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American Road Trip
With a strong, loving family, an incredibly loyal best friend, and a budding romance with the girl of his dreams, life shows promise for seventeen-year-old Teodoro “T” Avila. But he takes some hard hits the summer before his senior year when his nearly perfect brother Manny returns from a tour in Iraq with a devastating case of PTSD.
In a desperate effort to save Manny from himself and pull their family back together, T's fiery sister Xochitl hoodwinks her brothers into a road trip with many stops along the road to visit loved ones from their past.
In a desperate effort to save Manny from himself and pull their family back together, T's fiery sister Xochitl hoodwinks her brothers into a road trip with many stops along the road to visit loved ones from their past.
323 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2018
74 people are currently reading
2934 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Flores-Scott
4 books68 followersPatrick Flores-Scott is the acclaimed author of the award-winning novels Jumped In and American Road Trip, which was named a YALSA Best Fiction Book, a TAYSHAS Reading List Selection, an SLJ National Hispanic Heritage Month pick, and a Teen Vogue Best Gift Book, and was licensed to WEBTOON for graphic digital serialization. Patrick taught public school in Seattle, Washington, for many years and has written for theater and the slam poetry stage. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his family and invites you to visit him online at patrickfloresscott.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
March 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel!
September 23, 2018
T's story was one of my favorites from this past summer. I think it is the best road trip book I have ever read, but it's also so much more than that. This story about dreams, work, love, sacrifice, PTSD, family, and music set just after the financial crash of the early 2000s is one I know I will be recommending for years to come!
April 28, 2019
this was a fast read, I liked the fact that the book tried to balance being a fast read while also tackling a lot of serious issues (PTSD, families falling apart, self sacrifice and relationships). All in all it was an enjoyable read .
September 20, 2019
Tohle k mému vlastnímu překvapení nebylo vůbec špatné! Úhel pohledu hlavního hrdiny mi připadal fakt nedůvěryhodný, ale líbila se mi rodinná dynamika, vedlejší postavy, zápletka a prostředí. Navíc se to vážně kvěle četlo!
4/5*
Celou recenzi najdete na blogu.
4/5*
Celou recenzi najdete na blogu.
Read
August 12, 2018When Teo's brother Manny comes home from a tour of duty, he's not who he was before. Not a bit. But it's their sister Xochitl who decides it's time to deal with both Manny's challenges -- and T's own struggles -- by taking them from their rental by SeaTac down to Hatch, New Mexico, where they'll spend the summer helping Manny find treatment for his PTSD with their uncle who himself struggles post-service.
T as a character is totally fascinating. He's grown up in both sides of the economy: his family had steady middle class comfort until the economic collapse, wherein they let their home go underwater and moved into a rental unit. His parents took jobs well below their educational and experience levels just to make ends meet. As a result, T himself has sort of allowed himself to coast by on Cs and Ds. That is, until the day he meets Wendy, a girl from his past who talks about wanting to attend UW. Suddenly, T is motivated to change his ways and try to get into the school, too. He tries, getting into a special track at his school for those with potential who need the boost, and despite trying, he struggles. But he works with a tutor and finds that when he puts his mind to it, he IS as smart as he thinks he can be.
It's the road trip that changes everything, though. Suddenly, T and his siblings are in New Mexico, and they're joined by Wendy. . . who is there to help T study and rebuild the farm stand at his uncle's place. (It is, of course, also so they can reconnect and bond).
There's a LOT going on in this book, but it all works. This family loves one another, despite how much they're struggling with Manny's PTSD and the ways it impacts their own mental health. It's about how people sometimes put their dreams on hold to help others achieve theirs.
It's extremely rare to see a YA road trip book featuring a cast of characters of color. This is one of them, and this does a damn good job of looking at SO many aspects of a person's experience. Race, ethnicity, class, and education all play in smoothly. It also digs into healthcare and the ways that, during the book's timeframe (2008-2009), the VA wasn't a place that made mental health care for returning vets a priority or even accessible at all.
So many teens will see themselves in this story.
T as a character is totally fascinating. He's grown up in both sides of the economy: his family had steady middle class comfort until the economic collapse, wherein they let their home go underwater and moved into a rental unit. His parents took jobs well below their educational and experience levels just to make ends meet. As a result, T himself has sort of allowed himself to coast by on Cs and Ds. That is, until the day he meets Wendy, a girl from his past who talks about wanting to attend UW. Suddenly, T is motivated to change his ways and try to get into the school, too. He tries, getting into a special track at his school for those with potential who need the boost, and despite trying, he struggles. But he works with a tutor and finds that when he puts his mind to it, he IS as smart as he thinks he can be.
It's the road trip that changes everything, though. Suddenly, T and his siblings are in New Mexico, and they're joined by Wendy. . . who is there to help T study and rebuild the farm stand at his uncle's place. (It is, of course, also so they can reconnect and bond).
There's a LOT going on in this book, but it all works. This family loves one another, despite how much they're struggling with Manny's PTSD and the ways it impacts their own mental health. It's about how people sometimes put their dreams on hold to help others achieve theirs.
It's extremely rare to see a YA road trip book featuring a cast of characters of color. This is one of them, and this does a damn good job of looking at SO many aspects of a person's experience. Race, ethnicity, class, and education all play in smoothly. It also digs into healthcare and the ways that, during the book's timeframe (2008-2009), the VA wasn't a place that made mental health care for returning vets a priority or even accessible at all.
So many teens will see themselves in this story.
January 18, 2023
Very heart-rending.
A family pulls together and attempts to help the oldest son when he returns with PTSD after combat in Iraq.
A family pulls together and attempts to help the oldest son when he returns with PTSD after combat in Iraq.
July 9, 2019
Told from the perspective of the youngest Avila sibling, Teodoro "T" Avila, American Road Trip follows the three Avila siblings on their journey to reconnect with each other after the return of the eldest sibling, Manuel "Manny" Avila, who has just come back after serving several years in Iraq. Taking place from 2008 to 2009, it also follows Teodoro's personal journey from underachieving high school student to someone who wants to do his best to make an effort in school. He and his best friend, Caleb, who is also an underachiever who loves video games, make a pact to do better and even though the plan seemed to be first proposed because of a romantic interest, I really believed Teodoro wanted to do better for himself by the end and Caleb was such an MVP friend in supporting "T"'s goals and also going after his own. It was a big adjustment for the Avila family to have "Manny" back, especially for "Manny." I think the book did a great job of representing PTSD and how it can affect family members as well. This is also the second book in a row that I've read that explores PTSD, anxiety, and trauma after being in a war. I honestly felt and related to all of the Avila siblings. Like Teodoro, I was also a member of the AVID Program and it was really cool to see AVID get a shout-out in a book! I even related to the middle Avila sibling, Xochitl "Xoch" Avila, who felt the need to take control of her family's issues and try to unite everyone. She especially took a lot of the responsibility of finding ways to help "Manny" with his trauma. I really felt for her and related to that, but at the same time, the truth of the situation was that it was too big for her and Teodoro to handle on their own but thankfully, they all got a lot of outside support. I especially felt for and related to "Manny", who had dealt with so much and struggled with being back.
'There's a lot of action over there. You have a job to do. Buddies to protect. People counting on you. You have to be relentlessly alert. Your mind gets locked in survival mode. Because it has to...Then you come home. And that kind of vigilance is no longer required. Life is about doing the mundane, everyday things normal people do to get by. But men and women who come back like me--with a brain that's been knocked around too much, a brain that can't stop being at war...we have a hard time.'
As a Latina reader, I loved reading a book where Latino characters were the main characters. I loved the mixing in of Spanish words and lyrics of songs in Spanish. I found the writing style refreshing and I think the format of the book, with inclusions of text messages, made it a quick read for me. I was so sure this was going to a 4 star read for me but I loved it so much by the end that I had to bump it up. I would most definitely read this again and for me, 4/5 star ratings mean that they will become a permanent fixture on my library shelves, I will read them again, and recommend them to others.
'There's a lot of action over there. You have a job to do. Buddies to protect. People counting on you. You have to be relentlessly alert. Your mind gets locked in survival mode. Because it has to...Then you come home. And that kind of vigilance is no longer required. Life is about doing the mundane, everyday things normal people do to get by. But men and women who come back like me--with a brain that's been knocked around too much, a brain that can't stop being at war...we have a hard time.'
As a Latina reader, I loved reading a book where Latino characters were the main characters. I loved the mixing in of Spanish words and lyrics of songs in Spanish. I found the writing style refreshing and I think the format of the book, with inclusions of text messages, made it a quick read for me. I was so sure this was going to a 4 star read for me but I loved it so much by the end that I had to bump it up. I would most definitely read this again and for me, 4/5 star ratings mean that they will become a permanent fixture on my library shelves, I will read them again, and recommend them to others.
June 8, 2019
Tohleto bylo ale úplně jiný, než jsem čekala - o dost lepší! Není to žádný průměrný contemporary zaláskovaný románek, ale naopak dost intenzivní čtení, ze kterého člověku vůbec není lehko. Po Sadie další trefa do černýho v contemporary škatulce.
July 29, 2025
i absulutely loved that i found myself ALWAYS rooting for T as our main character, through all his ups and downs
it was also very interesting learning about PTSD and some symptoms and coping mechanisms
also we love teodoro and wendy 💕
⭐4.75⭐
it was also very interesting learning about PTSD and some symptoms and coping mechanisms
also we love teodoro and wendy 💕
⭐4.75⭐
March 25, 2019
This is truly a story about the bonds of family, specifically siblings. Teodoro "T" Avila has his world rocked when his older brother Manny comes home from a tour in Iraq. Suffering from a debilitating case of PTSD, Manny is no longer the loving brother that T remembers. When school lets out for the summer, T's older sister Xochi concocts a plan to try and help Manny get better, and she drags T along for the ride. And so commences the Avila sibling summer road trip from Seattle to SoCo to New Mexico, where they will spend their summer working their Uncle Ed's chile farm and hopefully help Manny get better.
I love the concept of this story, but there were definitely a few things that irked me. Like, when Manny starts to become violent, T's parents do nothing to help him. It is like they fade into the background and leave their 17-year-old to deal with his brother who is exhibiting random events of violence. Manny is drinking and taking drugs to help numb the pain of the PTSD that he is suffering from and the parents don't seem to be doing anything about it, only Xochi is, who has to put all her dreams on hold in order to try to help Manny. The author almost makes it seem like T's dreams don't really matter in the face of Manny's trauma, and I know that recovering from PTSD is a main focus of the story, but I feel sorry for T in the sense that it seems like his entire family is telling him that he is not as important as his older brother.
I love the concept of this story, but there were definitely a few things that irked me. Like, when Manny starts to become violent, T's parents do nothing to help him. It is like they fade into the background and leave their 17-year-old to deal with his brother who is exhibiting random events of violence. Manny is drinking and taking drugs to help numb the pain of the PTSD that he is suffering from and the parents don't seem to be doing anything about it, only Xochi is, who has to put all her dreams on hold in order to try to help Manny. The author almost makes it seem like T's dreams don't really matter in the face of Manny's trauma, and I know that recovering from PTSD is a main focus of the story, but I feel sorry for T in the sense that it seems like his entire family is telling him that he is not as important as his older brother.
July 7, 2022
I really liked this book except for the romance aspect. PTSD is a serious topic and we don't need a damn romance in every book. I'm still gonna give it 4 stars but its really a 3.5 because I hated the romance and it really took away from Manny's story and the sibling relationship. Besides the relationship I really liked the book and it was really powerful I'd recommend just be prepared for some bs cishet stuff.
September 12, 2019
Beautiful and deeply satisfying. I loved seeing a Latinx family at the center of such a touching and sensitively-written story
January 6, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5. i think it was an interesting story to read, and the only complaint i have is that i wish it went to the.. yk- roadtrip part a bit faster, but i think it was good that it had context leading up to the trip.
August 24, 2019
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott, 323 pages. Henry Holt and Co., 2018. $18.
Language: R (92 swears, 0 Fs); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing, mild drug use and references, talk of suicide, descriptions of war, some peril); Violence: PG-13;
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Life has not been easy for high school junior Teodoro Avila since his big brother, and hero, Manny was deployed to Iraq. His parents barely speak anymore, his dad's unemployment forced a move to a rundown rental house, and T’s grades are anything but college-worthy. All that changes one day when T runs into an old family friend, Wendy Martinez, who just happens to be gorgeous. T decides then to make a life plan: turn his life around so he can get to college and get the girl. The plan starts out great and T’s grades improve as his connection to Wendy grows. Life seems even better when the news comes that Manny is just a few months away from coming home. T can’t wait for Manny to see what he’s making of himself and he secretly hopes the family will finally go back to the way they were before Manny left. Unfortunately, Manny’s return is not everything that the family dreamed of because Manny is suffering from PTSD and struggles to adjust to life at home. As the situation becomes more desperate, T and his sister, Xochitl, decide to take desperate measures to save Manny, even if it means a major change of plans for Teodoro.
I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but it really grew on me and by the end, I was in tears. The characters were well developed and even though I couldn’t specifically relate to them or their situation, I was invested in their story and cared about what happened to them. At its heart, this book is a love story, but not just the mushy, teenage-angst-ridden-first-kiss kind of love. Teodoro, does fall in love for the first time and it’s a powerful motivator, but more important is his love for his family, particularly Manny. It’s this familial love that drives the narrative and drives T’s decisions and in the end it’s what makes all the difference. The themes of love and family are universal and so even though I don’t have first-hand experience with what Teodoro is going through, I still felt like I could relate to his love for his family. I also liked that the main character is male, Hispanic, has a Polynesian best friend, and his parents are still together. This book is kind of niche-y, but it could really be helpful for kids who tend to be under-represented. I think it’s an important book to have on hand, particularly for certain areas and populations, so I’ve given it an advisable. Even though there are a lot of swear words, they were mild and mostly used as an exclamation rather than in anger. As the majority of the story revolves around Manny’s struggle to overcome the symptoms of PTSD, there are some stressful and anxious moments, including an episode where Teodoro prevents Manny’s suicide, leading to the PG-13s in mature content and violence.
Reviewer: Andrea R
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Language: R (92 swears, 0 Fs); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing, mild drug use and references, talk of suicide, descriptions of war, some peril); Violence: PG-13;
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Life has not been easy for high school junior Teodoro Avila since his big brother, and hero, Manny was deployed to Iraq. His parents barely speak anymore, his dad's unemployment forced a move to a rundown rental house, and T’s grades are anything but college-worthy. All that changes one day when T runs into an old family friend, Wendy Martinez, who just happens to be gorgeous. T decides then to make a life plan: turn his life around so he can get to college and get the girl. The plan starts out great and T’s grades improve as his connection to Wendy grows. Life seems even better when the news comes that Manny is just a few months away from coming home. T can’t wait for Manny to see what he’s making of himself and he secretly hopes the family will finally go back to the way they were before Manny left. Unfortunately, Manny’s return is not everything that the family dreamed of because Manny is suffering from PTSD and struggles to adjust to life at home. As the situation becomes more desperate, T and his sister, Xochitl, decide to take desperate measures to save Manny, even if it means a major change of plans for Teodoro.
I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but it really grew on me and by the end, I was in tears. The characters were well developed and even though I couldn’t specifically relate to them or their situation, I was invested in their story and cared about what happened to them. At its heart, this book is a love story, but not just the mushy, teenage-angst-ridden-first-kiss kind of love. Teodoro, does fall in love for the first time and it’s a powerful motivator, but more important is his love for his family, particularly Manny. It’s this familial love that drives the narrative and drives T’s decisions and in the end it’s what makes all the difference. The themes of love and family are universal and so even though I don’t have first-hand experience with what Teodoro is going through, I still felt like I could relate to his love for his family. I also liked that the main character is male, Hispanic, has a Polynesian best friend, and his parents are still together. This book is kind of niche-y, but it could really be helpful for kids who tend to be under-represented. I think it’s an important book to have on hand, particularly for certain areas and populations, so I’ve given it an advisable. Even though there are a lot of swear words, they were mild and mostly used as an exclamation rather than in anger. As the majority of the story revolves around Manny’s struggle to overcome the symptoms of PTSD, there are some stressful and anxious moments, including an episode where Teodoro prevents Manny’s suicide, leading to the PG-13s in mature content and violence.
Reviewer: Andrea R
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
October 11, 2019
American Road Trip
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott conveys a strong message about understanding the pain of change. Throughout the book, the characters begin to realize how much PTSD can shake a family to its core. This book shows how you can’t always expect people to act the same way after a traumatic and horrifying experience. The journey that the characters face in this story is one of which is an emotional battle against the post-trauma of a family member coming back from the service. American Road Trip changes your perspective about the struggles many people deal with but are not always noticed.
Teodoro Avila, a normal, average, teenage boy seems to have everything under control and has pretty low standards for his life. Yet on the other spectrum of things, T is also a failing young high school student struggling with the hurt from his brother, Manny, who is diagnosed with PTSD after coming back from Iraq. “Manny’s worried about coming home,” she said. “He’s worried his head isn’t right. He doesn’t want them to know. He doesn't want you to know.” (Flores-Scott 40) T had expected so much from his brother after the past memories of Manny being the perfect boy but he didn’t realize how Manny was even scared to come back and show his true colors. And although T had such high expectations for Manny, he quickly realized that when Manny arrived back home, he was indeed a different man. I can only imagine how it would feel to envision someone you look up to so much, but then find out they are completely changed when you finally meet them again.
“I think about all the years Manny was gone. Mami and Papi were going downhill. And I was lost.” (Flores-Scott 159) American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott is the story of a boy who becomes a man when all of his life is put to a test. Like when he has to tell the truth about his life to the one girl he loves and work to help his sister come out to the world with her ability to perform and sing. He also has to be the brother that Manny needs when he is emotionally broken and helps to fix his parent’s marriage. I wonder what it would be like to be in Teodoro’s shoes. How would it feel to have so much weight put on your shoulders?
American Road Trip is a compelling book that I would recommend to anyone dealing with family or friends that have hardships with PTSD. This book also contains romance between two high school kids which can be appealing to some readers. Although the book can come off as being centered around this romance, the story is actually more about the theme of growing up in an imperfect world and dealing with the mental battle of changes that are unexpected. This book is a great reminder of how change can impact people more than they would ever realize. This story really helped me see how much PTSD can affect not only the person diagnosed with the condition but the people around them too. If you decide to read this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott conveys a strong message about understanding the pain of change. Throughout the book, the characters begin to realize how much PTSD can shake a family to its core. This book shows how you can’t always expect people to act the same way after a traumatic and horrifying experience. The journey that the characters face in this story is one of which is an emotional battle against the post-trauma of a family member coming back from the service. American Road Trip changes your perspective about the struggles many people deal with but are not always noticed.
Teodoro Avila, a normal, average, teenage boy seems to have everything under control and has pretty low standards for his life. Yet on the other spectrum of things, T is also a failing young high school student struggling with the hurt from his brother, Manny, who is diagnosed with PTSD after coming back from Iraq. “Manny’s worried about coming home,” she said. “He’s worried his head isn’t right. He doesn’t want them to know. He doesn't want you to know.” (Flores-Scott 40) T had expected so much from his brother after the past memories of Manny being the perfect boy but he didn’t realize how Manny was even scared to come back and show his true colors. And although T had such high expectations for Manny, he quickly realized that when Manny arrived back home, he was indeed a different man. I can only imagine how it would feel to envision someone you look up to so much, but then find out they are completely changed when you finally meet them again.
“I think about all the years Manny was gone. Mami and Papi were going downhill. And I was lost.” (Flores-Scott 159) American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott is the story of a boy who becomes a man when all of his life is put to a test. Like when he has to tell the truth about his life to the one girl he loves and work to help his sister come out to the world with her ability to perform and sing. He also has to be the brother that Manny needs when he is emotionally broken and helps to fix his parent’s marriage. I wonder what it would be like to be in Teodoro’s shoes. How would it feel to have so much weight put on your shoulders?
American Road Trip is a compelling book that I would recommend to anyone dealing with family or friends that have hardships with PTSD. This book also contains romance between two high school kids which can be appealing to some readers. Although the book can come off as being centered around this romance, the story is actually more about the theme of growing up in an imperfect world and dealing with the mental battle of changes that are unexpected. This book is a great reminder of how change can impact people more than they would ever realize. This story really helped me see how much PTSD can affect not only the person diagnosed with the condition but the people around them too. If you decide to read this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
September 18, 2018
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley
Relationships and connections. These are things that keep Teodoro “T” going. First, he has a best friend who believes in him and is willing to stand by him through pretty much anything. Second, he has a sister who will push him, but will also hold him tightly. I loved seeing the back and forth between Xochitl and T. They both want the best for each other and their brother Manny though they don’t always go about things the same way. Flores-Scott lets readers get to know T, but also allows us to see the ways in which the siblings interact and how those relationships shape the individuals. Beyond these two, he also has quite a few others in his corner both near and far. One of the beauties of this story is how many, many people are willing to pitch in to make life better for both T and his brother. Their lives are often dark and difficult, but hope doesn’t curl up and die because of the many people around them.
And who can resist a road trip story? Road trips almost always provide moments for bonding even if it’s just having some horrible shared experience. This particular road trip is all about connecting and re-connecting with people. Each stop felt like they were tying themselves to others. I pictured pins on a map with the strings connecting from one to another. This was not an upbeat road trip though. There are some moments of humor, but Manny’s PTSD is intense and no matter how far they run, they can’t seem to escape it. Xochitl’s plan is to buy time for healing, but this isn’t easy.
This might be a challenging book for those who have experienced PTSD in their families. The pain is hard to witness even knowing it’s fiction, but the love and caring of so many people offers hope and optimism. Woven in throughout the most difficult issues, there are moments of laughter and a lovely bit of romance so it’s not constant intensity.
Recommendation: Get it soon especially if you enjoy family stories. This is not the story of a perfect family, but does show a family willing to do what’s needed even when it gets hard. I loved getting to know the characters in this story and hope many people get to experience them too.
Relationships and connections. These are things that keep Teodoro “T” going. First, he has a best friend who believes in him and is willing to stand by him through pretty much anything. Second, he has a sister who will push him, but will also hold him tightly. I loved seeing the back and forth between Xochitl and T. They both want the best for each other and their brother Manny though they don’t always go about things the same way. Flores-Scott lets readers get to know T, but also allows us to see the ways in which the siblings interact and how those relationships shape the individuals. Beyond these two, he also has quite a few others in his corner both near and far. One of the beauties of this story is how many, many people are willing to pitch in to make life better for both T and his brother. Their lives are often dark and difficult, but hope doesn’t curl up and die because of the many people around them.
And who can resist a road trip story? Road trips almost always provide moments for bonding even if it’s just having some horrible shared experience. This particular road trip is all about connecting and re-connecting with people. Each stop felt like they were tying themselves to others. I pictured pins on a map with the strings connecting from one to another. This was not an upbeat road trip though. There are some moments of humor, but Manny’s PTSD is intense and no matter how far they run, they can’t seem to escape it. Xochitl’s plan is to buy time for healing, but this isn’t easy.
This might be a challenging book for those who have experienced PTSD in their families. The pain is hard to witness even knowing it’s fiction, but the love and caring of so many people offers hope and optimism. Woven in throughout the most difficult issues, there are moments of laughter and a lovely bit of romance so it’s not constant intensity.
Recommendation: Get it soon especially if you enjoy family stories. This is not the story of a perfect family, but does show a family willing to do what’s needed even when it gets hard. I loved getting to know the characters in this story and hope many people get to experience them too.
September 1, 2020
I could't finish this book.
It's an easy read, but the characters aren't compelling and the plot is all over the place. The whole thing feels forced - it doesn't feel like the way people actually talk to each other, but rather the way authors THINK people talk to each other. Too many names and nicknames in every sentence. It got painful. Also, the road trip doesn't start until the middle of the book and is done in the most frustrating way possible.
Just not for me I guess.
It's an easy read, but the characters aren't compelling and the plot is all over the place. The whole thing feels forced - it doesn't feel like the way people actually talk to each other, but rather the way authors THINK people talk to each other. Too many names and nicknames in every sentence. It got painful. Also, the road trip doesn't start until the middle of the book and is done in the most frustrating way possible.
Just not for me I guess.
Want to read
April 5, 2018[UPDATE 4/5/2018: It has a cover and a release date!!!!!]
I am SO EXCITED to read this! I'm still in love with Jumped In. :)
I am SO EXCITED to read this! I'm still in love with Jumped In. :)
October 18, 2019
The romance was pure cringe. The only interesting part of the novel was Manny and they didn't really explore that. Then they ended with the inane crap with the band that literally no one cares about. Ending sucks, Wendy is boring, Protagonist is boring.
November 28, 2021
This book was confusing and kinda boring. I picked this book up as a blind sort of thing were I didn’t know what it was about and it was a let down for sure. Boring plot and characters weren’t developed enough.
February 23, 2020
Líbil se mi příběh, i když asi v českém prostředí nebude tolik rezonovat, ale hlavně se mi líbil naprosto boží překlad!
March 27, 2022
Beautiful story about recovery. The love story is super sweet. Big takeaway: Green Chiles are amazing.
June 9, 2019
4.5 rounding up. My biggest issue is not the fault of Flores-Scott but the production itself was hard to hear. On full volume using my regular headphones, I had a hard time hearing the parts where the performer was speaking more softly. Don't get me wrong, Luis Moreno did very well in his performance yet I am hoping for future novels I won't have to either listen only in my car or in a quiet room so as not to miss key conversations.
In the very beginning, I was concerned that it might not be the book for me. Teodoro playing video games with his friend all night long on the night before the first day of school for their Jr. year in high school. The decision they made to get serious and make changes I liked, even if the motivation was because of a girl. Then I was frustrated when his sister made some decisions for him and HR Linda in me was saying "This is so irresponsible! He is supposed to be at work! He has studies to do!"
Halfway through, however, I was hooked into this lovely story that featured many issues - trust, family (particularly siblings), PTSD, depression, young love and more.
In the very beginning, I was concerned that it might not be the book for me. Teodoro playing video games with his friend all night long on the night before the first day of school for their Jr. year in high school. The decision they made to get serious and make changes I liked, even if the motivation was because of a girl. Then I was frustrated when his sister made some decisions for him and HR Linda in me was saying "This is so irresponsible! He is supposed to be at work! He has studies to do!"
Halfway through, however, I was hooked into this lovely story that featured many issues - trust, family (particularly siblings), PTSD, depression, young love and more.
September 13, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt Books for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 and all the feels for this 9/18/18 release. Teodore’s family hasn’t been the same since his brother Manny went overseas with the military. When T meets and old, now crazy beautiful, friend when he is wandering around the University of Washington’s campus, he promises her that they’ll both go there together after graduating high school. The problem? Besides his family’s sad state, his grades are even sadder. He kicks it into gear to round out his junior year, and just when things are looking up, his brother comes homes with serious PTSD. As he moves into the summer before his senior year, T is ready to put his family’s new troubles out of his mind and focus on making himself U-Dub worthy. His siblings have something else in mind though, and it is a trip that changes everything. The characters in this are fantastic, and the story packs all kinds of emotional punches. I would recommend this for mature middle schoolers (like, 8th grade) and up.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 and all the feels for this 9/18/18 release. Teodore’s family hasn’t been the same since his brother Manny went overseas with the military. When T meets and old, now crazy beautiful, friend when he is wandering around the University of Washington’s campus, he promises her that they’ll both go there together after graduating high school. The problem? Besides his family’s sad state, his grades are even sadder. He kicks it into gear to round out his junior year, and just when things are looking up, his brother comes homes with serious PTSD. As he moves into the summer before his senior year, T is ready to put his family’s new troubles out of his mind and focus on making himself U-Dub worthy. His siblings have something else in mind though, and it is a trip that changes everything. The characters in this are fantastic, and the story packs all kinds of emotional punches. I would recommend this for mature middle schoolers (like, 8th grade) and up.
June 5, 2019
YA, Road Trip, PTSD, Family
All the Teodoro wants is for his brother Manny to be back from Iraq so his family can get back to normal. He's lost without his brother and going nowhere in school, his Mom and Dad have been feuding ever since his brother enlisted, and his sister is never around.
As in so many cases, his brother comes home a different man. "T"s sister decides that what Manny needs is connections to the fun times in his life and she tricks T into coming along on road trip with Manny.
This book really has heart. It is an intact family, who love each other, who want to do the right thing. And it is very respectful of so many situations that come up with teens, vets, and families. If you want to understand PTSD a little better this might be the book for you. If you want a road trip (I love road trip books) this book might be for you. If you just want a well crafted book about a touchy subject that doesn't give you pat solutions, this may be your book. Oh and there is a good romance, too.
All the Teodoro wants is for his brother Manny to be back from Iraq so his family can get back to normal. He's lost without his brother and going nowhere in school, his Mom and Dad have been feuding ever since his brother enlisted, and his sister is never around.
As in so many cases, his brother comes home a different man. "T"s sister decides that what Manny needs is connections to the fun times in his life and she tricks T into coming along on road trip with Manny.
This book really has heart. It is an intact family, who love each other, who want to do the right thing. And it is very respectful of so many situations that come up with teens, vets, and families. If you want to understand PTSD a little better this might be the book for you. If you want a road trip (I love road trip books) this book might be for you. If you just want a well crafted book about a touchy subject that doesn't give you pat solutions, this may be your book. Oh and there is a good romance, too.
August 26, 2023
This book has been on my TBR-list for the longest time, and it is only that which made me plough through it to the end.
I thought I'd love a story about a road trip but I hated the way the road trip was executed by T's sister. That and her lies and complete lack of respect for T's future enraged me. (I say this as someone who lives in a family bound together by trauma. PTS, and living with those with PTS, means a greater need for honesty, respect and boundaries, not less).
I also disliked how selfish Wendy was and how she somehow managed to make another family's crisis about her.
And then the end. The characters act in an incredibly problematic and manipulative manner throughout the novel and the author shows character development by having the protagonist act in the same way, and somehow that's explained as love?
The story is sweet, hence three stars, but I haven't disliked characters this much in a while. I've mentioned before that I'm on a journey of accepting flawed characters and actions but we have to hold YA novels to a greater standard.
Essentially, the message here to the YA audience is that it's okay to lie, manipulate, and hijack family members (literally and figuratively) to achieve your own agenda and that (to misquote Whitney) is not right nor is it okay.
I thought I'd love a story about a road trip but I hated the way the road trip was executed by T's sister. That and her lies and complete lack of respect for T's future enraged me. (I say this as someone who lives in a family bound together by trauma. PTS, and living with those with PTS, means a greater need for honesty, respect and boundaries, not less).
I also disliked how selfish Wendy was and how she somehow managed to make another family's crisis about her.
And then the end. The characters act in an incredibly problematic and manipulative manner throughout the novel and the author shows character development by having the protagonist act in the same way, and somehow that's explained as love?
The story is sweet, hence three stars, but I haven't disliked characters this much in a while. I've mentioned before that I'm on a journey of accepting flawed characters and actions but we have to hold YA novels to a greater standard.
Essentially, the message here to the YA audience is that it's okay to lie, manipulate, and hijack family members (literally and figuratively) to achieve your own agenda and that (to misquote Whitney) is not right nor is it okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2021
I attempted to start this about a year ago and never got through it, so I rented the audiobook to listen to while painting.
First things first.
What I liked:
The characters were great, I was really rooting for them all. I really liked Xochitl, I thought Manny was very well written, but I related the most to Teodoro, I liked the way the author described academics and it made me, much like Teodoro, want to try my hardest at school.
I thought the romance was cute and I loved that it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
I really appreciate how the author handled PTSD.
And damn did it make me want green chiles.
What I disliked:
I thought the story was rushed in some places.
I think the title is a little misleading since the “Road Trip” was only a small part of the story.
Over all a good story. I rate it 3.5/5
First things first.
What I liked:
The characters were great, I was really rooting for them all. I really liked Xochitl, I thought Manny was very well written, but I related the most to Teodoro, I liked the way the author described academics and it made me, much like Teodoro, want to try my hardest at school.
I thought the romance was cute and I loved that it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
I really appreciate how the author handled PTSD.
And damn did it make me want green chiles.
What I disliked:
I thought the story was rushed in some places.
I think the title is a little misleading since the “Road Trip” was only a small part of the story.
Over all a good story. I rate it 3.5/5
May 22, 2019
I am not a big reader in my personal time, but the American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott made me second guess that choice. The books I like are the ones that are not super descriptive. I can get bored with the description and start to lose focus when something gets dragged out. This book could be described as emotional. There are a lot of different emotions in the book like sad, happy, nervous, brave and the list keeps going on. I am not a person to read a book where it takes 5 minutes to read a page because it's so jam-packed. I will start to not read pages and skip them. The American Road trip is not that. It is a relatively quick read that keeps you on your toes. I was always dying to turn the page and see what it had to offer.
July 31, 2019
Vůbec jsem nevěděla, o čem kniha je, ale tak nějak jsem měla mylnou představu, že to je nějaká romantika na cestách. Tak ne. Rozhodně se tam řeší mnohem vážnější témata (i když nějaká ta romantika tam samozřejmě je taky). Jenom jsem stále čkeat, že stráví víc času na cestách, z celé knihy to mohlo být tak 50 stran? Fakt jsem čekala, že budou víc cestovat, chodit po památkách nebo něco takového, ale v autě moc stran opravdu nestrávili.
July 31, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up :/.
I loved the concept of this book a lot - I’m a sucker for historical fiction (if 2008 counts as historical lmfao), road trips, and family dynamics, but I felt the execution fell flat. The romance took up too much of the plot for me, and I just generally was annoyed with how sickly sweet Wendy and T were.
Also, I wish there was more time dedicated to actually delving into Manny’s character. I really appreciated the look into how PTSD affects vets & families but I didn’t feel like we really sympathized with Manny’s struggle - or at least I feel that there could have been more time spent on that (as opposed to the romance).
Anyways - wasn’t my cup of tea but certainly was a good book with a good concept! I will say, I really liked that the ending wasn’t perfect & wasn’t tied up nicely with a ribbon on top!
I loved the concept of this book a lot - I’m a sucker for historical fiction (if 2008 counts as historical lmfao), road trips, and family dynamics, but I felt the execution fell flat. The romance took up too much of the plot for me, and I just generally was annoyed with how sickly sweet Wendy and T were.
Also, I wish there was more time dedicated to actually delving into Manny’s character. I really appreciated the look into how PTSD affects vets & families but I didn’t feel like we really sympathized with Manny’s struggle - or at least I feel that there could have been more time spent on that (as opposed to the romance).
Anyways - wasn’t my cup of tea but certainly was a good book with a good concept! I will say, I really liked that the ending wasn’t perfect & wasn’t tied up nicely with a ribbon on top!
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