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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
as someone with no experience, i think he handled the ptsd really well
and he motivated me for school right as summer's ending so thx :)
and he motivated me for school right as summer's ending so thx :)
We still can’t do half stars? I give it 3.5.
If you haven’t heard, this book has been adapted into a comic on the Webtoon app. I started reading it as a webtoon first, and then just felt like pieces of the story were missing? Or that I didn’t want to wait. Then I found out it was based on a novel and I thought “ohhh, I should DEFINITELY just give that a read.”
As far as comparing it to the webtoon, you don’t miss too much too much reading it as a comic. The writing isn’t that lofty in that there are long descriptions of things that you would have missed out on. There are some subtle things here and there, and with the webtoon—despite there being pictures—I felt like I had to re-read a couple times to get what was going on. The dialogue and other text is pulled directly from the book. The webtoon hasn’t been released in full (as of my writing this) and I may come back and give this review an update once it’s all out so that I can give them a better compare.
There’s so much that can be talked about with this book, I could 100% make a reading guide for it with all the themes that are explored. This story explores topics like: family, war, mental health, love (new and old), shitty decisions making, and brotherhood. Sacrifice is also a big theme in this book, as in, was that sacrifice even worth it? I’m talking about going to war, but I’m also talking about the choices the sister, Xochitl makes. Teodoro, who is an excellent main character, is constantly exploring individuality vs family. Where does he draw the line between him as an individual and his allegiance to his family? Growing up in an ethnic household I also struggled with this back and forth.
Things this book is not about? Er, road trips? I wouldn’t say it’s a road trip book, despite being called that, but there is a road trip in it, and it is does showcase some cool west coast cities. I just think it could have been titled something different. But who knows? Maybe there’s an editor somewhere who made that choice.
The three main characters are constantly making complicated decisions and there are times at each point that I wanted to give up on each of them. There are some moments in the story where you’re like “wait, what just happened? That happened fast, why did we just skim over that?” And then there are other moments where I’m like “woah, that was heavy.”
I guess I’m not technically the “YA audience” anymore but I generally still enjoy YA books just as much, so that’s why I read them. But occasionally there is a book that I’m like “oh, I would have liked this better as a teenager,” and this is one of those books. So that’s really just why it gets 3.5 stars from me. Also, {SPOILER} I wasn’t that happy with the ending. I wanted to see and ending where T went back to Washington State. And if I were writing it, I think I would have tried harder to make that work.
I can see myself going out of my way to recommend it to teens, especially young men of color. Books like this—that discuss the aftermath effects of war to kids who are actively being recruited in the military, that show underperforming students fail and succeed and achieve on their own terms, that give a good representation of Hispanic families—need to exist, and I’m glad it does.
I also want to say I read in one other review someone being annoyed that they had to Google how to pronounced Xochitl. Um, too bad? As someone with a hard to pronounce name, it is SO nice to see a name like that as a main character. The author could have definitely just been like, eh, Maria is fine. No, they purposely made a different choice, and that’s awesome.
Now, somebody tell me where I can try a Hatch green chili cheeseburger?
If you haven’t heard, this book has been adapted into a comic on the Webtoon app. I started reading it as a webtoon first, and then just felt like pieces of the story were missing? Or that I didn’t want to wait. Then I found out it was based on a novel and I thought “ohhh, I should DEFINITELY just give that a read.”
As far as comparing it to the webtoon, you don’t miss too much too much reading it as a comic. The writing isn’t that lofty in that there are long descriptions of things that you would have missed out on. There are some subtle things here and there, and with the webtoon—despite there being pictures—I felt like I had to re-read a couple times to get what was going on. The dialogue and other text is pulled directly from the book. The webtoon hasn’t been released in full (as of my writing this) and I may come back and give this review an update once it’s all out so that I can give them a better compare.
There’s so much that can be talked about with this book, I could 100% make a reading guide for it with all the themes that are explored. This story explores topics like: family, war, mental health, love (new and old), shitty decisions making, and brotherhood. Sacrifice is also a big theme in this book, as in, was that sacrifice even worth it? I’m talking about going to war, but I’m also talking about the choices the sister, Xochitl makes. Teodoro, who is an excellent main character, is constantly exploring individuality vs family. Where does he draw the line between him as an individual and his allegiance to his family? Growing up in an ethnic household I also struggled with this back and forth.
Things this book is not about? Er, road trips? I wouldn’t say it’s a road trip book, despite being called that, but there is a road trip in it, and it is does showcase some cool west coast cities. I just think it could have been titled something different. But who knows? Maybe there’s an editor somewhere who made that choice.
The three main characters are constantly making complicated decisions and there are times at each point that I wanted to give up on each of them. There are some moments in the story where you’re like “wait, what just happened? That happened fast, why did we just skim over that?” And then there are other moments where I’m like “woah, that was heavy.”
I guess I’m not technically the “YA audience” anymore but I generally still enjoy YA books just as much, so that’s why I read them. But occasionally there is a book that I’m like “oh, I would have liked this better as a teenager,” and this is one of those books. So that’s really just why it gets 3.5 stars from me. Also, {SPOILER} I wasn’t that happy with the ending. I wanted to see and ending where T went back to Washington State. And if I were writing it, I think I would have tried harder to make that work.
I can see myself going out of my way to recommend it to teens, especially young men of color. Books like this—that discuss the aftermath effects of war to kids who are actively being recruited in the military, that show underperforming students fail and succeed and achieve on their own terms, that give a good representation of Hispanic families—need to exist, and I’m glad it does.
I also want to say I read in one other review someone being annoyed that they had to Google how to pronounced Xochitl. Um, too bad? As someone with a hard to pronounce name, it is SO nice to see a name like that as a main character. The author could have definitely just been like, eh, Maria is fine. No, they purposely made a different choice, and that’s awesome.
Now, somebody tell me where I can try a Hatch green chili cheeseburger?
When Teo's brother Manny comes home from a tour of duty, he's not who he was before. Not a bit. But it's their sister Xochitl who decides it's time to deal with both Manny's challenges -- and T's own struggles -- by taking them from their rental by SeaTac down to Hatch, New Mexico, where they'll spend the summer helping Manny find treatment for his PTSD with their uncle who himself struggles post-service.
T as a character is totally fascinating. He's grown up in both sides of the economy: his family had steady middle class comfort until the economic collapse, wherein they let their home go underwater and moved into a rental unit. His parents took jobs well below their educational and experience levels just to make ends meet. As a result, T himself has sort of allowed himself to coast by on Cs and Ds. That is, until the day he meets Wendy, a girl from his past who talks about wanting to attend UW. Suddenly, T is motivated to change his ways and try to get into the school, too. He tries, getting into a special track at his school for those with potential who need the boost, and despite trying, he struggles. But he works with a tutor and finds that when he puts his mind to it, he IS as smart as he thinks he can be.
It's the road trip that changes everything, though. Suddenly, T and his siblings are in New Mexico, and they're joined by Wendy. . . who is there to help T study and rebuild the farm stand at his uncle's place. (It is, of course, also so they can reconnect and bond).
There's a LOT going on in this book, but it all works. This family loves one another, despite how much they're struggling with Manny's PTSD and the ways it impacts their own mental health. It's about how people sometimes put their dreams on hold to help others achieve theirs.
It's extremely rare to see a YA road trip book featuring a cast of characters of color. This is one of them, and this does a damn good job of looking at SO many aspects of a person's experience. Race, ethnicity, class, and education all play in smoothly. It also digs into healthcare and the ways that, during the book's timeframe (2008-2009), the VA wasn't a place that made mental health care for returning vets a priority or even accessible at all.
So many teens will see themselves in this story.
T as a character is totally fascinating. He's grown up in both sides of the economy: his family had steady middle class comfort until the economic collapse, wherein they let their home go underwater and moved into a rental unit. His parents took jobs well below their educational and experience levels just to make ends meet. As a result, T himself has sort of allowed himself to coast by on Cs and Ds. That is, until the day he meets Wendy, a girl from his past who talks about wanting to attend UW. Suddenly, T is motivated to change his ways and try to get into the school, too. He tries, getting into a special track at his school for those with potential who need the boost, and despite trying, he struggles. But he works with a tutor and finds that when he puts his mind to it, he IS as smart as he thinks he can be.
It's the road trip that changes everything, though. Suddenly, T and his siblings are in New Mexico, and they're joined by Wendy. . . who is there to help T study and rebuild the farm stand at his uncle's place. (It is, of course, also so they can reconnect and bond).
There's a LOT going on in this book, but it all works. This family loves one another, despite how much they're struggling with Manny's PTSD and the ways it impacts their own mental health. It's about how people sometimes put their dreams on hold to help others achieve theirs.
It's extremely rare to see a YA road trip book featuring a cast of characters of color. This is one of them, and this does a damn good job of looking at SO many aspects of a person's experience. Race, ethnicity, class, and education all play in smoothly. It also digs into healthcare and the ways that, during the book's timeframe (2008-2009), the VA wasn't a place that made mental health care for returning vets a priority or even accessible at all.
So many teens will see themselves in this story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it was difficult to read at times bc of the content but overall a nice story
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.
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
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.
YA contemporary just isn't resonating with me like it used to.
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.