REVIEWS - Onwards We Go

Love Letter

“Full disclosure – Stephen is my husband. I’ve read this book a number of times because I helped Stephen edit it. It’s always a little scary when your loved one puts out a creative endeavor, especially one from the heart, and then counts on you to be honest with your criticism. I was so relieved to be able to tell him how much I loved this book. I love it because Stephen is such a unique individual, and his voice comes through so clearly in his writing. I love it because every time I read it I laughed out loud and cried buckets. I love it because it grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go (of course, it is also my story and who doesn’t love reading about themselves). I love it because it’s been a long time since we wrote love letters to each other, but this might just be the best one. I love it because I’ve been by his side and am so proud of him for the work he has done, and for his courage to tell everyone about it in the hopes that he might help someone else. I love it because I miss my son, and anything that puts more of Jasper out into the world is top of my list. I love it because I think writing it might have saved Stephen’s life. Read it – you won’t be disappointed.”

– Barbra Mohan

The Razor-edge of Life

“I was an honored advance reader of Stephen’s book and was deeply impressed not only with the truly incredible adventures he has been on, the storybook romance with Barb that took place on a tall ship in exotic locations around the globe, and the fairy tale life they created with Jasper – living on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest, rowing Jasper to school and re-building a one-of-a-kind Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Carlotta – but also with his talent as a writer and his willingness to take us deeply through his and Barb’s devastating journey as they cared for Jasper after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Stephen in his profile photo on the back cover looks tattooed and tough, but if you look a little closer at that tattoo – a space-ship leaking books and legos – you see a whimsical light-hearted testament to playing and reading, despite all. Now, here, flying out of Jasper’s spaceship is Stephen’s book about their life.

As we travel onwards through the book, we see, yes this man is tough, but he is also gentle. Yes, this man is strong, but he is also fragile. Stephen brings us to the razor-edge of life where profound love meets deep grief without apology. We feel something else too. With Stephen, acting as a conduit, we feel the fantastic joie de vivre that Jasper had for life, and we are reminded that despite unbearable suffering, this precious life is worth milking for all it has to offer. Thank you Stephen. Thank you Jasper. Onwards we all go.”

– Lesley McCandless, Author

To Have a Child

“Years ago President Kennedy said, “To have a child is to give fate a hostage.” In my middle class world fate has generally treated those hostages pretty well. But what happens when fate treats a hostage very very badly? In ‘Onwards We Go’ Stephen Mohan recounts his life growing up as a normal adventurous kid. Things only got better in adulthood, adventures grew in scope, love blossomed. So although this book is sold as an autobiography it is really an extraordinary love story. The love of a father for his son. This is a tough, passionate, honest, well written book. It will tear your heart apart and have you praying for a happy ending. Does the Phoenix arise from the ashes? Let’s say the Phoenix emerges from the ashes. Burnt, bedraggled, trailing broken wings and generally beat up, but he emerges. This is a must read for all but the faint of heart.”

– Peter Heiberg, Author

“It’s a stunning piece of work, heartbreakingly eloquent and at times it felt like you had spoken the exact feelings I had too after my dad passed. It’s weirdly comforting to meet other people who have gone through the horrific grief process of loosing someone too soon. It’s never a club you wish anyone to be a part of but it helps to feel like you aren’t alone and there are some people who feel that pain too. So again, thank you for reaching out, you have no idea how much it means.”

– Chloe Treacher

“I just finished reading this last night… I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. It grabbed my heart and I was swept along with your story.”

– Patricia Abbott Shepherd

“As a volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, I witnessed the closeness between you, Barb and Jasper… Ronald McDonald House could gift your book to every family whose child is faced with cancer because it is filled with truth, inspiration, hope, raw emotion and, most important, love.”

– Stana Campbell

“…the heaviness that you communicate and the struggle to keep going is something I feel incredibly close to, but I’ve never seen it articulated in print with such rawness. The honesty, and the bravery to put yourself out there… I guess you would say that you’ve already been through the hardest thing imaginable, so you’re able to write this. You’re able to write about the grief and everything that accompanies that in such a ‘process’ based way. It can’t be buttoned up neatly; it’s not linear; the sleep and exercise and moods are not necessarily predicable – all of those pieces that go along with grief are so well expressed.”

– Laura Sjolie

“I’ve been immersed every free moment… It’s heart-wrenchingly well-written. I haven’t seen Stephen or Barb since the Pacific Swift days – reading Onwards We Go, I feel like I’ve been invited to an intimate family dinner. I cannot humanly comprehend what you two have been through. Thank you for sharing your story with the world, and offering me a vicarious glimpse of an incredible human being, Jasper.”

– Steve Wilson

“A wonderful book. Funny, touching and full of heart. Best read I’ve had this year.”

– Wendy Chrinko

Thank you Stephen and Barb for giving us all the gift of knowing Jasper, even if it was only for a little while. I can think of no better way to keep his memory alive than in the pages of this book. Thank you for this and thank you for him.

– Taylor Cooke

The Mohan’s were the first family we met at BC Children’s Hospital when Marko was undergoing his first round of chemo. We could not have met a more inspiring family on our first day of fighting cancer. I think they truly opened the doors for us: on how to prepare yourself for what lay ahead, and how as a family you will get through this. They like to laugh a lot – something that made us feel at home.
This fine man takes you into just a glimpse of what they went through. He himself, his wife, and twice his son battled cancer to the end. They are the definition of courage and strength in my mind. They were and will continue to be a part of our journey forever.