Joyride

by Gretchen Olson

What begins as a lark, a joyride in Jeff's Bronco through a farmer's bean field, ends in a most unexpected summer. Giving up tennis, Jeff is thrust into helping with the harvest to pay off his debt. The strawberry fields are only miles away from the tennis courts, but worlds apart. The language, the culture, even the handshakes of the workers are different, not to mention the backbreaking work. Jeff's camaraderie with Macario, a hired hand, and Alexa, the farmer's daughter, makes for a transformative time of understanding and friendship. When vandals repeatedly destroy farm property, Jeff is challenged to find his true allegiance in this highly readable novel told with sensitivity from a unique vantage point.

Genres: Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Molly Kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at racism and privilege through the eyes of a privileged, heterosexual, white teenager. He destroys property after a "joyride" and then has to work and rebuild what he destroyed. Through this effort he gets to know the workers in the field. An amazing book about people, perceptions and of course, race... again, this is written by my Godmother, Gretchen. :)

[Gene Courtney]

Gene Courtney
Ms. Orona
English IV
Period 2
November 3, 2014
Joy Ride Book Review
The Book I read, Joyride by Gretchen Olson. Gretchen Olson Has written two books Joyride and Call me hope. Joyride was written in 1998 and Call Me Hope was written in 2007. She i also on the board of directors of The Hands & Words Are Not for Hurting Project.
The Main Character’s name in the story is Jeff McKenzie. He is a very good tennis player who has lived a life of ease and enjoyment until he decides to drive his bronco across an strawberry field and gets caught. So in return for the farmer he goes to work for them on their farm to pay off the debt. In this he misses practices and tournaments and time with his high maintenance girlfriend. He also meets a young girl there named Alexa, and he learns about a different culture in the process. It gives him a sense that he is needed and valued .
I think the point in the book was to show that all cultures and different and none of them are worse than the other. Now they might not have as much money as he was used to but the culture itself is good as a community. I think that it shows that in the book Joyride.
It was a good book, it wasn't really my taste but I got through it pretty easily. It felt pretty fast pace and I think that help with the reading.
I would recommend this book to anyone to who like to read good books that teaches them a sense of morality. Now it helps to enjoy this type of book and have some knowledge about tennis so you can get some of the references. Overall it was a well written interesting book.

[Anne Osterlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff McKenzie is competitive. A top ranked tennis player. And in trouble.

After a stupid stunt one night in which he and his friend drove a tractor across a beanfield. And got caught.

Consequence: Jeff gets to work off the cost of his error on Hampton Farms. Which means missing meets, practices, and time with his high-maintenance girlfriend. Plus waking up before dawn, driving berry crates to the cannery, and freaking about whether he’ll make a fool of himself.

But it also means spending time with Alexa. And learning about another culture—two cultures really—entirely different than Jeff’s. And finding out what it’s like to be . . . well, valued.

Gretchen Olson, the author of Joyride, was kind enough to give me this book to share with my students when she learned that many of them come from rural, latino, and farm families. I’ve been woefully remiss in reading her gift, but I LOVED talking with Gretchen. And this week Joyride finally climbed to the top of my pile. I enjoyed reading the book. It has a very honest soul to it. And was one of those novels that crept up on me, along with Jeff’s character. Really, quite a joyful ride.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years this was my favorite summer re-read. I was gifted this book by my aunt who is friends with the author and loved it instantly. As a teen raised on a farm just miles from the setting of this book, it was relatable, but it also provided insight into the lives of many farm families around me, which were quite different from my own. A sweet and simple summer read about a teenage boy living an atypical summer.

[M 3lovsky]

Jeff Mckenzie is a top tennis player but he still is acting like a kid. Jeff and his friend got caught driving a tractor threw a bean field. For his punishment he has to work so he misses all of his tennis meets and practices. This also makes Jeff not able to hang out with his girlfriend. Jeff gets to meet many people from the farm that he has to work at.

[Kim Benouski · Rating 2 out of 5]

A teen tennis star goes joyriding over a farm and is then sentenced to help the migrant farmers replant. This is the typical spoiled rich White boy falls for poor Hispanic girl. Some teen girls will like this, but I found it to be too cliche.