Book Review: Walk to Beautiful by Jimmy Wayne

Jimmy Wayne’s Walk to Beautiful takes you on a journey from Jimmy’s troubled childhood in and out of foster care to his successful country music career and his efforts to give back and help raise awareness of what foster kids go through.

Jimmy had a hard life. At a young age he learned to fend for himself, after learning that his mother wouldn’t. He saw his sister married off to an abusive older man when she was only fourteen. He was homeless and often in foster care. Eventually, Jimmy was taken in by a kind older couple who inspired him and led to him changing his viewpoint on life. From there, Jimmy graduated high school and college and started his music career. After enjoying some success, Jimmy realizes he wants to give back. He then planned to walk half way across America in order to raise awareness about the lives of foster children. In fact, he is part of the reason that many states have stopped “aging out” foster kids at age 18 and now allow them to transition out at age 21.

I was thoroughly inspired and impacted by Jimmy’s story. He is a good story teller and knows how to keep an audience’s attention. I would definitely recommend this book, even if you don’t typically read memoirs or non-fiction. The book has a great story element to it that will keep you interested and engaged. I always hate saying that books about painful real life events are “good reads” but for lack of a better phrase that is what I will use.

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.