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The Road to Wherever

By John Ed Bradley
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Eleven-year-old June Ball embarks on a nationwide road trip with his adult cousins, Thomas and Cornell, the devoted "Ford Men" who restore classic Ford cars. As they travel from town to town nursing broken-down vehicles and meeting their owners, June seeks clues to his missing father while discovering that the journey is as much about healing people as it is about fixing cars. This heartfelt story explores adventure, family bonds, and the challenges of growing up.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2499

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for middle-grade readers who enjoy stories of adventure, family, and personal growth, especially those with an interest in cars and road trips.

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Includes Go Fish: Questions for the author

A middle grade novel about a boy stuck on a summer road trip with his offbeat auto-mechanic cousins - a humor- and heart-filled journey that leads him to an unexpected confrontation with some broken-down parts of himself.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

After eleven-year-old June Ball's dad disappears without so much as a note, June's mother sends him on the road with his adult cousins, Thomas and Cornell Ball. The Balls are Ford Men; their calling in life is to restore old Ford cars—and only Ford cars. So begins a summer travelling around the country, encountering broken-down Fairlanes, Thunderbirds, and Model Ts. They also encounter the cars' owners, who often need fixing of their own.

June doesn't understand his cousins' passion for all things Ford, but in every town and city, there's a chance he might find his father. And at every turn, June realises that this journey is about more than giving cars some TLC—there's room to restore the broken parts of humans, too. A story of adventure, longing, and growing up.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

School Library Journal praises the book as a "starred review," combining road trip excitement with a poignant coming-of-age tale. Kirkus Reviews notes that "car fanciers will relish the details" while the family themes resonate deeply. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books highlights the quirky yet big-hearted Ball brothers, making this an accessible and uplifting introduction to the road trip genre for middle graders.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250833112

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 May 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 236g

Pages: 288

Collections

Children's Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational John Ed Bradley

About the Author

John Ed Bradley is the prolific author of several highly praised novels and a memoir, It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium. A former reporter for The Washington Post, he has also written for Esquire, Sports Illustrated, GQ, and Play magazines. He lives with his wife and daughter in Mandeville, Louisiana.

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