SOLVED. Memoir/non-fiction: Boy moves around the country a lot with his mother-author interviewed on NPR 2010/11? [s]

[Liz]

This book may have been published as far back as even 2009 .. but I think 2010-2011 is more likely

[Kris]

Liz, I moved your request to the "Unsolved" folder because it sounds like you're looking for one specific book.

[Rainbowheart]

Are you sure it was his mother?

There's The Next Better Place: Memories of My Misspent Youth, but the author is with his father.

Rebel Mother: My Childhood Chasing the Revolution has a mother, but the book is too new to have been on NPR around 2010/2011.

[Liz]

It was definitely his mother. During the interview, the author talked about his relationship w his mother today and how it influenced his marriage. He spoke to Terry Gross (I think that’s who it was) about the relationship between his wife and his mom too.

[Rainbowheart]

Do you remember why they were moving around the country? Were they on the run? Did she kidnap him? Were they constantly on the road, or did they settle down in different places for a while? Did the author have any siblings? Where was his father?

[Liz]

It seemed his mother had a kind of wanderlust you might say? They weren't "on the run." I think she might've moved when she couldn't pay the rent too?? I don't think they had much money. No, she didn't kidnap him. They would settle in places long enough for him to go to school .. but I don't think he went to the same school for very many yrs in a row and she'd uproot them again. I think he was the only child. I don't remember what he said about his father .. if he had died (and mom was a widow) or if they had divorced or never married. I have no idea about that. In the interview, he didn't talk about his father.

[Liz]

Both the books you mentioned sound like they are good reads. But neither is quite the one I am wondering about. I think the book I'm looking for takes place over the 70s.

[Rainbowheart]

I also thought of Free Spirit: Growing Up On the Road and Off the Grid, but it was published in 2013, so I think it's too recent.

[Kathy]

You don't say what country this takes place in, but your description fits Christopher Fitz-Simons' Eleven Houses, published in 2007. His childhood memories of moving from house to house are of Ireland during the Second World War.

[Rosa]

This Boy's Life for the link.

[Rainbowheart]

Still looking, Liz?

[Liz]

Yes. Rainbowheart wrote: "Still looking, Liz?"

[Liz]

OMG. I never saw this reply .. and I actually think this *may* be it! I would need to read a little more about the author to be sure .. but WOW. Thank You for your replies either way... Most recent and this one from yrs ago!
Rainbowheart wrote: "I also thought of Free Spirit: Growing Up On the Road and Off the Grid, but it was published in 2013, so I think it's too recent."

[Liz]

This is the author .. DEFINITELY!! I cant thank you enough. Rainbowheart wrote: "I also thought of Free Spirit: Growing Up On the Road and Off the Grid, but it was published in 2013, so I think it's too recent."

[Liz]

Yes. I think it was just solved.
Kris wrote: "Liz, I moved your request to the "Unsolved" folder because it sounds like you're looking for one specific book."

[Rainbowheart]

Oh, awesome! I'm super glad that was the right one.

[Liz]

Thank you so much