Hit the Open Road With These Middle Grade Books About Road Trips

Hazel and her dad drive their eighteen-wheeler big rig across the country week after week, hauling everything from flooring to equine treadmills. Hazel hears other truckers complain that driverless vehicles will soon make trucking obsolete and hatches a plan to save her dad’s job — write a hold-your-breath adventure movie about what it’s like to be a modern trucker. Along their travels, Hazel and her dad pick up a hitchhiking teenager, pass a fatal plane crash, adopt a cat, and rescue children from a flooded bus. This completely gripping, unexpected novel is one you won’t soon forget!

Ben, his dad, and their border collie, Atticus, hit the road early one morning on a mission to rescue another border collie in need of adoption. Before long, Ben’s dad confesses that he quit his job, and Ben can’t attend hockey camp that summer due to limited funds. In a split-second decision, Ben invites his friend Theo, and they continue their journey. When the truck breaks down, Ben’s dad convinces the shop owner, Gus, to let him take a bus from the property and invites him along for the ride. At a diner further down the road, the band of traveling companions convinces their waitress, Mia, to quit her job and join them on their dog rescue mission. This unlikely gaggle of friends and strangers makes this quick read a memorable one for adventure-seekers and dog-lovers alike.

Audiobook length: 3 hours

Gonzalo just finished seventh grade and recently lost his father. His grandfather’s long-awaited seventh book for young readers is being published that summer, and Gonzalo’s mother (who runs the family book empire) has a publicity trip planned for the three of them. Unenthusiastic about driving from Los Angeles to Miami, Gonzalo spends most of his time in the car drawing and finally reading the books his grandfather is so famous for. While on the road, the trio stops at bookstores and meets people from his grandfather’s past. Throughout the trip, each traveler manages their grief differently, and healing comes in unexpected ways. Like most families, the trio bonds through humor and compromise in this heartfelt story.

Audiobook length: 5 hours

Eleven-year-old Alex and his dog, Carl Sagan, take the train from Colorado to New Mexico to attend the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival (SHARF). Alex plans to launch his Voyager 3 rocket, complete with the recordings he created on his iPod, to communicate with life beyond planet Earth. Along the way, Alex meets Zed (who has taken a vow of silence) and Zed’s friend, Steve. When Alex’s rocket launch fails, he tags along with his new friends to Las Vegas in search of his maybe-alive dad. But when Carl Sagan goes missing in Las Vegas, and Alex meets the half-sister he didn’t know he had, the family drama really begins. Told in a stream-of-consciousness narrative that also deals with parental mental health, this first-rate coming-of-age novel is not to be missed.

Audiobook length: 6 hours

After school, twins Finn and Molly find an RV camper in their driveway. While exploring the camper, the siblings accidentally turn on a talking voice: the Planet Earth Transporter (PET). With a click of seatbelts and a jolt, the twins are transported from Ohio to a cattle ranch in Colorado. Together, they spend the day riding horses on a cattle drive with a new friend named Ella. After a rousing evening square dance, the two return home, where it’s like they never left. This short chapter book is reminiscent of The Magic School Bus series.

William (Scoobs) isn’t sure what to expect when G’ma picks him up in her Winnebago for a spontaneous road trip across the American South. Treasure chest in tow, G’ma lets Scoobs study the Green Book (a booklet that she and G’pa used 50 years ago to travel safely through the segregated South). At first, traveling from Georgia to Mexico feels exciting, but Scoobs gets nervous when G’ma swaps their license plate and calls him by the wrong name. When he sees himself on the local news, Scoobs starts to panic. This high-stakes novel tackles the universal themes of mistakes, regret, and redemption, and will have you immediately reaching for another Nic Stone book.

Audiobook length: 4 hours

Pedro is the seventh of nine kids. This summer, his family of eleven is taking a motorhome 2,000 miles south to Mexico to bring their Abuelito back to live with them. Pedro is less than thrilled to learn he will share his room with his grandpa. In Mexico, a botched haircut, a Pop Rocks incident, and an arduous mission to dig up the remains of his deceased grandmother are just some of the memorable moments inside this unforgettable memoir. The real kicker, however, is the unbelievable, laugh-out-loud situation that happens to the Martín family on their return trip. Both the audiobook and paperback versions of this award-winning story are equally enjoyable. And don’t miss the sequel coming out this fall.

Audiobook length: 3 hours

Calvin lives with his mother, two sisters, and dog Streak. When Ledward, his mother’s boyfriend, wins four airline tickets, he takes Calvin on a deep-sea fishing vacation in Hawaii. On board a boat, Calvin learns about depth finders, catches a large ono by himself, and helps Ledward deal with an 800lb marlin. His experiences on the trip give Calvin the courage to tackle his problems back home. This short chapter book features black-and-white illustrations and is ideal for ages 7-10.

Pia hopes that a week-long bus tour with her friend, Sam, and his family will help heal her grief over losing her younger brother. Along the way, they make new friends, stop at museums and roadside attractions, and experience the inevitable mechanical issues. When they reach the magical Cessarine Lake with alleged healing powers, Pia makes a decision that changes the course of another family’s life forever. This graphic novel deals with grief and regret and is best for ages 9+.