Road Trip by Gary Paulsen

 

Ben has just been informed he's going on a road trip with his father -- a road trip he's not sure he wants to go on.  

He wants to rescue the dog there travelling to save.  But he doesn't want to spend any time with his dad.  

So invites along his thuggish friend Theo.  

Then they're joined by a cranky mechanic who lends them his school bus for the trip.  

Next they're joined by a waitress who reads aura.  

This is going to be one memorable road trip.

This is a fun and interesting book to read (or listen to on audio).  The characters draw you into the story -- especially Atticus, their current dog, who narrates his observations at the end of each chapter.  I would definitely recommend this book to all readers.

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

Emma has always felt like something is missing -- that she doesn't fit into her family.  Then she finds out she had a twin brother who died right after birth.

Peter has always wanted to travel the world -- see new places.  He's never gotten the chance as his father is determined to keep them both in their small town forever.

Now they're on a road trip together.  Emma wants to find the brother she never knew and convinces Peter to go with her to find his grave.

I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the relationships between the various characters and how they change throughout the story.  I would recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen or Morgan Matson.

Road Trip!

This week, I'm sharing books for teens about road trips.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Cameron Smith, a disaffected sixteen year-old who, after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital in an attempt to find a cure.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
A young British lord embarks on an unforgettable grand tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush in this eighteenth-century romantic adventure for the modern age.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith
Sixteen-year-old Emma Healy has never felt that she fit in with the rest of her family, so when she discovers that she had a twin brother who died shortly after they were born, she takes off on an impulsive road trip to try to discover who she really is.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
After the death of her father, Amy, a high school student and Roger, a college freshman, set out on a carefully planned road trip from California to Connecticut, but wind up taking many detours, forcing Amy to face her worst fears and come to terms with her grief and guilt.


More Books --
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi
Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith
First Love by James Patterson
Four Three Two One by Courtney C. Stevens
The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Nowhere Near You by Leah Thomas
Paper Hearts by Ali Novak
The Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown
Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Road Tripped by Pete Hautman
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
When Elephants Fly by Nancy Richardson Fischer
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 2, 2019.

Happy Father's Day (A Little Late)

Yesterday, we celebrated Father's Day.  Here are a few of my favorite chapter books featuring dads ....

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
While picking up milk for his children's cereal, a father is abducted by aliens and finds himself on a wild adventure through time and space.

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
Relates the adventures of a family with two fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as they make their way through a school year and deal with a grumpy new neighbor.

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleray
The family routine is upset during Ramona's year in second grade when her father unexpectedly loses his job.

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen
A father and son embark on a road trip to a distant animal shelter to save a homeless border collie puppy.


More Books --
100 Days and 99 Nights by Alan Madison
Blind Mountain by Jane Resh Thomas
Diary of a Monster's Son by Ellen Conford
Knightley & Son by Rohan Gavin
Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis
Like Jake and Me by Mavis Jukes
The Most Important Thing: Stories About Sons, Fathers, and Grandfathers by Avi
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall
Space Race by Evelyn Waugh
Squirm by Carl Hiaasen
Tracking Daddy Down by Marybeth Kelsey
Weekends With Max and His Dad by  Linda Urban
Younguncle Comes to Town by Vandana Singh


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 12, 2019.

Tales with Tails

This week, I'm sharing chapter books featuring dogs . . .

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen

A father and son embark on a road trip to a distant animal shelter to save a homeless border collie puppy.

Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Butler

Corey recounts the adventures and misadventures of his Dalmatian, Mister Mosely.

Dog Trouble! by Galia Oz

Julie has only had her dog for two weeks, and the pup is already causing trouble. For starters, she is missing! And Julie suspects the school bully Danny must be behind it. It will take some detective work and the help of Julie's friends to bring her new pet home. But the missing puppy is not the end of Julie's dog trouble. This is only the beginning of the escapades of Julie and Shakshuka.

One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson

When lonely Hal learns that his wealthy but neglectful parents only rented Fleck, the dog he always wanted, he and new friend Pippa take Fleck and four other dogs from the rental agency on a trek from London to Scotland, where Hal's grandparents live.

More Dog Stories --

A Dog's Way Home by Bobbie Pyron

Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien

Lulu Walks the Dog by Judith Viorst

The Misadventures of the Magician's Dog by Frances Sackett

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

A Simple Case of Angels by Caroline Adderson

Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Stick Dog by Tom Wilson
The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming
The Tale of Rescue by Michael Rosen

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 25, 2018.

Road Trip! Stories of the Journey

I love a good road trip.  Whether I have a destination in mind or if I'm just making it up as I go, a road trip is always fun.  Here are some great teen books featuring road trips . . .

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson
Seventeen-year-old Destiny keeps a painful childhood secret all to herself until she and three classmates from her exclusive boarding school take off on an unauthorized road trip in search of "one fair day."

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
After the death of her father, Amy, a high school student and Roger, a college freshman, set out on a carefully planned road trip from California to Connecticut, but wind up taking many detours, forcing Amy to face her worst fears and come to terms with her grief and guilt.

Going Bovine by Libby Bray
Cameron Smith, a disaffected sixteen year-old who, after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital in an attempt to find a cure.

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray
After their best friend Ross dies, English teenagers Blake, Kenny, and Sim plan a proper memorial by taking his ashes to Ross, Scotland, an adventure-filled journey that tests their loyalty to each other and forces them to question what friendship means.

You Are Here: A Novel by Jennifer E. Smith
Sixteen-year-old Emma Healy has never felt that she fit in with the rest of her family, so when she discovers that she had a twin brother who died shortly after they were born, she takes off on an impulsive road trip to try to discover who she really is.


More Books Featuring Road Trips --
100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Being Henry David by Cal Armistead
Defining Dulcie by Paul Acampora
Kissing in America by Margo Rabb
Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron
Num8ers by Rachel Ward
Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown
The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg
Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez
The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti
There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Why We Took the Car by Wolfgang Herrndorf
Witch World by Christopher Pike


Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through August 28, 2015.