If You Like...Books About Road Trips

There is nothing better than hitting the open road during the summertime! Packing your bags, grabbing some tunes, and setting out to explore new places. If you like road trips or reading books about travel adventures, here are a few great middle grade books to add to your must-read list for the summer!

The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane

By Kate O'Shaughnessy

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2020.

Maybelle Lane has never met her dad but she has an old voicemail message of his voice in her collection of sounds. One day she hears his voice on the radio and realizes that he is a DJ. When he announces that he will be judging a singing contest in Nashville, Maybelle is determined to compete. She signs up, finds someone to drive her, and sets out on a road trip to Nashville to finally meet her dad.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

By Dan Gemeinhart

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2019.

Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have been living in an old converted school for five years, constantly on the go, trying to escape the memories of the accident that killed Coyote's mom and sisters. When Coyote learns that a park near her old home is getting demolished, she knows she needs to return to get the special memory box that she buried there.

Clean Getaway

By Nic Stone

New York : Crown Books for Young Readers, 2020.

Scoob sets out on an impromptu road trip down memory lane with his G'ma in her new RV. As they travel, Scoob learns more about how people have not always been friendly or welcoming to the Black community. The trip starts to get strange when G'ma begins avoiding calls from Scoob's dad and is constantly changing their license plate.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie

By Erin Downing

New York: Pixel Ink, 2021.

The Peach family sets out on a summer road trip around the country to sell pies in their new food truck. This was always a dream of their mother's before she passed away and they are determined to accomplish it together. The only problem is, none of them know how to bake.

Wrong Way Summer

By Heidi Lang

New York : Amulet Books, 2020.

Claire's father has always told her and her brother outlandish tales about their absent mother. When he decides to sell their home and moves the family into a converted van, she begins growing tired of the stories and wants to find out the truth. As they take the ultimate road trip around the country, Claire is faced with the choice to continue to go along with the stories or force her family to face what really happened to her mom.

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Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013. 336 pgs. Fantasy Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life. He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines. Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Books to Read... Inspired by Our Summer Reading Theme

I am very excited about the summer reading theme here at the library: Color Our World. From the first moment I heard what the theme was going to be, it has been on my mind, and I noticed I was seeing bright and vibrant colors in so many picture books. Here are a few colorful books that inspired me! I hope you enjoy reading all summer long. How Do You Eat Color? Written by Mabi David Illustrated by Yas Doctor Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. If you want a book full of vibrant colors, this one will definitely meet your expectations. Bold and eye-catching, the illustrations are a reminder that color is all around us, including in delicious foods that we eat. Even the endpapers are a deep and stunning shade that made me think of summer! I appreciated the tips the author included for why eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is important for all of us. Inventions to Count On Written by Dana Marie Miroballi Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud New Y...

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