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Eat and Get Gas
Thirteen-year-old Evan Hanson is always the last in her family to know what’s going on—at least, that’s how it feels. Her father, Gene, who’s been meaner since he began serving in Vietnam, isn’t around much, and she likes it better that way. But then her brother, Adam, gets drafted and her anti-war mother, Endura, takes him across the border to Canada, leaving Evan alone with Gene and her younger, special needs brother, Teddy.
When he realizes Endura isn’t returning, Gene takes Evan and Teddy to Eat and Get Gas, his mother’s café and gas station in Hoquiam, Washington. There, as well as her no-nonsense but loving grandma, Evan encounters Aunt Vivian, a teasing but caring know-it-all; Uncle Frankie, injured in Vietnam and suffering from PTSD; Paco, the draft dodger Frankie is hiding; Hal and Hubert, the strange but gentle next-door neighbors who play the piano like virtuosos and help out when they’re needed; and Louanne, Frankie’s reserved, sensitive sister. She is drawn in particular to Louanne, who was disfigured by a car accident that killed the rest of her and Frankie’s family.
At Eat and Get Gas, Evan finds a new freedom, and she starts to carve out a place for herself by helping in the café and sorting mail for Uncle Frankie, who runs a postal route in addition to running the gas station. She eventually, too, learns some of the family secrets she’s been kept in the dark about—and comes to understand that her mother isn’t coming back any time soon.
Then, after reading a letter that wasn’t meant for her, Evan discovers the biggest secret of all.
When he realizes Endura isn’t returning, Gene takes Evan and Teddy to Eat and Get Gas, his mother’s café and gas station in Hoquiam, Washington. There, as well as her no-nonsense but loving grandma, Evan encounters Aunt Vivian, a teasing but caring know-it-all; Uncle Frankie, injured in Vietnam and suffering from PTSD; Paco, the draft dodger Frankie is hiding; Hal and Hubert, the strange but gentle next-door neighbors who play the piano like virtuosos and help out when they’re needed; and Louanne, Frankie’s reserved, sensitive sister. She is drawn in particular to Louanne, who was disfigured by a car accident that killed the rest of her and Frankie’s family.
At Eat and Get Gas, Evan finds a new freedom, and she starts to carve out a place for herself by helping in the café and sorting mail for Uncle Frankie, who runs a postal route in addition to running the gas station. She eventually, too, learns some of the family secrets she’s been kept in the dark about—and comes to understand that her mother isn’t coming back any time soon.
Then, after reading a letter that wasn’t meant for her, Evan discovers the biggest secret of all.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2023
44 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Wright
2 books133 followersJodi (J.A.) Wright was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and moved to New Zealand in 1990, where she has worked in the festival and event industry since 1992.
How to Grow an Addict, her first novel, while not a memoir, reflects her journey into addiction and her struggle to crawl out. The novel received several awards.
Eat and Get Gas is a coming-of-age novel set in 1971 in a coastal town in the Pacific Northwest. It tells the story of an average American family struggling with the impact of the Vietnam War.
Eat and Get Gas is the winner of the 2024 Publisher's Weekly Booklife Prize for fiction (YA). The book also won the 2024 Story Circle Sarton Award for fiction (YA).
Emmy-nominated producer Leanne Moore (GLOW and The Lincoln Lawyer for Netflix, ROAR for Apple TV+) picked up the film and TV rights option.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 30, 2025
⛽️Thank you @BookSparks for sending me a gifted copy of J.A. Wright's deeply moving coming-of-age novel, ᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛ ɢᴀs.⛽️
The book follows Evan Hanson, a plucky thirteen-year-old, as she navigates a very trying time for her family and the whole world -- the Vietnam War. Her mother absconds with her older brother to Canada in an attempt to avoid the draft, leaving Evan and her younger brother Teddy with their father, who never came back the same after his first two tours fighting in Vietnam. He takes them to his mother's motor court and home, a small business she calls Eat And Get Gas. There, they all live and work together, nuclear and extended family, and try to make sense of the situation. Evan misses her mother and remembers a loving, affectionate father, but now finds only a man grappling with himself and his world. And she's just too young to fix any of it. For her parents, her brothers, or herself.
This book is deeply emotional, sad as well as hopeful, honest and yet invigorating. Set on the coast, with the characters digging deep in cold, wet sand for meaty treasures, both figuratively and literally, ᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛ ɢᴀs by J.A. Wright is such a great summer read! ☀️
The book follows Evan Hanson, a plucky thirteen-year-old, as she navigates a very trying time for her family and the whole world -- the Vietnam War. Her mother absconds with her older brother to Canada in an attempt to avoid the draft, leaving Evan and her younger brother Teddy with their father, who never came back the same after his first two tours fighting in Vietnam. He takes them to his mother's motor court and home, a small business she calls Eat And Get Gas. There, they all live and work together, nuclear and extended family, and try to make sense of the situation. Evan misses her mother and remembers a loving, affectionate father, but now finds only a man grappling with himself and his world. And she's just too young to fix any of it. For her parents, her brothers, or herself.
This book is deeply emotional, sad as well as hopeful, honest and yet invigorating. Set on the coast, with the characters digging deep in cold, wet sand for meaty treasures, both figuratively and literally, ᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛ ɢᴀs by J.A. Wright is such a great summer read! ☀️
May 30, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
'Eat and Get Gas' is an engaging and gripping story about thirteen year old Evan navigating the perils of growing up during the early ‘70s with the U.S. in the grips of the Vietnam War. Wright does an exquisite job of creating the very real voice of the young narrator, Evan. The story grips the reader from the first page. The characters are interesting and the story is compelling. The family trauma throbs throughout the book. As a woman who grew up in this era, I felt transported back to this painful, confusing and challenging time. 'Eat and Get Gas' is a great read, unputdownable! I didn’t want the book to end.
'Eat and Get Gas' is an engaging and gripping story about thirteen year old Evan navigating the perils of growing up during the early ‘70s with the U.S. in the grips of the Vietnam War. Wright does an exquisite job of creating the very real voice of the young narrator, Evan. The story grips the reader from the first page. The characters are interesting and the story is compelling. The family trauma throbs throughout the book. As a woman who grew up in this era, I felt transported back to this painful, confusing and challenging time. 'Eat and Get Gas' is a great read, unputdownable! I didn’t want the book to end.
May 29, 2023
Eat & Get Gas is an incredible book. It's unputdownable, compelling and very enjoyable. So, I laughed (a lot) and cried (a lot). The characters are beautifully drawn. Evan is still with me and will be for some time. Louanne and Willa and Viv - all still there. As for Frank - well, what can you say! What a portrait of PTSD and courage. J A Wright's style is terrific - she has that wonderful American understatement that doesn't short- change the emotion one bit. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say Carole Shields springs to mind. It's a triumph.
July 7, 2023
With a catchy name like Eat And Get Gas, J. A. Wright wrote a book that caught my eye.
I enjoyed learning about the Vietnan War from two different perspectives: the aftermath of someone involved in the war and how some dodged getting drafted. I liked the full cast of quirky characters and loved the audiobook narrators various voices for them all!
Thank you Book Sparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.
I enjoyed learning about the Vietnan War from two different perspectives: the aftermath of someone involved in the war and how some dodged getting drafted. I liked the full cast of quirky characters and loved the audiobook narrators various voices for them all!
Thank you Book Sparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.
May 17, 2023
A great read that is hard to put down! A coming of age story where the author breathes life into the characters, I really enjoyed the plot twist at the end.
January 3, 2025
Wildly original story, told in a very unique voice! It’s the type of book that sticks with you long after you’re finished reading, I highly recommend! The perfect blend between tragic yet comical, I loved the main character in the secondary cast of interesting supporting characters. Looking forward to my next read by this author!
June 25, 2023
My gosh, this book is brilliant. Eat and Get Gas by J. A. Wright is the June pick for Booksparks Book Club, and I was SO thrilled to receive a copy, and read along with the Booksparks crew this month! This coming-of-age/family drama/historical fiction novel truly blew me away, and I could not put it down. Thirteen-year-old Evan Hanson’s world has been turned upside-down. Her mother’s health is declining, yet she flees to Canada with Evan’s older brother in order for him to avoid the Vietnam war. Evan is left behind with her father and younger special needs brother. Her father has just returned from the war, is a very changed man, and facing his own demons. Needing extra help, the trio heads to Hoquiam, Washington to stay at her Grandmother’s roadside cafe, gas stop, and home, Eat and Get Gas. The plot really picks up from there with tons of surprises, twists, turns, and colorful characters.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Coming-of-age stories
- Family drama and secrets
- Eccentric, witty, and charming characters
- Pacific North West setting
- Family restaurant vibe
- Early 1970s timeline
- Vietnam War backdrop
- Unique, clever, and quirky plots
I will never forget this story or it’s remarkable characters. My emotions were all over the place. One minute I’d be smiling and giggling, the next I’d be near tears, and placing my hand on my heart with sympathy for Evan. My own daughter is twelve, so I definitely felt that motherly tug for this sweet, innocent, and vulnerable girl. This story will stick with me, that’s for sure. 5/5 stars for Eat and Get Gas! It’s out now, and I highly recommend it!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Coming-of-age stories
- Family drama and secrets
- Eccentric, witty, and charming characters
- Pacific North West setting
- Family restaurant vibe
- Early 1970s timeline
- Vietnam War backdrop
- Unique, clever, and quirky plots
I will never forget this story or it’s remarkable characters. My emotions were all over the place. One minute I’d be smiling and giggling, the next I’d be near tears, and placing my hand on my heart with sympathy for Evan. My own daughter is twelve, so I definitely felt that motherly tug for this sweet, innocent, and vulnerable girl. This story will stick with me, that’s for sure. 5/5 stars for Eat and Get Gas! It’s out now, and I highly recommend it!
June 19, 2023
This book has…
⛽️ lots of memorable, flawed characters
⛽️ a slower pace
⛽️ 1970s Pacific Northwest setting
⛽️ a coming of age story
⛽️ a young POV (the MC is 13)
⛽️ difficult family situations, trauma
The ending seemed a little rushed in my opinion, but I liked the twists. I really enjoyed these messy characters and seeing things through Evan’s eyes.
Overall, I’d recommend!
⛽️ lots of memorable, flawed characters
⛽️ a slower pace
⛽️ 1970s Pacific Northwest setting
⛽️ a coming of age story
⛽️ a young POV (the MC is 13)
⛽️ difficult family situations, trauma
The ending seemed a little rushed in my opinion, but I liked the twists. I really enjoyed these messy characters and seeing things through Evan’s eyes.
Overall, I’d recommend!
June 5, 2023
An interesting and captivating coming of age story. Simply loved how the plot unfolded - worth the read!
June 7, 2023
"Eat and Get Gas" is an incredible book that had me completely hooked from the first page. J.A. Wright has skillfully crafted a wonderful and spellbinding story that left me feeling a rollercoaster of emotions.
The protagonist, Evan, immediately captured my sympathy as I delved into her world. The author brilliantly portrays her struggles and challenges in a way that evokes genuine empathy from the reader. The writing style is engaging and immersive, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the story.
Overall, "Eat and Get Gas" is a highly recommended read for anyone seeking a captivating and emotionally charged story. J.A. Wright's ability to create relatable characters and expertly craft their journey is truly commendable. Whether you're drawn to tales of personal triumph or simply enjoy a well-written novel, this book will leave you thoroughly satisfied.
The protagonist, Evan, immediately captured my sympathy as I delved into her world. The author brilliantly portrays her struggles and challenges in a way that evokes genuine empathy from the reader. The writing style is engaging and immersive, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the story.
Overall, "Eat and Get Gas" is a highly recommended read for anyone seeking a captivating and emotionally charged story. J.A. Wright's ability to create relatable characters and expertly craft their journey is truly commendable. Whether you're drawn to tales of personal triumph or simply enjoy a well-written novel, this book will leave you thoroughly satisfied.
October 26, 2023
There are no murders, there is no sex, it is not a science fiction book…basically not the type of book I normally read. It is a book about a family in the early 70’s, their struggles and attempts at normalcy during times that are not normal.
June 18, 2023
In The Tradition of Flannery O'Connor and Eudora Welty
If you love the interplay of lovingly-developed eccentric characters and a novel with a true sense of place, then Eat And Get Gas will be your cup of…er…coffee. An entertaining, but not heavy, plot keeps you up reading later at night than you had intended, because it is accompanied by something of a coming-of-age story of a teen girl, combined with the PTSD unpredictability of Vietnam vets, saucy and smart old ladies running the local café and gas station, and a very strong sense of place. J.A. Wright’s book oozes the Pacific Northwest and the Washington coast small towns of the turbulent 70’s, such that anyone who spent time in that place, or lived through the decade, will affectionately (and, wistfully and nostalgically, as with the tone of this book) recognize – without any saccharine aftertaste. All with guest appearances by D.B. Cooper, Betty McDonald, razor clams and roller rinks. If you love Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor with a tiny dose of the seamy underbelly of James Elroy, then this book is definitely worth your attention, as it captures the magic of their work, while flying by so quickly you end up wanting more.
If you love the interplay of lovingly-developed eccentric characters and a novel with a true sense of place, then Eat And Get Gas will be your cup of…er…coffee. An entertaining, but not heavy, plot keeps you up reading later at night than you had intended, because it is accompanied by something of a coming-of-age story of a teen girl, combined with the PTSD unpredictability of Vietnam vets, saucy and smart old ladies running the local café and gas station, and a very strong sense of place. J.A. Wright’s book oozes the Pacific Northwest and the Washington coast small towns of the turbulent 70’s, such that anyone who spent time in that place, or lived through the decade, will affectionately (and, wistfully and nostalgically, as with the tone of this book) recognize – without any saccharine aftertaste. All with guest appearances by D.B. Cooper, Betty McDonald, razor clams and roller rinks. If you love Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor with a tiny dose of the seamy underbelly of James Elroy, then this book is definitely worth your attention, as it captures the magic of their work, while flying by so quickly you end up wanting more.
June 29, 2023
I learned a lot about the effects of the Vietnam war on the soldiers and their families. I always knew the draft was bad but it never occurred to me how horrific it would be to be forced to leave your family to fight in a war whether you believed in it or not. Forced to watch ppl die or be ripped apart. And then to come back and just have to suck it up and live a normal life again… if you even made it back at all. I was so upset for everyone in the book. Most of all for the poor child surrounded by terrible caregivers. And abandoned by everyone else. Such an upsetting book.
Thank you for the gifted copy, Book Sparks.
Thank you for the gifted copy, Book Sparks.
April 7, 2023
Everything about this book--from its tongue in cheek title to its collection of eccentric, lovable characters--was a total joy. Funny, smart, and poignant.
January 19, 2024
A dysfunctional family replete with unlikable characters.
July 5, 2023
This is a wonderful coming-of-age historical fiction novel set during Vietnam. With poignant, smart and funny writing, J.A. Wright tells this engaging and grabbing story from the clear-voiced perspective of 13-year old Evangeline (Evan), who is living in the Pacific Northwest with her anti-war mother in declining health, her PSTD-laden father who's done several tours in Vietnam, an older brother trying to dodge the draft, and a younger brother with special needs.
When Evan's mother takes her older brother across the border to Canada to avoid having to report for active duty, her father takes her and younger brother Teddy to stay with their grandmother at her roadside diner/gas station called... you guessed it... Eat and Get Gas.
It is in this new community where we really see the impact of the war on the people living through it, which is done in such a compelling way through Evan's eyes. She goes through some terribly difficult personal struggles, but is buoyant and her story is ultimately hopeful. The cast of characters, including the matriarch at the diner, paints a vivid picture of a community facing these political challenges in the 70s, but it is ultimately Evan's story and spirit that takes you through this book.
With a strong sense of place and a vivid voice, you feel like you're living Evan's life, feeling her disappointment and anger, and ultimately joining her in her coming of age story. It is so well done and its almost impossible to stop reading once you start. I really liked the time period for this novel, something different from your typical WW1 and WW2 historical fiction.
Thank you to Booksparks and the author for the gifted copy for review. I really, really enjoyed it!
When Evan's mother takes her older brother across the border to Canada to avoid having to report for active duty, her father takes her and younger brother Teddy to stay with their grandmother at her roadside diner/gas station called... you guessed it... Eat and Get Gas.
It is in this new community where we really see the impact of the war on the people living through it, which is done in such a compelling way through Evan's eyes. She goes through some terribly difficult personal struggles, but is buoyant and her story is ultimately hopeful. The cast of characters, including the matriarch at the diner, paints a vivid picture of a community facing these political challenges in the 70s, but it is ultimately Evan's story and spirit that takes you through this book.
With a strong sense of place and a vivid voice, you feel like you're living Evan's life, feeling her disappointment and anger, and ultimately joining her in her coming of age story. It is so well done and its almost impossible to stop reading once you start. I really liked the time period for this novel, something different from your typical WW1 and WW2 historical fiction.
Thank you to Booksparks and the author for the gifted copy for review. I really, really enjoyed it!
April 8, 2024
What a unique story that’s filled with interesting characters.
Evan is thirteen and living through a difficult time, it’s the 70’s and the U.S is in the middle of the Vietnam War. Evans mothers health is declining, but her mother flees to Canada with her older brother to save him from the Vietnam War. She leaves Evan behind with her father and younger special needs brother. Her father has just returned from the war and is a shell of the man he was before, he was an army officer who has served several tours in Vietnam. Needing help with her mother gone , the trio heads to Hoquiam, Washington to stay at her Grandmother’s roadside cafe, gas station, and her home called Eat and Get Gas. This is where she meets her Uncle Frankie and other family members and friends. Evan soon finds herself getting involved in many shady things (like burning mail) but, in the process, she begins to learns many family secrets, one that will change everything. I truly was invested in Evans story and couldn’t put it down!
Evan is thirteen and living through a difficult time, it’s the 70’s and the U.S is in the middle of the Vietnam War. Evans mothers health is declining, but her mother flees to Canada with her older brother to save him from the Vietnam War. She leaves Evan behind with her father and younger special needs brother. Her father has just returned from the war and is a shell of the man he was before, he was an army officer who has served several tours in Vietnam. Needing help with her mother gone , the trio heads to Hoquiam, Washington to stay at her Grandmother’s roadside cafe, gas station, and her home called Eat and Get Gas. This is where she meets her Uncle Frankie and other family members and friends. Evan soon finds herself getting involved in many shady things (like burning mail) but, in the process, she begins to learns many family secrets, one that will change everything. I truly was invested in Evans story and couldn’t put it down!
June 23, 2023
J.A Wright paints a really clear picture of a family’s life in the Vietnam era of the 70s. Fallout from the war affects all the characters in different ways, but although the events have led to some tragic outcomes, the humour of the circumstances comes through too. This is not a bleak story, hope and tolerance eventually result in a fitting end.
The story is very compelling and thrusts you forward to keep reading to see what is going to happen next! The author’s intuitive nature seems to shine in the various scenarios as she describes the feelings of the characters so vividly it’s almost as though she has played all the parts!
I really recommend this book, it’s told through the eyes of a 13 year old with deep insight way beyond her years and will keep you turning the pages to see how she survives the next challenge thrown at her. Even though it’s set in a place that is a world apart from mine, I could feel the emotions, smell those clams and hear the music as if I was a character within the pages.
The story is very compelling and thrusts you forward to keep reading to see what is going to happen next! The author’s intuitive nature seems to shine in the various scenarios as she describes the feelings of the characters so vividly it’s almost as though she has played all the parts!
I really recommend this book, it’s told through the eyes of a 13 year old with deep insight way beyond her years and will keep you turning the pages to see how she survives the next challenge thrown at her. Even though it’s set in a place that is a world apart from mine, I could feel the emotions, smell those clams and hear the music as if I was a character within the pages.
September 17, 2023
Terrific story with relatable characters most of them quirky or damaged but the refreshingly honest point of view of the narrator -an early teen girl who has every reason to be a mess but somehow manages to keep sane among some pretty crazy relatives. I loved the writing and the occasional plot twist kept me hanging on every word. When's the next book coming out?
January 19, 2024
I struggle with books where adults are so casually neglectful of kids, and this was a hard one for me - the story is fine, but the way the adults in this book act just made me so mad.
While some were clearly meant to be abusive, it felt like most were were supposed to be flawed but lovable in a quirky way, and left me really uncomfortable.
While some were clearly meant to be abusive, it felt like most were were supposed to be flawed but lovable in a quirky way, and left me really uncomfortable.
June 27, 2023
I jumped up and down when I got to the last page of this book! I absolutely loved it!
June 6, 2023
This is a wonderful story of a teenager in the 70s dealing with her father, a Vietnam vet, her special needs brother, and her brother who is drafted. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2023
Ah this book was lovely! A coming of age story, that touched on many subjects. The story was compelling and character driven. I really enjoyed this one!
July 6, 2023
Eat and Get Gas by J. A. Wright was an amazing book! It's the sweetest coming of age story about 13 year old Evan, a young girl growing up in the 70's! I absolutely fell in love with Evan's spirt, and her determination to get through each day while dealing with her family drama! Thank you to Book Sparks for selecting me for your June book club pick, and this five star read!
August 7, 2023
Guess I’m a sucker for a girl’s coming-of-age in the 70s.
July 30, 2023
As a child of the 60s, and of the Pacific Northwest, the history and place of Eat and Get Gas kept me riveted. The well-drawn characters and setting are spot-on: I can just see the headlines reporting the day's Vietnam casualties and the mystery that was D.B. Cooper. J.A. Wright took me right back there. Strong women, damaged men, a precocious child, this story will grab your attention and hold you in its grasp right to the end.
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July 8, 2023Thanks to @BookSparks for sending me a copy of their June #BookSparksBookClub pick, EAT AND GET GAS by @J.A_Wright (on sale June 6, 2023).
When thirteen-year-old Evan’s older brother, Adam, gets drafted to go to Vietnam, her father, an officer on the cusp of his third tour who has become meaner each time he’s returned from South Asia, refuses to pull any strings to help him avoid the war. In desperation, their mother flees to Canada with Adam leaving Evan and her younger, developmentally delayed brother, Teddy, with their father, Gene. Unequipped to handle the two children, Gene takes them to Hoquiam, Washington where his mother runs a diner/gas station, Eat and Get Gas.
Evan finds some freedom from Gene in Hoquaim even as she misses her mother and is angry in equal measure. Though she has lost her mother and older sister, she’s gained new family: Uncle Frankie, who runs the gas side of the business and has a postal route on the side, was injured in Vietnam and has since suffered from PTSD. Evan helps him sort the mail for his mismanaged route and becomes close to Paco, a draft dodger living with Frankie, and Louanne, Frankie’s younger sister whose face was scarred in a catastrophic wreck that killed their parents. Her grandma’s sister, Aunt Vivian, is caring but mercilessly teases anyone who enters the diner, something that sensitive Evan finds difficult.
I was very interested in reading EAT AND GET GAS because I have a fascination (perhaps the wrong word) for the Vietnam War era. While I’ve read several nonfiction and some novels, this one shows how the brutality inflicted by and on the soldiers in Vietnam affects their families. It’s also a poignant account of Evan who starts out as a good helper to her mother, in part by erasing her own desires and anxieties, but who develops into a more secure individual as she learns and survives her family’s secrets.
Letters aren’t just important because of Uncle Frankie’s postal route; they contain news, greetings, money, and revelations, sometimes providing as much sustenance as the food and fuel from Eat and Get Gas.
When thirteen-year-old Evan’s older brother, Adam, gets drafted to go to Vietnam, her father, an officer on the cusp of his third tour who has become meaner each time he’s returned from South Asia, refuses to pull any strings to help him avoid the war. In desperation, their mother flees to Canada with Adam leaving Evan and her younger, developmentally delayed brother, Teddy, with their father, Gene. Unequipped to handle the two children, Gene takes them to Hoquiam, Washington where his mother runs a diner/gas station, Eat and Get Gas.
Evan finds some freedom from Gene in Hoquaim even as she misses her mother and is angry in equal measure. Though she has lost her mother and older sister, she’s gained new family: Uncle Frankie, who runs the gas side of the business and has a postal route on the side, was injured in Vietnam and has since suffered from PTSD. Evan helps him sort the mail for his mismanaged route and becomes close to Paco, a draft dodger living with Frankie, and Louanne, Frankie’s younger sister whose face was scarred in a catastrophic wreck that killed their parents. Her grandma’s sister, Aunt Vivian, is caring but mercilessly teases anyone who enters the diner, something that sensitive Evan finds difficult.
I was very interested in reading EAT AND GET GAS because I have a fascination (perhaps the wrong word) for the Vietnam War era. While I’ve read several nonfiction and some novels, this one shows how the brutality inflicted by and on the soldiers in Vietnam affects their families. It’s also a poignant account of Evan who starts out as a good helper to her mother, in part by erasing her own desires and anxieties, but who develops into a more secure individual as she learns and survives her family’s secrets.
Letters aren’t just important because of Uncle Frankie’s postal route; they contain news, greetings, money, and revelations, sometimes providing as much sustenance as the food and fuel from Eat and Get Gas.
September 24, 2023
REVIEW- EAT AND GET GAS by JA Wright
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Format: Paperback, SparksBooks June Bookclub Pick
Length: 234pgs
Pub date: June 6, 2023
Publisher: She Writes Press
Genre: Historical Fiction/Bildungsroman
Do you ever read a book and just feel like it was meant for you to read it?? I was fortunate to be sent this month’s BookSpark’s selection and being a child in the 70s I was excited to get a chance to go back to the past for a bit. I was not prepared for how much I would be moved and just how much it would resonate with me. This is what I love so much about historical fiction. It touches on those emotional themes and hidden memories and usually brings them together to form a beautiful moment. J.A. Wright has done that marvelously here.
13 year-old Evan lives in the PNW with her family: her dad, a Army soldier in Vietnam, her mom, an anti-war league of women’s voters activist, and her brothers Adam, a college dropout trying to avoid the draft, and Teddy, a special needs child. When her mom takes Adam and heads to Canada the remaining members of the family head to her grandma’s combo diner gas station called Eat and Get Gas. From there a whole adventure begins and the people are amazing. I felt shades of Gilmore Girls and Northern Exposure with the eccentric community. Lots of great 70s references too; the roller skating rink (ours was Skate Country), the hunt for DB Cooper, Columbia House Records (those were the days), and hitchhiking… in Washington no less… 👀
The coming-of-age story at the core is masterfully written. We see everything through Evan’s eyes and her voice is so strong. As the family secrets begin to come to light Evan shows so much growth.
As a music lover I adored all the music references in the book! I stopped reading after five chapters and went back and started over to start keeping track because… me. Playlist available at my Linktree.
Read if you like these topics:
☕️PNW
🧇Vietnam Era
🥞1970s in America
🍳Coming of age
🥓Music
🍔Family secrets
🥧Offbeat characters
Thank you to J.A. Wright, She Writes Press, and BookSparks for the gifted copy. These thoughts are my own.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Format: Paperback, SparksBooks June Bookclub Pick
Length: 234pgs
Pub date: June 6, 2023
Publisher: She Writes Press
Genre: Historical Fiction/Bildungsroman
Do you ever read a book and just feel like it was meant for you to read it?? I was fortunate to be sent this month’s BookSpark’s selection and being a child in the 70s I was excited to get a chance to go back to the past for a bit. I was not prepared for how much I would be moved and just how much it would resonate with me. This is what I love so much about historical fiction. It touches on those emotional themes and hidden memories and usually brings them together to form a beautiful moment. J.A. Wright has done that marvelously here.
13 year-old Evan lives in the PNW with her family: her dad, a Army soldier in Vietnam, her mom, an anti-war league of women’s voters activist, and her brothers Adam, a college dropout trying to avoid the draft, and Teddy, a special needs child. When her mom takes Adam and heads to Canada the remaining members of the family head to her grandma’s combo diner gas station called Eat and Get Gas. From there a whole adventure begins and the people are amazing. I felt shades of Gilmore Girls and Northern Exposure with the eccentric community. Lots of great 70s references too; the roller skating rink (ours was Skate Country), the hunt for DB Cooper, Columbia House Records (those were the days), and hitchhiking… in Washington no less… 👀
The coming-of-age story at the core is masterfully written. We see everything through Evan’s eyes and her voice is so strong. As the family secrets begin to come to light Evan shows so much growth.
As a music lover I adored all the music references in the book! I stopped reading after five chapters and went back and started over to start keeping track because… me. Playlist available at my Linktree.
Read if you like these topics:
☕️PNW
🧇Vietnam Era
🥞1970s in America
🍳Coming of age
🥓Music
🍔Family secrets
🥧Offbeat characters
Thank you to J.A. Wright, She Writes Press, and BookSparks for the gifted copy. These thoughts are my own.
November 24, 2023
The mighty rural and wet coastal region of the Pacific Nor'west and the hearty folks who chose to make a living there, are captured wonderfully by the author's keen perspective and imagination. From shellshocked vets to those on the lam. Work-slacked drunkards. A tuff-as-iron matriarch. Could-be spinsters with secrets. Religious recluses -who can really tickle the ivories. And, a coming-of-age young girl who is desperately trying to find her dear mother and brothers, and herself, amidst a place where hard love and chaos are everyday life. The feel of the area and its grey desperation is captured so wonderfully that, by the end of the book you sorta get that J.A. herself has stomped around, dipped her arm shoulder-deep in the cold sands of this crazy life, and came up smelling of clams - more than once.
A really great book!
A really great book!
October 8, 2023
Though it contains serious topics this book was an easy read, because it’s well written and no nonsense. For me, a simply written, matter of fact book that involves traumatic events is sometimes a joy to read, because it elicits the most real emotions and can be so cathartic. Evan’s young life is, unfortunately, full of trauma, but her resilience and need for answers makes her shine. The eclectic cast of characters in this novel ranges from super likable to damn near despicable, and they’re all well done.
Side note, I absolutely love the cover of this book! It looks “down home” and inviting; completely unlike the covers of many current fiction novels.
Side note, I absolutely love the cover of this book! It looks “down home” and inviting; completely unlike the covers of many current fiction novels.
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