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sparklelys's review
5.0
Scoob and his grandma have always been close. So when G’Ma suggests they hit the road, he leaves his cell phone behind (sorry, dad!), hops aboard her new RV, and joins her Green Book based, Civil Rights historical spots journey that she had first embarked on, but never finished, on her honeymoon trip with G’Pa. A compelling middle grade contemporary novel about multiracial marriages and families, intergenerational relationships and family dynamics, with a lens into the past as well.
loiskitt's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bailey_story's review
3.0
3.5 | Loved the grandson/grandma adventure story and the focus on history along the way! Didn’t love the moral conundrum down the stretch though and was confused why that was included.
adrzeck's review
4.0
Pretty serious for being a young teen/older tween read. Lots of tough topics. Aging, theft, identity, racism. Great book though. Makes me want to read the rest of Nic Stone's work.
mariahistryingtoread's review
4.0
Clean Getaway is proof that giving up on an author after one book is foolish. I hated Fast Pitch and couldn't understand why everyone raved about Nic Stone after reading it. But, Clean Getaway was something special. Clean Getaway was worth all the hype.
On an ill-fated journey to right a past wrong of his Grandmother's, Scoob suddenly is faced with the sordid history of this country. There still is racism (Scoob is aware of this already) but the focus in this book is on the sheer magnitude to the mistreatment: how deeply unfair and irrational racism could be and the side effects you don't often think about. Like say, a family casually torn apart by antiquated rules designed to enforce allegiance to an ignorant, irrational supremacist movement (i.e. Scoob's family if you couldn't guess) The impact of what was done fifty or so years ago has implications in the present day that neither the enforcers or victims could not have predicted. It's quite fascinating to think about until you remember that real people are still paying the bill for it amongst us now.
That out of the way, I came to very deeply dislike Scoob’s grandmother. I give her some grace because she was young and I she did generally stand by her man, but any person who could is not a good person and is very sketchy in terms of motherhood. . The mental anguish that Scoob’s father went through regarding his father is literally a direct cause of his mother lying to him his whole life. I can't fathom doing that to your own son to preserve your self image.
To me it was emblematic of how often white women will enter into relationships with Black men without considering the practical reality of it and then the harm that they unintentionally cause in doing so because they are naturally afforded room to be naive. I do have respect for G’ma ror being legitimately invested in her husband even when things got tough. They were committing a crime just for existing in a normal relationship. Their lives were at risk everyday and she didn't run. That's not a small thing.
My issue is that she cut off a significant cultural tie to preserve her white feelings - and isn't that always what it comes back to? White feelings over what’s right. Scoob can forgive, or course, but I felt unbelievably sad for his father who didn't even get the full story.
It's a good book. I had fun. Do not read Fast Pitch though. It's a major comedown.
On an ill-fated journey to right a past wrong of his Grandmother's, Scoob suddenly is faced with the sordid history of this country. There still is racism (Scoob is aware of this already) but the focus in this book is on the sheer magnitude to the mistreatment: how deeply unfair and irrational racism could be and the side effects you don't often think about. Like say, a family casually torn apart by antiquated rules designed to enforce allegiance to an ignorant, irrational supremacist movement (i.e. Scoob's family if you couldn't guess) The impact of what was done fifty or so years ago has implications in the present day that neither the enforcers or victims could not have predicted. It's quite fascinating to think about until you remember that real people are still paying the bill for it amongst us now.
That out of the way, I came to very deeply dislike Scoob’s grandmother. I give her some grace because she was young and I she did generally stand by her man, but any person who could
Spoiler
let her son despise his father who was in jail partially due to her actions all to make sure he always loved herSpoiler
Plus she dies without facing any fallout for it.To me it was emblematic of how often white women will enter into relationships with Black men without considering the practical reality of it and then the harm that they unintentionally cause in doing so because they are naturally afforded room to be naive. I do have respect for G’ma ror being legitimately invested in her husband even when things got tough. They were committing a crime just for existing in a normal relationship. Their lives were at risk everyday and she didn't run. That's not a small thing.
My issue is that she cut off a significant cultural tie to preserve her white feelings - and isn't that always what it comes back to? White feelings over what’s right. Scoob can forgive, or course, but I felt unbelievably sad for his father who didn't even get the full story.
Spoiler
Scoob never shares what G’ma told him and there's no hint he will so I guess that's one trauma his dad just has to live with. Plus it's wild that another person he trusts is about to keep a lifelong secret from him ‘for his own good’ or whatever.It's a good book. I had fun. Do not read Fast Pitch though. It's a major comedown.
jwinchell's review
4.0
Grades 4-8. Nic Stone keeps up her YA and MG momentum (Dear Martin, Odd One Out, Jackpot) with a roadtrip romp for William “Scoob” Lamar and his G’ma. The timing couldn’t be better: G’ma is anxious to hit the road, and Scoob wants to avoid the trouble he’s in from school. But there’s something odd about G’ma’s purpose as they cross Georgia to Texas, stopping at spots from the Traveler’s Green Book and camping in parks. Why did she sell her house and buy this Winnebago? Why does she keep changing the license plate? What does she mean that this time she’ll go all the way? Scoob learns more about the hidden histories of his imprisoned deceased G’pop and his missing mom while trying to keep up the pace with kooky, energetic, emotional G’ma. Cryptic pit stops and increasing unease carry the mysterious momentum as Scoob and G’ma come to terms with the past and present. Layered with this tween’s growing awareness of structural racism and the murkiness of morality, and interspersed with black & white illustrations, this intergenerational journey will surely engage fans of Stone, Jason Reynolds, and Jewell Parker Rhodes. -Jamie Winchell, Percy Julian Middle School, Oak Park, IL.
(written in the style of a School Library Journal review--I'm practicing!)
(written in the style of a School Library Journal review--I'm practicing!)
brb_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my first recommendation from StoryGraph and I have to say, this was a great one to start with. Last year I didn’t read much middle grade or YA, so excited to dive back in and really enjoyed this on audio.
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
I enjoyed this fun road trip novel that gets more poignant as it goes. It's funny, interesting, exciting, and compelling. G'ma and Scoob are both likable characters, whose experiences on the road (past and present) are eye-opening and thought-provoking. The story has an interesting, discussion-worthy twist that harkens back to the Bryan Stevenson quote at the beginning of the book: "Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done." All these elements combined to create an engrossing, entertaining story that definitely kept me turning pages.
maycie_reads's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5