Julia and the Art of Practical Travel

by Lesley M.M. Blume

When her grandmother dies and the once-majestic family estate is sold, eleven-year-old Julia Lancaster and her aunt Constance must take to the road to find Julia’s long-lost mother. They bring with them only the most practical travel things—silver candlestick holders, a few Oriental carpets, some steamer trunks, and Julia’s beloved Brownie camera, which she will use to document their journey across 1960s America.

On the road, Julia and her aunt meet a cast of peculiar characters, including guitar-strumming hippies in Greenwich Village, a legendary voodoo queen in New Orleans, the honorable proprietor of the World’s End Cattle Ranch in Texas, and the colorful sheriff of Gold Point, Nevada (population: 1), who also happens to be the town’s mayor, fire chief, and reverend. But will they find Julia’s mother and a place to call home?

Poignant, engaging, and funny, Lesley M. M. Blume’s new novel is a meditation on the thin line between being an insider and being an outsider, and the deep-rooted need we all have to find a place where we can feel at home.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Historical, Travel, Young Adult, Juvenile

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Lesley M. M. Blume is an author, columnist and journalist. She did her undergraduate work at WIlliams College and Oxford University, and took her graduate degree in history from Cambridge University.
She now regularly contributes to Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal and Departures magazine.

Reviews

[Maureen Tully · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing style, and I liked Julia, though I liked her more the farther she got from the East Coast. She really is an endearing and highly entertaining character. The plot was engaging for the most part, and it certainly had some high points, but it also had some parts that just didn't seem to flow smoothly into the plot. The whole scenario with Tipsy Lips was awkward, and the part with Julia instructing her on party etiquette was a fine line (or maybe not so fine) between being hilarious and being downright mean. Things did pick up from there, though, as they continued across the country. Overall, this book is a pleasant middle school read.

[Annina Luck Wildermuth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor little rich girl, Julia, travels with her blue blood aunt across the USA in search of her hippie mom.

Definitely a nice escape with some lovely writing and fun adventures throughout the 1960ies USA with vivid stops in Paw Paw, VW, New Orleans, Texas, and San Francisco. There is a touch of Heloise & whimsey in it as well, since the two travel with oriental carpets, silver candlesticks and flatware from the ancestral home.

I found the photos which the heroine, Julia, takes with her brownie camera, a bit strange. These images are throughout the book, but strangely lifeless. Even though this is explained in the book, I didn't think it added much. I appreciated that it wasn't too long.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried more than once, and although some of the content might to subtle for a young audience, other content will be clearly understood. The book tackles some tough questions like how the truth can sound like a lie when a lie can sound like the truth.

But, really I loved Julia. I loved her Aunt, and I loved their courage.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, we are really sold on author Lesley M.M. Blume. What a great writer! She has such a knack for compelling, believable, interesting, and likable characters, and she knows how to craft a good story, as well. There's such a "ring of truth" to her fiction, firmly set within solid historical contexts, and this book is no exception. Perhaps not as charming as some of her others, it is sweet in its own way, poignant and thought-provoking. Blume clearly knows what it's like to be young girl, and each of her protagonists has her own distinctive personality and voice. That's certainly the case here. There was a sadness to much of the story, but it had a delightfully happy ending. We loved it.

[Janice Cafarelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

young adult novel still ok for adult reading..set in late 1960's when the matriarch of an old southern family passes away leaving Julia with her Aunt and missing mother as her only relatives,the family financial situation forces the sale of the family homestead and most of their belongings so Julia and her Aunt set off trying to find her mother having one adventure after another and making friends along the way. Julia sends each of her new friends post cards along the way telling of her adventures. Although their trip did not turn out as she hoped many things changed for both Julia and her Aunt's future all due to her adventures and those post cards.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I picked it up after reading Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters. It is very similar. Except in this book, the main character is going on the adventures herself. It is a coming of age story also. It's a bit heavier in content that Cornelia - the main character faces family struggles and in the midst of a confusing time. It juxtaposes characters who wear white gloves with characters who are hippies. It was also hilarious. I read it in one sitting and was sad when it was finished.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, little light read. Written in the voice of a preteen girl experiencing both fanciful adventure and heartbreaking reality on her trip across America. Everything got wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end, which a literary critic might not enjoy, but an afternoon reader like myself most certainly does. Fun little book; it was a good brain break.

[Paiton Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the book didn't reach its full potential and should have been longer. I also think she should have had quotations around her dialogue that would have made it easier to read and fully comprehend. Other than those two minor flaws I really did enjoy her writing and I read it very quickly.

[MyImpossibleList · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is easy to read and a bit interesting with the pictures, but all I learned is how cruel hippie-mothers can be to their family. The story itself is very unrealistic, and I was frustrated at the end due to the mother's words and actions.

[Sydney Lovell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8/5
Short and sweet, easily read in one sitting. I loved all of the characters, whom really gave life to the story. Though I felt the ending was a bit nonsensical, this is still a charming little read.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It had a whimsy and a sweetness that I really enjoy. It wasn't as great as Blume's book The Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters, but it was still a pleasure to read.

[LeeLee2end · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia and the art of practical travel, was a delightful read. The story was full of adventure and relatable characters. Tween fables can be a fun sort read, and this lived up to the challenge. This tale will stay in my heart and mind forever more.

[Bibliomama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little road trip, Travels With My Aunt, middle school style. Endearing, if unbelievable characters.

[Linda Cousens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Interesting story with likeable characters.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Julia Lancaster and her Aunt Constance take off on a cross-country road trip in search of her mother after her grandmother dies. The family's once majestic estate has dwindled over the years, and for various financial obligations, which aren't named, their home must be sold. Carting along with them various family treasures, the two follow leads about her mother that take them to Greenwich Village and then to New Orleans and finally, San Francisco where disappointment awaits them. Along the way, they meet various interesting individuals who become a part of their family. I enjoyed the road trip even though I was pretty sure how it was going to end, and I loved watching how Julia and her aunt were changed by the places they were passing through and the experiences they were collecting. In many respects the author captures the tumultuous events of this nation in 1969 when the story is set, but the need to stay in boarding houses part of the way mystified me in some ways and sometimes their travels seemed to take longer than one could expect. Like me, readers will come to care for Julia and want her story to have a happy ending while also clearly seeing how impossible it would be for her to fit in at the private girls' school to which she has been relegated. Because Julia loves to take photos of objects, never individuals, the book contains several snapshots. One of the most poignant scenes occurs when the sheriff of Gold Point, Nevada, points out that even objects change. There is much to consider here, even though the author doesn't spend too much on some of the more interesting aspects of the story as Julia relates it in her somewhat world-weary voice. Readers can see her eventually just ready to burst from her traces.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julia lives with her aunt Constance and her grandmother at their ancestral home Windy Ridge. When grandmother dies, they are forced to sell Windy Ridge and its contents. Constance and Julia set out on a cross-country road trip in search of Julia's mom Rosemary, who ran off to become a hippie. They start off in Greenwich Village, but are informed Rosemary has gone to New Orleans. So they drive to the Big Easy and meet a voodoo queen who tells them Rosemary has gone to San Francisco. They drive across Texas where their car breaks down and then on to San Francisco. The voodoo queen told them they would find Rosemary, but she would not be who they are looking for and that ends up being true. Rosemary has no desire to return to her old life or to be a mother to Julia. So Constance and Julia head back to New York on their own.

This was a pretty good introduction to life in the 1960s. Everything seemed pretty accurate and real. Julia and Constance's road trip was entertaining as were the characters they met along the road. The one thing I wished for in this book, other than a better ending, was that the stops on the road trip would have been fleshed out a bit more. There was so much wasted story-telling potential at these points. Some of my favorite books are ones with interesting, eccentric, small town people. This book is full of them, but you barely meet one before they have moved on. I rarely say this, but I think this book should have been longer and these sections should have been expanded. Then there was the ending. It felt like an add-on to this book. Julia and Constance really come into their own and learn to be strong women during their road trip. The ending seemed like a giant step back into their old life. I didn't buy it at all.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia and the Art of Practical Travel takes readers across 1960s America. Our main protagonist is a spunky girl named Julia who has a vast imagination and explores the world around her through the lens of her camera. Along the ride, Julia and her Aunt Constance encounter many different experiences, making this no ordinary road trip.

Julia is more of a tomboy and less of the lady that her grandmother and aunt expect her to be. To me she just seemed misunderstood and doesn’t fit in with most people her age. Julia also feels a bit misplaced because of her mother’s disappearance. She has guardian figures in her life, but she lacks a true “mother” figure.

Throughout the story I was annoyed by the elders in the story who kept trying to rein in the “real” Julia and forced her to be a lady. It felt like they were trying to take away her freedom. But despite that, Julia continues to always be herself and make every day an adventure. In that aspect she kind of reminded me of Pippi Longstocking.

The novel is a travel book that takes us to various parts of the US, and in doing so gives younger readers a wide perspective of a time period that they might not be familiar with. I also liked that pictures strewn throughout the book correlate to what Julia was taking snapshots of.

Though the book was exciting and fun, I felt at times the story was a bit rushed and I wished the story could have lasted longer to give the plot more depth instead of glossing over everything. In doing so, the novel falls kind of flat in some places, and while it kept my interest I felt like there were some things missing from the story.

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quirky book. It's 1968, Julia lives with her Aunt Constance and her Grandmother on Windy Ridge, the Hudson Valley estate where Lancasters have always lived. The book opens with Julia's grandmother calling her in to tell her that she has made up her mind that she will die by the next day, and Lancasters always keep their word. Now it is just Julia and her aunt, and unfortunately there isn't enough money to keep the estate. So they sell it to Tippsy Lipps, a wealthy friend of the family. Then Julia and Aunt Constance go looking for Julia's hippie mother, on a trip which takes them across America to San Francisco. This was an odd book about finding your real family, and your home where you belong. I really enjoyed the old fashioned flavor of the book, even the cover art felt like the art you found on children's books when I was a child in the 1960's and 1970's.

[Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one!

Julia and her Aunt Constance hit the road in search of Julia's mother, after her grandmother passes away. They must leave their beloved home behind and begins to travel across the country. Julia's mother is what her grandmother used to refer to as a "dirty hippie". Julia hopes that whatever that means, they will find her mother and find a home as well.

This book took place in the 60s, which is what made me pick it up. I loved Julia's adventures with her aunt. Along their travels they meet lots of colorful characters who help them. This story was heartfelt and fun. It's a quick read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves reading books set in the 60s or anyone who loves a fun road trip story. It's also good possibility if you run a mother/daughter book club.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Julia loves her life at Windy Ridge – her families’ estate in New England. When her grandmother dies, Julia and her aunt Connie must sell the beloved house and most of its contents to pay the bills, however. After settling the estate they set off on a cross country journey across 1960’s America to find Julia’s mother – a hippie who ran away several years ago. Their journey takes them to Greenwich Village, New Orleans, Texas, Nevada and San Francisco. Julia makes friends on her quirky adventure and discovers, a bit predictably, that her Aunt makes a better mother than her lost parent. An entertaining read, but with quick mentions of drug use and nudity that may make it not suitable for some school libraries. Recommended for Purchase.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm writing this review a few weeks after finishing this book, and to tell you the truth, I can't remember the details very well. I think this is because I never really got into the story. I like the time period and the premise of the story, but it was a little quirky and disconnected for me overall. I love the idea of the brownie camera and the photos that Julia takes during her travels, which were varied and interesting. After all Julia and her Aunt go through, I found the ending of the book a bit disappointing.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven year old Julia and her aunt Constance travel across the country to find Julia's mother after the family estate is sold. They only pack the practical essentials for their trek: silver candlesticks, an oriental carpet or two, and Julia's Brownie camera. America in 1968 is full of startling things not found where Julia was brought up in Windy Ridge, Connecticut: dirty-haired hippies smoking funny smelling cigarettes in NYC, voodoo parlors in New Orleans and an abandoned ghost town in Nevada. But San Francisco brings about the most life-changing experience for Julia.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written tour across the US in the 1960s. While on the sad, nostalgic side, a refreshing view of a young girl's learning about life as she travels with her aunt. Julia and Aunt Constance journey across the states in search of Julia's mother and find that they are a family. Written in a travelouge style and featuring Julia's photos using her Brownie camera, "Julia and the Art of Practical Travel" is a simple, intriguing look at the importance of a home, adventure, and a little bit of how to find each.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story began with Julia's grandmother dying and their house and nearly everything in it being sold, leaving Julia and her Aunt Constance homeless. At first the characters seem flat, but in fact it is really that Julia and Constance are flat at the beginning of the story and come to life once they begin their adventure to find Julia's mother. Serendipitous meetings with quirky characters along the way across the country change them and bring them to life.
Overall, I really liked this book. I think it is a Div. II pick.

[CaitlinTobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky characters and an entertaining story about finding your true family. Julia lives with her grandmother and aunt, and when the grandmother passes away, Julia and her aunt set off on a road trip to find Julia's hippie mother. I liked the use of Julia's Brownie camera to document her trip, and I also liked all of the unusual friends the pair make on the road. Some parts of the story seemed forced or too disconnected and interrupted the story flow for me.

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book from the library the other day, because the cover grabbed my attention. As I started reading it, I didn't think too much of it, but then again, I must have, because I kept on reading, and before I knew it...I had finished it. I think the appeal was the characters that Julia met along her search and how her relationship with her aunt transformed. Also there were many times this book brought a smile to my face, and even a laugh--so it made for a good story.

[Joni Patterson]

After adoring "Corneline" completely (a book of innocent adventure and deep sentiment) I have to admit that "Julia" was a disappointment. Drugs, voodoo and adult nudity are all realities that I'm sure have their place in stories, but none of it worked to charm me this go round. Also- why the lack of quotation marks? I know Blume still has a beautiful skill for words and her characterizations are ever vibrant, but I didn't much care for this at all.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author. She is such a good storyteller. This book is about Julia, who is being raised by her ancient grandmother and maiden aunt. Her mother has run off to join a commune in Haight Ashbury. When Grandmother dies, the old family estate has to be sold and Julia and her Aunt head off on an adventure to locate her mother.

[Charlou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia had the opportunity to see the United States, from Greenwich Village, to New Orleans to a Ghost Town in Nevada, and Haight Ashbury. She was on an adventure with her Aunt to find the mother that left her long ago. Sometimes what we want to find, we do. It just doesn't look like what we thought it would.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun adventure book for upper elementary kids. The addition of Julia's photos taken with her Brownie camera add to the enjoyment. Amidst the crazy things that happen as they drive along are several poignant moments that add a sense of hope and home to the story. I enjoyed it and I will be recommending this story to some young readers that I know!