He ran from pain. He found the rails. But the journey to freedom cuts deeper than the tracks ever could.

After one violent night shatters the last remnants of his home life, seventeen-year-old Jake Walker flees his abusive father and the ruins of a haunted past. With nothing but a backpack, a sketchbook, and a pocketful of cash, he hops a freight train out of New Jersey and into the unknown.

What begins as an escape turns into a cross-country odyssey through underground diners, desert raves, makeshift camps, and drug-fueled nightmares. Alongside wanderers like Tom, the seasoned traveler, and Lily, the free-spirited artist, Jake tastes fleeting joy-and devastating loss.

As the rails carry him from one broken place to another, Jake must confront the grief he buried, the addictions threatening to consume him, and the question he can no longer avoid: Is he running toward freedom-or away from himself?

Raging Rails is a raw and lyrical coming-of-age novel that explores trauma, addiction, and the thin line between escape and self-destruction. Perfect for fans of gritty, soul-searching journeys and emotionally charged literary fiction.