Scoob has had a rough go at school recently, causing his dad to cancel their spring break trip and grounding him instead. Then Grandma appears and whisks her grandson away in a new Winnebago for the road trip to who knows where (Well, maybe G’ma has a plan). Scoob is just glad to be far away from his dad. Their relationship isn’t the best.

From Georgia, through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas the trip is both revealing about G’ma’s past and confusing about her future—their future. She changes the license plate on the RV several times, calls Scoob “Jimmy” when that was his grandfather’s name, and it sure looks like she tried to steal from the jewelry store.

But along the way, Scoob learns how African Americans were treated back in the 60s, the civil right’s movement, and the difficulty of a mixed marriage. His Grandpa was locked up and died in prison for a crime G’ma says he didn’t commit.

Told in third person, my personal preference would have to experience the story directly from young Scoob, but that’s just me. It doesn’t get in the way of a tale that will grip you right to the quick ending. Family, a road trip of understanding, and a boy who grows up a lot. A great ride from the the get-go. Highly recommended!

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2020 PAGE COUNT: 240

Here’s the official background:

How to Go on an Unplanned Road Trip with Your Grandma:
•  Grab a Suitcase: Prepacked from the big spring break trip that got CANCELLED.
•  Fasten Your Seatbelt: G’ma’s never conventional, so this trip won’t be either.
•  Use the Green Book: G’ma’s most treasured possession. It holds history, memories, and most important, the way home.

What Not to Bring:
•  A Cell Phone: Avoid contact with Dad at all costs. Even when G’ma starts acting stranger than usual.

Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with New York Times bestselling Nic Stone and an eleven-year-old boy who is about to discover that the world hasn’t always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren’t always what they seem–his G’ma included.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT

CLEAN GETAWAY by Nic Stone

1. The tender relationship between Scoob and his G’ma is perfect. Their bond is funny at times, heartbreaking, and full of truth.
2. In the words of G’ma: “We all make mistakes. It’s how you clean them up that matters.” And Grandma cleans up her mistake in the most endearing way.
3. I often don’t like the results when a YA or adult author decides to write a middle grade novel. Here though, it works on many levels and I’m hoping Ms. Stone continues writing for the MG audience.
4. The green book that guided people of color back in the day is an eye opener for Scoob and it will do the same for young readers of every ethnicity.
5. Tough topics aren’t given a light coating here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.

You can find her goofing off and/or fangirling over her adorable little family on most social media platforms. (For more visit her author website)

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