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bailey_story's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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.
jwinchell's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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
lesbrary's review
4.0
I heard this pitched as a road trip through Black US history, and while that is true, it's also about family secrets, discovering your parents and grandparents are complex and flawed and human, and a jewel thief. The mystery of Scoob's family history kept me engaged, and I finished this in one day. I highly recommend the audiobook!
reading_rachel's review against another edition
4.0
I was expecting a fun story about a kid traveling with his grandma, but this was so much more.
kylauren1723's review against another edition
4.0
Instantly made me want to read more from this author! A really charming and fun story with a lot of great insight on the American South during the Civil Rights Movement. I loved the characters and the journey they took. Great middle grade book.