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ktkrz's review against another edition
4.0
it was difficult to read at times bc of the content but overall a nice story
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Stephanie
Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Platinum
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Deceptively Simple
Bonus Factors: Amazing Friends, Tasty Business, Siblings
Factor: Lost Optimism
Anti-Bonus Factor: War
Relationship Status: I’ll Stand By You
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Platinum
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Deceptively Simple
Bonus Factors: Amazing Friends, Tasty Business, Siblings
Factor: Lost Optimism
Anti-Bonus Factor: War
Relationship Status: I’ll Stand By You
Read the full book report here.
audreyreadz's review against another edition
4.0
I attempted to start this about a year ago and never got through it, so I rented the audiobook to listen to while painting.
First things first.
What I liked:
The characters were great, I was really rooting for them all. I really liked Xochitl, I thought Manny was very well written, but I related the most to Teodoro, I liked the way the author described academics and it made me, much like Teodoro, want to try my hardest at school.
I thought the romance was cute and I loved that it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
I really appreciate how the author handled PTSD.
And damn did it make me want green chiles.
What I disliked:
I thought the story was rushed in some places.
I think the title is a little misleading since the “Road Trip” was only a small part of the story.
Over all a good story. I rate it 3.5/5
First things first.
What I liked:
The characters were great, I was really rooting for them all. I really liked Xochitl, I thought Manny was very well written, but I related the most to Teodoro, I liked the way the author described academics and it made me, much like Teodoro, want to try my hardest at school.
I thought the romance was cute and I loved that it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
I really appreciate how the author handled PTSD.
And damn did it make me want green chiles.
What I disliked:
I thought the story was rushed in some places.
I think the title is a little misleading since the “Road Trip” was only a small part of the story.
Over all a good story. I rate it 3.5/5
rach's review against another edition
5.0
A heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful, story about the effects of war on the people who go to fight it, both the ones who come home and those who don’t, and the families they leave behind and come back to. I cried so many times while listening to this book. I was angry and sad for pretty much everyone.
I was mad for Teodoro, when Xochitl kept lying to him and dragging him further and further onto this road trip. In the end, I understand why she did it, but at the time, it felt like if she had just *asked* T, he might have chosen to go with them. But maybe that’s part of the growth he goes through during the book. He always loved his family, and wanted his brother back, but when he finally opened up about everything he had been feeling and going through is when he started making deeper, more meaningful connections.
I was a little annoyed with Wendy when she initially breaks things off with T. Clearly they have a strong connection, and she cares about him a lot, and surely she understands everything he’s been going through, and why he lied and hid things when he did. But Wendy doesn’t live in T’s head like we do as readers, and she can’t know those things until he tells her. Ultimately, I think pulling back romantically and becoming more open and honest helped them build a stronger connection.
Everything Manny is dealing with is so overwhelming. His PTSD and TBIs have had such an overwhelming affect on him, it’s impossible to overstate how much war changed him. And as hard as it is as readers to hear about it, I can’t even imagine the heartache and trauma caused by watching someone you love go through that, to try to take his own life, to live with the pressure of being the only thing standing between life and death for him. I don’t blame T for needing space from him to focus on school, and eventually for going to counseling to help deal with the trauma. You can feel the love this family has for one another with every word and every breath of this book.
Xochitl is the rock at the center of this family. This woman saw her broken older brother, and knew she couldn’t help him on her own, so she found a way. She might have been underhanded in how she got T to go with them, but she was doing it for a good cause, to save their brother. She made the plans, and was willing to sacrifice her future to do her best by Manny. I was so happy when T was able to step in and figure out a solution that kept Manny with someone to watch him but also allowed Xoch to thrive, with her music that touched so many. I tried to be mad at T snooping in her email and songs, but after what she pulled to get him down to New Mexico, it felt like an appropriate response - T and Manny meddling to make sure Xoch didn’t miss out on her big future.
This book feels especially important as more and more soldiers return from war and we realize how significant the effects of PTSD and TBIs are. The PTSD and family resources at the end are especially valuable. It surprises me how few reviews this has - hopefully as time goes on, knowledge of it will grow. I wish I had written done some of the quotes I especially liked. Normally I’ll look on goodreads after I’m done reading and find them, but only one quote has been pulled so far.
I was mad for Teodoro, when Xochitl kept lying to him and dragging him further and further onto this road trip. In the end, I understand why she did it, but at the time, it felt like if she had just *asked* T, he might have chosen to go with them. But maybe that’s part of the growth he goes through during the book. He always loved his family, and wanted his brother back, but when he finally opened up about everything he had been feeling and going through is when he started making deeper, more meaningful connections.
I was a little annoyed with Wendy when she initially breaks things off with T. Clearly they have a strong connection, and she cares about him a lot, and surely she understands everything he’s been going through, and why he lied and hid things when he did. But Wendy doesn’t live in T’s head like we do as readers, and she can’t know those things until he tells her. Ultimately, I think pulling back romantically and becoming more open and honest helped them build a stronger connection.
Everything Manny is dealing with is so overwhelming. His PTSD and TBIs have had such an overwhelming affect on him, it’s impossible to overstate how much war changed him. And as hard as it is as readers to hear about it, I can’t even imagine the heartache and trauma caused by watching someone you love go through that, to try to take his own life, to live with the pressure of being the only thing standing between life and death for him. I don’t blame T for needing space from him to focus on school, and eventually for going to counseling to help deal with the trauma. You can feel the love this family has for one another with every word and every breath of this book.
Xochitl is the rock at the center of this family. This woman saw her broken older brother, and knew she couldn’t help him on her own, so she found a way. She might have been underhanded in how she got T to go with them, but she was doing it for a good cause, to save their brother. She made the plans, and was willing to sacrifice her future to do her best by Manny. I was so happy when T was able to step in and figure out a solution that kept Manny with someone to watch him but also allowed Xoch to thrive, with her music that touched so many. I tried to be mad at T snooping in her email and songs, but after what she pulled to get him down to New Mexico, it felt like an appropriate response - T and Manny meddling to make sure Xoch didn’t miss out on her big future.
This book feels especially important as more and more soldiers return from war and we realize how significant the effects of PTSD and TBIs are. The PTSD and family resources at the end are especially valuable. It surprises me how few reviews this has - hopefully as time goes on, knowledge of it will grow. I wish I had written done some of the quotes I especially liked. Normally I’ll look on goodreads after I’m done reading and find them, but only one quote has been pulled so far.
cvhhvc123's review against another edition
3.0
YA contemporary just isn't resonating with me like it used to.
livvenn's review against another edition
2.0
This book was confusing and kinda boring. I picked this book up as a blind sort of thing were I didn’t know what it was about and it was a let down for sure. Boring plot and characters weren’t developed enough.
mckenzie22's review against another edition
5.0
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
All the stars for this beautiful, phenomenal, amazing, touching, heartbreaking, inspiring story. I have always had a soft spot for road trips, and this was definitely one of my favorite books. I cried, I felt my heart ache, and I never wanted this incredible story to end. There was so much that I loved- the road trip element, how Teodoro and Wendy loved each other so much, how Teodoro wanted to turn his life around, how feisty Xochitl was and how much she cared about her family, the effort that she went to to make sure Manny turned his life around and to make sure they came together as a family. And then they returned the favor by sending her on the tour. Xochitl and Teodoro sacrificed so much for their families. I've read books before where people have passed away, and where there is struggling and grief in families, but this book felt so different and I felt so impacted by it. I felt like I was standing right there on Tío Ed's chile farm with the Avilas, and that I was living their story. This book really hit home for me. It was a beautiful story of perseverance and the effect of PTSD on veterans, as well as love, family, and working for your future. I can't recommend this book enough. It was fantastic.
All the stars for this beautiful, phenomenal, amazing, touching, heartbreaking, inspiring story. I have always had a soft spot for road trips, and this was definitely one of my favorite books. I cried, I felt my heart ache, and I never wanted this incredible story to end. There was so much that I loved- the road trip element, how Teodoro and Wendy loved each other so much, how Teodoro wanted to turn his life around, how feisty Xochitl was and how much she cared about her family, the effort that she went to to make sure Manny turned his life around and to make sure they came together as a family. And then they returned the favor by sending her on the tour. Xochitl and Teodoro sacrificed so much for their families. I've read books before where people have passed away, and where there is struggling and grief in families, but this book felt so different and I felt so impacted by it. I felt like I was standing right there on Tío Ed's chile farm with the Avilas, and that I was living their story. This book really hit home for me. It was a beautiful story of perseverance and the effect of PTSD on veterans, as well as love, family, and working for your future. I can't recommend this book enough. It was fantastic.
kgj4k4's review against another edition
4.0
Heavy topics such as PTSD, Suicide, and just general teenager stress could make this book heavy, but it's broken up nicely by the relationships the main character experiences. Sprinkled with just the right amount of humor, cute interactions, seriousness, and depth. I really enjoyed watching T interact with his crush, figuring out his place in helping his older brother. I found the way T's thoughts about his place were so on point. Teenagers in general are the center of their own universe (not that I'm saying that's bad...that's just how it is, right?), and T definitely experiences those types of thoughts, and then is quite dramatically brought to the realization that it isn't all about him. It's a great read.
sandy_reads_books's review against another edition
I almost cried multiple times reading this book, something that I hardly ever do while reading. The relationships between the siblings is painful but beautiful to watch while it makes me think of my own siblings. There is so much weight put on the main characters and it is insane to see what they all go through and how they push to reach for the things they need in life. It is heartbreaking really as the author speaks to the capacity of feeling of youth as well as their immense strength. This books feels real to read and I loved it so much. As a side note, as someone who is also familiar with the Seattle area and New Mexico, it was a treat to see all these places I am familiar with mentioned.
profejmarie's review against another edition
5.0
I felt all the emotions with this book. Laughter, tears (more than once, for sure), frustration, anger, hope. Teodoro's narrative is beautiful and heartfelt. He made hard choices, REAL choices, and I was so proud of him for doing what he had to do at times, especially when I got so angry with his parents and his sister for putting undue responsibility and guilt on him (which I also tried to reconcile with cultural norms surrounding family responsibility). I loved his best friend, Caleb (as well as Caleb's parents), forgave his sister, and Manny - the PTSD arc and the power of family, sacrifice, and critical support was so well done.