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The Road to Wherever
A middle grade road novel about a boy stuck on a summer trip with his offbeat auto-mechanic cousins--a humor- and heart-filled journey that leads the boy to an unexpected confrontation with some broken-down parts of himself.
After eleven-year-old June Ball's dad disappears without so much as a goodbye note, June's mother sends him on the road with his adult cousins, mechanics Thomas and Cornell Ball. The Balls are "Ford Men"; their calling in life is to restore old Ford cars--and only Ford cars--that no longer run. And so begins a summer traveling the highways and byways of America, encountering busted-up Fairlanes, Thunderbirds, and Rancheros. They also encounter the cars' owners, who sometimes need fixing up, too.
June doesn't understand his cousins' passion for all things Ford. But at every turn, June realizes that this journey is about more than giving neglected classic cars some much-needed TLC--there's room to care for the broken parts of humans, too.
After eleven-year-old June Ball's dad disappears without so much as a goodbye note, June's mother sends him on the road with his adult cousins, mechanics Thomas and Cornell Ball. The Balls are "Ford Men"; their calling in life is to restore old Ford cars--and only Ford cars--that no longer run. And so begins a summer traveling the highways and byways of America, encountering busted-up Fairlanes, Thunderbirds, and Rancheros. They also encounter the cars' owners, who sometimes need fixing up, too.
June doesn't understand his cousins' passion for all things Ford. But at every turn, June realizes that this journey is about more than giving neglected classic cars some much-needed TLC--there's room to care for the broken parts of humans, too.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 25, 2021
This one surprised me. I picked it up on a whim, no reviews or recommendations and it was a solid choice. Hits on many worrying subjects (abandonment, PTSD, alcoholism) but with reverence and respect. June’s growth is admirable. Middle grade.
July 13, 2021
A boy named June takes a summer road trip with his father's two cousins, making stops along the way to fix-up old Fords. But cars aren't the only broken things that will be mended.
May 9, 2021
With thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for an early copy in return for an honest review.
One of my favorite genres of books is books which allow you to travel through the pages. As they said early in the story, "Every young person should experience the American road." June is forced to hit the road with his two older male cousins for a summer of traveling around the country repairing vintage Ford vehicles. June learns a lot along the way about repairing cars, but he also learns a lot about growing up and the kind of person he wants to be as he matures.
As a note for parents and teachers - I think this book will be particularly appealing to kids who are really into cars, and I haven't found many books in this category so I will definitely be adding it to my classroom library.
A few quotes I don't want to forget...
"•What can I do to make things better for this kid? How can I help her?"
•"You finally decided what kind of person you want to be, and then the rest comes down to having the courage to be it."
•"Old Fords might be my passion, but I've always had a heart for neglected and forgotten things."
One of my favorite genres of books is books which allow you to travel through the pages. As they said early in the story, "Every young person should experience the American road." June is forced to hit the road with his two older male cousins for a summer of traveling around the country repairing vintage Ford vehicles. June learns a lot along the way about repairing cars, but he also learns a lot about growing up and the kind of person he wants to be as he matures.
As a note for parents and teachers - I think this book will be particularly appealing to kids who are really into cars, and I haven't found many books in this category so I will definitely be adding it to my classroom library.
A few quotes I don't want to forget...
"•What can I do to make things better for this kid? How can I help her?"
•"You finally decided what kind of person you want to be, and then the rest comes down to having the courage to be it."
•"Old Fords might be my passion, but I've always had a heart for neglected and forgotten things."
August 11, 2021
My daddy was a Buick man. Whenever he saw a Ford, he would scornfully say, "Found on the Road Dead." I never understood it. A car was a car to me. I couldn't tell a Honda from a whatever. All I knew was that my family bought AMERICAN. Period. Fast forward to now I am a grownup and making choices for myself and our family choosing a foreign car. WHAT?! You would think the world had ended. I was disavowed. (We also bought a Ford later on, but the earlier damage still is brought up and held against us.)
June Ball's family would never forgive my foreign car. Though maybe our family's present-day Ford would earn a bit of forgiveness? The Ball family have been Ford people back since the days of Henry Ford and his Model Ts. When I began this book, I didn't understand what was driving them (no pun meant here). Why Fords?
I love a good road trip book. I love a great family book. I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like a book about Ford cars. Or a book focusing on two guys who spend their lives fixing up Ford cars. And yet, I try to read outside my comfort zone every once in a bit. I am so very glad that I did.
June (Jack) is such a terrific character. I wish that I could meet him and shake his hand and then give him a hug. He goes through this physical journey with his cousins as he searches for his daddy and also inwardly grows and journeys. June's cousins are a hoot
While the characters are strong in themselves, the journey is stronger at times and all-encompassing. The people June and his cousins meet, the places they go, and the ways the days blur together from one bumpy dirt road to the next bumpy dirt road in another small-town feel so true. If you have traveled through America's lesser-known regions, you will recognize these tucked-in areas and the feel of these forgotten places. One town wanders into the next and you find yourself in a place no one else has heard of before when you mention it back home.
Journeys are important. Sometimes you have to travel to find your way back home again. For the characters in this book, some of them are journeying even while they are at home. Some of them are lost in plain sight. Some of them are out searching and finding a new road. The power of two men who travel roads, fix Fords, and who believe made for a great read and a great journey.
Heads-up for: parental abandonment, cancer, violence against the media, PTSD, racism
June Ball's family would never forgive my foreign car. Though maybe our family's present-day Ford would earn a bit of forgiveness? The Ball family have been Ford people back since the days of Henry Ford and his Model Ts. When I began this book, I didn't understand what was driving them (no pun meant here). Why Fords?
I love a good road trip book. I love a great family book. I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like a book about Ford cars. Or a book focusing on two guys who spend their lives fixing up Ford cars. And yet, I try to read outside my comfort zone every once in a bit. I am so very glad that I did.
June (Jack) is such a terrific character. I wish that I could meet him and shake his hand and then give him a hug. He goes through this physical journey with his cousins as he searches for his daddy and also inwardly grows and journeys. June's cousins are a hoot
While the characters are strong in themselves, the journey is stronger at times and all-encompassing. The people June and his cousins meet, the places they go, and the ways the days blur together from one bumpy dirt road to the next bumpy dirt road in another small-town feel so true. If you have traveled through America's lesser-known regions, you will recognize these tucked-in areas and the feel of these forgotten places. One town wanders into the next and you find yourself in a place no one else has heard of before when you mention it back home.
Journeys are important. Sometimes you have to travel to find your way back home again. For the characters in this book, some of them are journeying even while they are at home. Some of them are lost in plain sight. Some of them are out searching and finding a new road. The power of two men who travel roads, fix Fords, and who believe made for a great read and a great journey.
Heads-up for: parental abandonment, cancer, violence against the media, PTSD, racism
May 30, 2022
A slow and steady read for me, but very enjoyable. June's dad has PTSD and left one night without any notice, now schools out & June's mom has called in the cavalry (or in this case June's first cousins, Thomas and Cornell) to get June out of the house over the summer, and boy is he going out of the house. You see Thomas and Cornell are Ford men, they spend each summer driving around the country fix old Ford's. It's a passion and a calling for them but June's not too sure about any of this, especially the parts about not having a tv or video games and living out of a tent and digging a hole for a privy everywhere they stop for a long job (standard policy not to use the clients bathroom) but at least this way June can look for his dad out on the road. And what a road it turns out to be. June meets all kinds of new people and gets to learn all kinds of new things maybe even things about his dad, maybe even things about himself.
I really like that this book takes its time. It talks about weighty stuff (PTSD, cancer, giving up someone else's dreams) but it's never in a rush to get to a big point or anything. It's a road trip book that really feels like a good long road trip in many ways, twisty and slow with plenty of stops and lots of good feelings. My only quibble I suppose is that June, & the whole book really, don't feel particularly modern. If you took out the occasional references to smartphones you could set this book in the 70's no problem (I mean, you'd have to back date the vehicles a bit of course). Some of it's that June is remarkably respectful and unsullen (non-sullen?)/ not a grump in general as opposed to the sassy pre-teen we see in many middle grade books today. It's just got an interestingly old timey feel to it which I enjoyed, but an not certain how it'll fly with the teen & tweens I hope to pitch this book to. In all a lovely read, perfect for young fans of road trips, cars, and slowly finding your way.
I really like that this book takes its time. It talks about weighty stuff (PTSD, cancer, giving up someone else's dreams) but it's never in a rush to get to a big point or anything. It's a road trip book that really feels like a good long road trip in many ways, twisty and slow with plenty of stops and lots of good feelings. My only quibble I suppose is that June, & the whole book really, don't feel particularly modern. If you took out the occasional references to smartphones you could set this book in the 70's no problem (I mean, you'd have to back date the vehicles a bit of course). Some of it's that June is remarkably respectful and unsullen (non-sullen?)/ not a grump in general as opposed to the sassy pre-teen we see in many middle grade books today. It's just got an interestingly old timey feel to it which I enjoyed, but an not certain how it'll fly with the teen & tweens I hope to pitch this book to. In all a lovely read, perfect for young fans of road trips, cars, and slowly finding your way.
July 30, 2021
In a voice reminiscent of Southern down-home essayist, Sean Dietrich, the novel tells the story of two brothers who are "FORD Men" through & through. Mechanics who repair and revere antique Ford cars, Larry & Cornell Ball are a pair of bald men with ZZ Top beards and a penchant for doing the right thing. Each summer, like Doctors Without Borders volunteering in poor countries, the brothers drive around America to fix up aging or forgotten Fords and bring 'em back to life, charging only for parts and gas, no labor. This summer, they take along their cousin Harry's son, June who is hurting from his father's unexplained and recent abandonment. (Harry is suffering from severe PTSD as a former Army Ranger, gone 4 months now.) Their plan is to teach him some useful skills and have him experience how good it feels to help people. As June slowly learns to weedwack, wash a car, fill tires with air, take apart a carburetor, and cook a bit, his confidence, skill set, and sense of loving family all increase. The tone is rural, unhurried, and full of $10 words that sound nearly poetic and always inspirational. This is a gem, not to be missed.
August 2, 2021
June Ball's mom needs a sitter for him during the summer, since his dad has temporarily deserted the family due to his PTSD issues related to fighting in Afghanistan. June's dad's cousins, Thomas and Cornell Ball take him under their wing as they travel about the country fixing Ford vehicle, free of charge. On the journey June learns to assemble a carburetor, handle tools, but above all, be a team player, and a good neighbor.
I enjoyed the eccentric cousins and their philanthropic attitude and actions which are great models for all young people. The Ball men and their love of Fords reminded me of the attention my husband gave our 1968 Mustang as he restored it.
I enjoyed the eccentric cousins and their philanthropic attitude and actions which are great models for all young people. The Ball men and their love of Fords reminded me of the attention my husband gave our 1968 Mustang as he restored it.
November 18, 2021
First off I really liked it and will recommend it to students. It was different and clever. I liked that it involved mechanics and automobiles. We don't have a lot of books for my gearhead boys. That being said I thought it was chunky at times. It lacked the finesse to bring it up to a 4 or 5 for me. It was almost there! The other thing is the age of the student. I was thinking 7th or 8th grade. When he is only going into 6th grade I was taken aback. He has some seriously deep thought for a 5th grader. I wish that the author could have left it undefined. I hate that he put an age on June or Jack. It would have been more relateable to my students without defining his age.
May 13, 2021
The Road to Wherever is a heartfelt road trip adventure story about family, community, and purpose. This middle grade novel is vivid, pulsing with life and emotion, and perfect for anyone who has ever experienced longing. Hand this to fans of road trip stories, books with sensitive male protagonists, or books about mental health challenges.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2021
This might be the best middle grade book I have ever read. As other reviewers mentioned, I was expecting something light-hearted or even goofy, but the HEART in this story blew me away. I found myself looking up places and events mentioned throughout the Ball cousins' journey -- June and his family will stick with me for a long time.
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
October 6, 2022
This book is excellent. Tackling big things in such a gentle way - mc boy is just out of 5th grade but could be older, handling some pretty universal themes. Not much action, but the art of car mechanics - and hair dressing!- is exalted to accurate heights.
Rating: g. No profanity, light romance (1 kiss), a very sweet story.
Recommend: realistic fiction readers, any age 4th and up. Would be a great read aloud to a class.
Rating: g. No profanity, light romance (1 kiss), a very sweet story.
Recommend: realistic fiction readers, any age 4th and up. Would be a great read aloud to a class.
July 20, 2021
Wow! One of the best books I’ve read in 2021! The story is genuine and the cousins are so unique and believable. I want family like this and hope young boys, especially those that struggle, have men like these in their lives. I’ll recommend this book to car lovers, travel enthusiasts, anyone looking for a male protagonist (which is getting harder to find) and anyone who likes a heartwarming book.
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August 6, 2021Fiction B8115r 2021
August 9, 2021
Great characters and fun to look up the Fords mentioned.
January 1, 2022
This was a sweet book with a lot of life lessons if you’re willing to see them. The author lives in Mandeville, which I did not know when I selected it.
February 6, 2022
“There’s room to care for the broken parts of people, too.”
October 15, 2022
As the daughter of a Ford man, I'm at a loss of words for how amazing this story is.
March 2, 2023
Great book! We are Chevy people. But still passionate about our cars.
January 15, 2024
Realistic fiction about an eleven-year-old boy who goes on a summer road trip with his dad’s cousins who are on a mission to fix broken down Fords.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews