School is over. You have the whole summer ahead of you. What are you going to do with all that time? Did someone say road trip?
Whether you are able to set out on a real life adventure, or need to live vicariously through some fictional characters, the books on this list should satisfy your wandering soul. Buckle up, and get ready for a bumpy (but highly entertaining) ride!
Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid (8th & up)
YA F ALSAID
The driving force of this novel (pun intended) is 18-year-old Leila and her road trip from Louisiana to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. During her journey, she will meet four teens who desperately need her intervention. Leila’s effect on these strangers, and her own tragic story, make for an absolutely lovely read full of great characters and moving story threads.
The Haters by Jesse Andrews (10th & up)
YA F ANDREWS
Jazz camp is lame. At least that’s how Wes and his best friend Corey feel. Enough talking about music, and listening to all the pretenders that take themselves way too seriously. What an authentic band needs is not camp, not practice, but real life experience, right? With their new friend Ash, the trio escape camp and embark on an epic road trip that is sure to be the best music tour ever!
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng (6th & up)
YA F CHENG
Alex, a space obsessed 11 year old, takes a solo road trip with his dog (named Carl Sagan), from his home in Colorado to a rocket festival in Albuquerque -- with a possible side trip to Las Vegas that could reveal secrets that will blow apart everything he thinks he knows about his family.
Jess, Chunk, and the Road Trip to Infinity by Kristin Elizabeth Clark (9th & up)
YA F CLARK
A wedding should be a happy occasion, but in Jess’s case, her father’s upcoming nuptials come with tons of drama. Not only is he marrying her mother’s ex-best friend, but Jess has been estranged from her father ever since he refused to acknowledge her true identity as a transgender girl. Determined to crash her father’s wedding and confront him once and for all, Jess and her best friend Christophe (nicknamed Chunk) take a road trip that will result in changes and revelations not just with Jess’s family, but with her relationship with herself and Chunk as well.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (9th & up)
YA F GREEN
Colin is a former child prodigy who recently graduated as valedictorian of his high school and is terrific at word games, trivia, and math. He is not so good at relationships, as demonstrated by recent events -- the 19th time he’s been dumped by a girl named Katherine. In an attempt to get his mind off of his love(less) life, his best friend Hassan convinces him to go on a stereotypical American Road Trip. What a ride it will be!
Road Tripped by Pete Hautman (8th & up)
YA F HAUTMAN
Stiggy’s dad has committed suicide, his mom is in an emotional free fall, and his girlfriend just dumped him. With a desire for escape utmost in his mind, Stiggy takes his dad’s Mustang and hits the road. No destination, no plan, no thought -- just what he needs. During his solo journey, Stiggy will deal with quite a few interesting characters, and find out a bit about his own character along the way.
Mariam Sharma Hits the Road by Sheba Karim (9th & up)
YA F KARIM
Mariam has just completed her freshman year of college, and after the year she’s had, she deserves a break. When a revealing modeling photo of her best friend Ghazala appears on a Times Square billboard and her observant Pakistani family cuts her off, Mariam has the perfect solution for them both: what better way to escape real life than to go on a road trip? With their buddy Umar rounding out the trio, it will be a summer to remember.
The Lost & Found by Katrina Leno (7th & up)
YA F LENO
Frannie and Louis have been friends for years. Their connection, through an online support group for people dealing with trauma, might be a bit unusual, but time and again, their friendship has helped them hold things together. When they both receive surprising news in the mail, they decide to set off on solitary road trips to meet each other in person for the first time. Sorrow, secrets, and a little bit of magic makes this book a moving and recommended read.
Witch World by Christopher Pike (10th & up)
YA F PIKE
Celebrating graduation with a Las Vegas road trip might sound like fun, but since Jessie’s ex boyfriend is part of the travel group, she has some reservations. Relationship drama ends up being the least of her concerns, however, when strange things begin to happen, and Jessie discovers a new world full of danger, surprises, and magic.
