Road Trip

Road Trip #1

by Gary Paulsen, Jim Paulsen

Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Dogs, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Adventure

114 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Gary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a magnificent drama of a family that just don't fit together. It offers very intense scenes as the father and son take a car trip around America to save a dog.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Road Trip by Gary and Jim Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books, 2013
Realistic Fiction
128 pages
Recommended for grades 6-8

It's never good when a book review starts:
I'm a big fan of Gary Paulsen, however....

...however, I'm not a fan of whatever it was that this book was meant to be.

Ben's family is on the Border Collie rescue group's e-mail list, and are notified of a puppy new to a shelter. Ben's dad decides that taking a two day road trip to get the puppy is just what he needs to keep his mind off things (a new real estate deal). Without talking it over with his wife he packs up his son and their older dog for the trip. On the way Ben decides to pick up his tough-guy high school friend to join them on the trip. Not too long after that the truck they are traveling in starts making funny noises. At the small garage they bring the truck to the trio meet Gus, the owner of the shop. Gus proceeds to go up one side of Ben's dad and back down the other for not taking care of his truck, and for basically being a moron about it. At this point I would be looking for another mechanic to give my business to. Not Ben's dad, they end up asking Gus to loan them his school bus, and then take Gus with them. Yeah...Next up they come across a girl and guy having a spat. The girl joins them. They are pulled over for speeding. The police officer lets Ben's dad drive his cruiser while the officer takes the wheel of the bus in a drag race...
The ending is even more of a let down than the rest of the story.
Other issues: The cover looks like it will appeal to students as young as third grade, as will the topic of story and shortness of the book. But the repeated mentions of a crack house and the description of the girl's work uniform, among other things, make this book a big mismatch with its cover.
There are lots of issues in this book that could be hashed out in a longer text that has made up its mind about which one it wants to explore. I found this book to be all over the place, without any real direction.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've seen the bust that Jim Paulsen sculpted for the back cover of Gary Paulsen's The Legend of Bass Reeves, you know Jim inherited some of his mother's (Ruth Wright Paulsen) artistic ability. But before Road Trip he was never a published author; could he prove anywhere near as capable a storyteller as his famous father? The road trip starts on page one as fourteen-year-old Ben Duffy's father wakes him up in the wee morning hours for an adventure. The end point of the trip? An animal rescue shelter with a beautiful border collie for them to adopt. There's no guarantee how long the shelter will hold the puppy if no one comes for him, and Ben and his father can't bear the thought of the dog being destroyed. Still, Ben isn't so sure he wants to get up at 5:17 A.M. and speed off with his father on a multi-day outing, and his mood sours further when his father makes a confession: he quit his job, and wants to become a professional house flipper. Does he have have any chance of succeeding in that line of work? Ben is less than happy with his father as they hit the road along with Atticus, the full-grown border collie they already own.

Is this a voyage destined for only three? It is not. Ben fires off a quick message to his eighteen-year-old friend Theo, who has a shady past but isn't as rough around the edges as Ben's parents believe. Theo accepts Ben's invitation to join the road trip, and Ben's father reluctantly agrees. It takes time for the trio to feel at ease together, bonding around their mutual affection for Atticus, but soon the lack of detailed planning by Ben's father for this trip comes back to bite him. The truck's engine fails, and their service technician, a grumpy fellow named Gus, is not impressed by their subpar monitoring of the truck's health. By the time they make it back out on the road they are driving a different vehicle and Gus has joined the party. At least the new vehicle offers more space to accommodate the growing passenger list.

Stopping at a roadside diner forty miles from home, Ben and Theo observe a young woman named Mia in a heated exchange with a drunk named Bobby. He seems to know and hate Theo, but Mia runs Bobby off before a fight can start. Mia is ready to quit her job and go somewhere to clear her mind, and what better opportunity than a caravan on its way to adopt a border collie? Ben senses that Theo's problems go beyond Bobby—Theo ducks down anytime a police officer comes into view, and seems perpetually nervous—but this group of unlikely road trippers is building faith in one another as they continue toward their destination. Will they arrive in time to adopt the puppy? Will the Duffy family's financial issues resolve themselves, and will Theo, Gus, and Mia find peace of mind somewhere in the world? A happy ending is a lot to ask for, but it's possible when you have friends and family who genuinely care.

Road Trip is deeper and more believable than many of Gary Paulsen's comedy books. The brief chapters from Atticus's canine point of view add variety, and the goal of reaching the rescue shelter soon enough to adopt the pup keeps the story on track. As Atticus observes in his own thoughts, "Everyone always feels better when there's a plan." Ben's father knows what he wants from this trip, and the same can be said for Ben and each of the others. But when you get an opportunity for adventure like the one in this book, it's wise to not be so particular about your own itinerary that you're unable to enjoy the spontaneity of the journey you're on. I might rate Road Trip two and a half stars, and I look forward to the sequel, Field Trip. Gary and Jim Paulsen are an appealing writing duo.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's note which explains how prolific Gary Paulsen and his son, Jim Paulsen, wrote this as a series of alternating e-mails makes this father son story even more fun. Fourteen year old Ben, his Dad and border collie Atticus take a road trip to rescue another border collie. Along the way they interact with quirky and exciting characters. The short chapters are separated by Atticus's reactions and comments which are always insightful and humorous. This fun, quick read will appeal to fans of Paulsen's Lawn Boy series.

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review digital copy provided by NetGalley

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Who doesn't love Gary Paulsen? He is a beloved author who is mostly noted for writing books geared toward young adults. This is not the first time Paulsen has written about dogs, but it is the first time he has teamed up to write a book with his son, Jim Paulsen (a sculptor and former teacher).

The book begins with 14 year-old Ben and his Dad starting out on a road trip to rescue a puppy. Ben's family loves dogs and Ben is looking forward to getting another border collie. Atticus, their current 15 year-old border collie thinks he is more of a person than a dog and doesn't exactly love the idea of getting a dog, but he is enjoying the trip. The story is mostly told by Ben, but there are a few chapters where Atticus narrates the events from his point of view. These descriptions add nicely to the development of the story.

Early in the trip, Ben's impulsive and quite flaky father tells him that he has quit his job in order to start a business flipping houses. The news is of little consequence to Ben until his dad explains that Ben might not be able to attend hockey camp because of the family's lack of finances.


Ben is so upset by the news that he decides to give his father the silent treatment for most of the trip. To further show his anger, Ben invites his friend Theo to go with them. Theo is a bit rough around the edges and Ben knows his father doesn't approve of their friendship. The trio are not far along in their trip when everything starts to go wrong. However, with every challenge a new character is introduced.

First, the truck breaks down and needs extensive repairs. This is where we meet Gus, an ornery, old mechanic with a sharp tongue and a big heart. After he learns about the puppy rescue, he lets the travelers borrow his old school bus, as long as he gets to go along with them.


Next, they stop at a pub where we meet Mia the waitress/aspiring actress. She is throwing a burly young man out of the pub with gusto. Mia is an attractive and tough older teen who is very spiritual and in touch with the emotions of others. Both boys are instantly intrigued by her. After Theo nearly gets in a fight with the ejected man, Mia gets to know the group and ends up traveling with them on the bus.


It is at this point that Theo starts acting distracted and nervous and we find out he has been keeping a secret. This unlikely group of new friends bonds during the next few days as they try to get to the border collie.

The last third of the book is a whirlwind. Theo is being followed by criminals who want to hurt him and the group is trying to lose him with the help of some local police officers. Will they ever make it to the puppy before someone else takes him? Will Ben ever forgive his father? Will Theo survive and turn his life around? It all ties up nicely at the end for the reader.

Paulsen did a great job of creating tension near the end and providing a few surprises along the way. However, the beginning third of the book was a bit slow for me. The book is definitely meant for young adults with situations such a "flipping the bird" and some slightly romantic situations. I would not recommend it for students under 5th grade.

Gary and Jim Paulsen have taken their love of dogs and created a great novel. You don't have to be a dog lover to really enjoy this book. It will appeal to a wide variety of readers including reluctant readers.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not expect to laugh quite as much as I did while reading this story. 14-year-old Ben's father seems to be a bit of a flake. He wakes Ben up VERY early one morning for a road trip to go rescue a border collie puppy. But along with the worthy rescue mission, Ben learns his father has just quit his job to start flipping houses and his mother isn't too happy about it. Ben is even less happy when his father tells him that since money will be tight for a while, they may not be able to follow through on a promise to send Ben to hockey camp this summer. To get even with his father, Ben invites Theo, a tough older kid he's been tutoring, to come along with them. This begins a series of picking up various people along their journey and encountering several other interesting characters. The story is told by both Ben and the family's older border collie, Atticus. Only Atticus is sharp enough to notice Theo is acting oddly and there seems to be someone following them. But despite some tension, a lot of it is just plain cute, and it shouldn't surprise anyone that it all works out in the end.

[Nancy Lyon]

I'm reading Road Trip by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen. The genre is realistic fiction it was published in 2013. I like this book a lot because I like the dog in it. I like the dog because Atticus is really smart, and he thinks he's a human. Ben loves Border Collies, and he's a smartypants. the main conflict is Ben's Dad and Ben are trying to save a Border Collie pup, they meet people along the way. The setting is out in the country. It's about these 2 people and a dog that travel to find a puppy. And they met few people along the way and they join the journey. Like when the truck broke down and the stop at the mechanics and he let them take the bus but he had to go along with them. I like how they have a long field trip to rescue a dog. Also that Atticus thinks he's a human. I like that people are picked up along the way like the mechanic. I recommend this book for any age because this book has no bad parts in it and it's really easy so that's why I recommend it for any age.

[Deb Tyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Road Trip is a bit unbelievable. The story seemed rushed, a bit summarized at times. Definitely not my favorite Paulsen book.

With that said, I will see what my readers have to say. I have a feeling that most will probably enjoy the story---short and fast-paced.

I can already hear myself giving the booktalk..."Well, here's a book you won't like. You and your dad are on a road trip? You're going to rescue a dog? Your car breaks down and you end up on an old school bus? Two complete strangers join you? Drag racing with a police officer? Crazy! There's no way you're going to like this book. And guess who wrote it? Some guy by the name of Gary Paulsen. Meh. I doubt that you'll want to read this one. I'll just leave it right here where you can ignore it." Ha! I think my readers will go for this one.

[Susan Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Charming, delightful, and sweet. Technicalities didn't matter here for me; despite some predictability, it was like an enchanting fairy tale, a breath of fresh air, a moment of light and hope that made me smile inside. It reminded me of two other books that I also adore for similar reasons. Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman, and The Van Gogh Cafe, by Cynthia Rylant. All three titles, while distinct in presentation, share a common theme of community, working through, and beyond, preconceptions and judgement, to see the beautiful vulnerability in us all. As Ben says in "Road Trip," that good things come in three's, I now have three sweet little gems to turn to for a spark of hope and a brief glimmer of idealistic faith in humanity. And thank goodness for DOGS!!!!!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I especially like the way Paulsen and his son wrote alternating chapters for it. A bit like Writing Roulette. Great dog story, too!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is one of my favorite YA novels. It certainly deserves its spot on the PBS list for the Great American Read. While Road Trip is an entertaining YA book, it just isn’t anywhere near The Hatchet in quality. Road Trip is a light-hearted book about a father and son road trip to rescue a border collie puppy. Although they run into a lot of problems, they are solved within a page or two. Just like Ben’s dad keeps telling him – everything will work out – and it does – just a little bit too quickly and neatly. Still – it had dogs – and dog rescues – and a happy ending and I’m sure a younger person would have enjoyed it more.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok folks, if you've been reading hard stuff that makes your head spin and then you wonder what you've been reading, how 'bout a real story? Although is sold and classified as a kids' book, I think it's good for any reader who needs a break from the daily grind! Offered by GARY PAULSEN and his son, Jim, this is a gem! If you are also a dog lover, you'll go ape!! Be prepared to laugh out loud and shed an occasional tear, but enjoy every second! Get it now!!!

[Joy H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Added Oct. 8, 2019.
(first published January 1st 2013)
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain, John H. Mayer
https://salon.overdrive.com/media/905068
https://www.audible.com/pd/Road-Trip-...

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION: "Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them."

I'm attracted to this story because it's told in a humorous way. The narration is excellent. There's a good deal of natural dialogue which makes interesting listening.

This was a cute story, easy to listen to. The audio version is only 2 hrs and 48 minutes long. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny in parts, a bit OTT in others, but I did enjoy all the dog parts.

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[Michelle Glatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little family adventure that I'll be sharing with my 6th graders.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I liked this story! It was unexpectedly written by Paulsen and his son, and it's about a father and son on a road trip to rescue a border collie. Along the way, they make some new friends and learn, that no matter what, "It will all work out in the end." Of course, by the time I finished reading it, I wanted to rescue a border collie too!!

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary Paulsen and his son Jim combined talents to write this winning adventure story. 14 year old Ben and his Dad start a road trip to pick up a border collie from a shelter. In reality, Dad has planned this trip as he has some father/son discussions that need to happen. Dad has quit his job, is flipping houses, and because of the family's financial circumstances, Ben will not be able to go to summer hockey camp...something Ben has been looking forward to for a couple of years. Ben is so mad at his dad that he pulls a fast one and has his high school friend Theo come along for the ride. He knows this will upset his Dad because Theo has a piercing , tattoos, and has been in trouble with the law. But along the way this road trip becomes a true adventure as they trade in their car for a school bus and "collect" misfits along the way. Action occurs at stops along the way, and the passengers begin to bond as one big family as the trip progresses towards picking up the border collie.

**My only problem is I read reviews of this book that misrepresented the target audience. One review said 3rd-7th and two other reviews said 5th-7th so I bought it for my elementary library. I will be taking it out of the collection and giving it to the high school library. While the main character is 14, much of the action surrounds the older high school characters and Dad's concern with his marriage and employment will be related to best by high school kids. Also, the two high school characters are struggling with what to do with their life, which will be related to by students that age. . This book has only about 110 pages. It would make a great high interest / lower reading level book for high school kids and it has a great cover that will make it an easy sell, especially if the reader loves dogs!

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 4 out of 5]

Road Trip - Review
Dogs never lie or cheat, and their default setting is love. Some may seem grumpy, but all dogs have honor, humor, and dignity, and if you're really lucky and you pay attention, they will bring out those same characteristics in you. - Auhtor's Note
 
The race was the most fun I've had all day. We should have run, of course, and not driven, but my boss doesn't run. Can't blame him; only two legs. - Atticus
 
Good thing that Gus is helping Theo and Mia. Someone's  got to keep them straight, and they don't have me. 
I heard him say that he raised everything on four legs on a farm.
Teenagers can't be that much different. - Atticus
 

Road Trip tells the story of Ben, his father and his dog Atticus who notices everything. They are on a road trip to rescue a Border Collie puppy. Ben's dad is a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy and it keeps Ben on his guard. On the road trip, they pick up Ben's friend Theo who is a bit of a thug, a grouchy (but lovable) mechanic - Gus, a big yellow school bus, and a feisty waitress who reads auras - Mia. They have an exciting adventure, along with a mystery because something is up with Theo.
 
This was a great middle grade book with likable characters on a fun adventure. Every other chapter is a one page look at what Atticus thinks about the situation. Atticus is a smart dog and very protective of his family. It is so cute to read what Atticus is thinking. The relationships between the characters seem very real. I love how Atticus is more observant than any of the others and how the road trip brings everyone closer together.
 
Recommended to:
Great book for 4th through 8th graders, especially reluctant readers and those who like dogs.  

[Clara Bronkhorst]

In the book Road Trip the dad and his son go on a road trip to go pick up a border collie from a shelter they figured it would take them about two days to get to the shelter but the hit a few bumps there truck broke down so he brought it to a repair shop and it would take a few Days to fix it so they ended up driving a bus with the repair man Gus. Then they had to stop and pick up the kids friend Theo cause the kid was mad at his dad and the dad didn't like Theo so he went along for the ride then the stoped again and met Mia she realized she wanted to quit her job and then Mia ended up coming on the ride. They got a few tickets but one they worked out the dad wanted to drive the cop car and the cop drove the bus and they had a drag race and then they after a few days they made it to the shelter they went into get the dog but the girl wouldn't let him have it the kid was getting very upset and then she said someone already has the dog and then the mom came out of no where and had the dog and they all lived happily. My favorite part was the drag race. I recommend this book to people who like dogs.dh

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book melted my heart. Gary Paulsen and his son, Jim, alternated chapters about a wild dad and his down to earth son Theo. But Jim's point-of-view is from their dog, Atticus. That's a great name for this dog because he's wise and quiet, protective of his family, and a leader when it's required.

I couldn't help but picture big gruff teddy bear, Gary Paulsen, as the Dad with crazy schemes. A road trip that started with just a dad and his son off to rescue a border collie pup turned into much more. The end has that satisfying Hollywood feel that upper elementary kids will love; there's also some almost romance between some of the characters, but not enough to call this a young adult book.

[AMY · Rating 1 out of 5]

114pages. Chapters alternate between a boy and a dog as a father an son go to rescue another dog. Dad has bought a "crack house" on p. 11 He has been "sleeping in the guest room lately." An older boy is friends with the kid in the story and talks about not smoking in their house. Friend Theo has "an electronic ankle bracelet" that goes off "to alert the cops" and would "put him in violation of some court-ordered restriction." Theo asks his friend's dad if he can smoke on a trip in their truck - p. 23. Theo has a tattoo. Dad says he won't bail out Theo if he "robs a convenience store or mugs a senior citizen along the way. "- p. 22. The reading level is 6-8th. The content is not suitable for elementary kids. Skip this one.

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not really a fan of Gary Paulsen, but someone recommended this book and I had to try it. I began hesitantly, but by the time I read the end of chapter one I was in love with the book. I do not know whose idea was to include Atticus point of view, but this is what won me over! Could really identify with Atticus since as a dog owner I know that dogs have attitudes that go beyond the normal. Love, love, love the book, hope others have the same experience.

[Ivy Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a road trip that starts out simple enough, but ends up spiraling out into "wacky" and "weird" and all that lies in-between. I liked this book. It was an interesting and quick read, but wasn't hard to understand or thoroughly involved or deep. I liked it mostly for its simplicity and interesting storyline. I would recommend this book to everyone 8 and up, as it is a simple and quick read.

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love that it's a father and son adventure in the story and a father and son writing adventure. Love the alternating chapters told by the dog's point of view. The story is fast-paced enough that kid readers will likely not be disturbed by the many improbabilities in the story -- they'll just climb on the bus with the characters and go along for the ride.

[Jaime · Rating 1 out of 5]

My main problem with this book is that it doesn't know who it's audience is. It is packaged like a beginning chapter book, but it's subject matter, sometimes, is older than that. It could possible be a HI/LO book, but it's subject matter is, sometimes, too young for that.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben and his Dad are on their way to adopt a rescue dog. And on their way meet many interesting characters.

This is a fun, entertaining read. Like Field Trip, it wasn't a read that "stuck" with me after the fact, but I enjoyed it during the read.

[Alyssa Calhoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure that I didn't necessarily love, but I think kids will really enjoy.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! Funny! Heartwarming! Highly recommended for older juveniles and for YA.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read! Laughed out loud! I've missed Gary Paulsen!

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like two things:
1) A father and son wrote this together.
2) The dog's point of view is a cute idea.

Other than that, ugh. Couldn't wait for it to be over.