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The Drive in '65
In 1965, two sisters packed up their five children and their mother-eight people-in a nine-passenger van and traveled North America for fourteen weeks. After living in Alaska twenty years, they wanted to see more of the world, and show their children what lay beyond Alaska's borders.
Sandra Lynne Reed was thirteen that summer. The tiny town of Moose Pass, and the southern edges of Anchorage, one hundred miles north, defined Reed's provincial childhood, and left her curious about the world she saw in magazines and on television-strange places that were her own country. In a summer of 'firsts' she and her siblings discovered the magic of fireflies, natural wonders, and treasures of history. On their tinny transistor radio, they followed news of the space race, the Civil Rights movement, and the escalating war in Vietnam. The musical sound track of the British invasion and the rising rock and roll era followed them as they circled North America, traveling as far south as Mexico City.
The courage of her mother and aunt, undertaking an international adventure in a day when women could not obtain a credit card or serve on a jury, provided an example to all their children.
Like the Good Friday earthquake had done in 1964, the Drive in '65 shook up her world, exposing shocking poverty and racial divides and lighting a fire in her for further travel but also weakening fault lines in her family that no one had predicted. Using a trove of letters and memorabilia, and her own memories, Reed has recreated the adventure of a lifetime in The Drive in '65.
Sandra Lynne Reed was thirteen that summer. The tiny town of Moose Pass, and the southern edges of Anchorage, one hundred miles north, defined Reed's provincial childhood, and left her curious about the world she saw in magazines and on television-strange places that were her own country. In a summer of 'firsts' she and her siblings discovered the magic of fireflies, natural wonders, and treasures of history. On their tinny transistor radio, they followed news of the space race, the Civil Rights movement, and the escalating war in Vietnam. The musical sound track of the British invasion and the rising rock and roll era followed them as they circled North America, traveling as far south as Mexico City.
The courage of her mother and aunt, undertaking an international adventure in a day when women could not obtain a credit card or serve on a jury, provided an example to all their children.
Like the Good Friday earthquake had done in 1964, the Drive in '65 shook up her world, exposing shocking poverty and racial divides and lighting a fire in her for further travel but also weakening fault lines in her family that no one had predicted. Using a trove of letters and memorabilia, and her own memories, Reed has recreated the adventure of a lifetime in The Drive in '65.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2020
12 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Lynne Reed
1 book20 followersSandra Lynne Reed loves history--whether it is her family history, or events in more distant times and places. In particular, she loves the medieval period around the Mediterranean, a world she was drawn into by Pope Celestine V. Sandra has visited family history sites in Italy, England, and across the U.S.A. as well as historical locations in Italy.
Sandra grew up in Alaska, and at age 13, she and her family drove 22,000 miles around North America. Her next adventure took her to New Zealand on the far side of the world, for an eleven-month student exchange, where she watched the moon landing on TV. She still loves travel, especially a road trip.
With a degree in English from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, Sandra has worked as a travel agent, office manager, freelance writer, and newspaper reporter. She and her husband now live near Olympic National Park in Washington state. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, and often reads historical novels far too late at night.
Follow Sandra at www.SandraLynneReed.com or SandraLynneReed on Twitter. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraLynneR...
Sandra grew up in Alaska, and at age 13, she and her family drove 22,000 miles around North America. Her next adventure took her to New Zealand on the far side of the world, for an eleven-month student exchange, where she watched the moon landing on TV. She still loves travel, especially a road trip.
With a degree in English from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, Sandra has worked as a travel agent, office manager, freelance writer, and newspaper reporter. She and her husband now live near Olympic National Park in Washington state. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, and often reads historical novels far too late at night.
Follow Sandra at www.SandraLynneReed.com or SandraLynneReed on Twitter. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraLynneR...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 21, 2020
Road trip! I always wanted to go on one across America but never did--until now. The Drive in '65 took me from Alaska to Canada to the East Coast, down south, to Mexico, and up the coast of California back to Alaska. Making delightful discoveries along the way, the nostalgia and historical tidbits artfully woven into this family narrative made me smile. In a time of chaos and confusion, this story is just plain fun.
August 7, 2020
This is a heartwarming tale of a grand adventure. To imagine two young mothers packing up their five children and their aging mother into a van to travel from Alaska, through Canada, down the East Coast, into Mexico, back up the West Coast to Alaska for 14 weeks is truly awe inspiring. This true story recounts the excitement of seeing and experiencing things you only hear about in Alaska, the adventure of the road and camping out, hearing about the space race and the civil rights movements on the radio and traveling through areas of unrest, and eventually the road weariness. I enjoyed getting to know the characters better throughout the story. I laughed at parts and was saddened by others. This road trip story is very enjoyable.
July 21, 2020
You don’t have to know Sandra Lynne Reed to enjoy this memoir. I typically like historical and Christian fiction, adventure, and fantasy stories. The Drive In '65 feeds my genre preferences as the family treks across the North American continent in 1965 with three adults and five children ages 9-15. The author is 13 years old in 1965, and she tells the story using letters and postcards that her mother and aunt wrote back home to their husbands in Alaska, plus their journal entries and recollections of hers and her siblings.
This is a fun and good read as Reed brings her audience along in The Wayward Bus – the Ford van in which the eight adventure seekers travel. The family experiences life outside Alaska, the origin of their vacation, and learns there are a variety of cultures within the USA. She tells her tale with humor of mishaps and seriousness of current events of the day – Vietnam War and civil rights movement – and how they affected her family. The chutzpah of Mom, Aunt and Gram opened opportunities that would change their lives forever.
The 232-page story brought me to tears and out loud laughter that sent the cat scurrying out of the room. Anyone who has lived through the 1960s will relate to many of the tales. But even for those who are younger than that era, the type of stories are universal family humor. This is definitely a fun summer travel story to enjoy.
This is a fun and good read as Reed brings her audience along in The Wayward Bus – the Ford van in which the eight adventure seekers travel. The family experiences life outside Alaska, the origin of their vacation, and learns there are a variety of cultures within the USA. She tells her tale with humor of mishaps and seriousness of current events of the day – Vietnam War and civil rights movement – and how they affected her family. The chutzpah of Mom, Aunt and Gram opened opportunities that would change their lives forever.
The 232-page story brought me to tears and out loud laughter that sent the cat scurrying out of the room. Anyone who has lived through the 1960s will relate to many of the tales. But even for those who are younger than that era, the type of stories are universal family humor. This is definitely a fun summer travel story to enjoy.
July 31, 2020
Anyone who has ever taken a long family road trip, and lived to tell about it, will enjoy this delightful account of a family--two sisters and their five children--who set off from Alaska to tour North America in a ramshackle Chevy van christened the Wayward Bus. The courage and can-do spirit of Mom and Aunt Phyllis add a sense of wonder and adventure to even the most primitive living conditions and umpteenth stretch of highway. And the occasional stops to visit a relative or rent a cabin yield the sheer luxury of a hot shower or soft bed--heaven!
This engaging book is part family memoir, part travelogue, part historical narrative. The year is 1965, and so we see national events unfolding through the eyes of 13-year-old Sandra as she ponders some words and ideas foreign to her sheltered Alaskan upbringing. Civil rights. Vietnam. Protests. All woven together with vivid details of life on the road and a rollicking cast of characters. Reading this book inspired me to pull out photos of my own family's cross-country road trip in 1970 and relive some pleasant memories.
Reed's writing style is warm and witty, and reading her account of the summer of 1965 while sheltering at home in the summer of 2020 is like taking a vicarious vacation. Even better, it may inspire some of us to plan a road-trip adventure of our own in some future, pandemic-free summer. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I've been given a review copy of this book by the publisher. This generosity, while appreciated, has not biased my review.
This engaging book is part family memoir, part travelogue, part historical narrative. The year is 1965, and so we see national events unfolding through the eyes of 13-year-old Sandra as she ponders some words and ideas foreign to her sheltered Alaskan upbringing. Civil rights. Vietnam. Protests. All woven together with vivid details of life on the road and a rollicking cast of characters. Reading this book inspired me to pull out photos of my own family's cross-country road trip in 1970 and relive some pleasant memories.
Reed's writing style is warm and witty, and reading her account of the summer of 1965 while sheltering at home in the summer of 2020 is like taking a vicarious vacation. Even better, it may inspire some of us to plan a road-trip adventure of our own in some future, pandemic-free summer. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I've been given a review copy of this book by the publisher. This generosity, while appreciated, has not biased my review.
July 24, 2020
I have three favorite things: Reading, Road trips and good, solid writing.
The Drive in '65 has all three which made for more than an enjoyable read.
Ms. Reed tells the story of a 1965 road trip with family members when she was just entering into her teens. She covers styles worn and music popular in her time, which is also my time.
Her memoir is well-written, entertaining, personal and evocative.
I recommend this for anyone interested in a good story, but especially those who can identify with the mid 1960s.
This would be a great gift book for a friend or family member who likes reading, road trips and a great (true) story.
The Drive in '65 has all three which made for more than an enjoyable read.
Ms. Reed tells the story of a 1965 road trip with family members when she was just entering into her teens. She covers styles worn and music popular in her time, which is also my time.
Her memoir is well-written, entertaining, personal and evocative.
I recommend this for anyone interested in a good story, but especially those who can identify with the mid 1960s.
This would be a great gift book for a friend or family member who likes reading, road trips and a great (true) story.
July 18, 2020
Take a drive back in time with quirky moms and kids bouncing off one another across North America for 3+ mos. Nothing whitewashed or sugarcoated - an honest, fun, engaging look at how things were in the later part of the last century, and how the Drive affected the lives of each. Valuable insightful historical context adds depth to #Drivein65. I do wish maps were included in the book.
July 20, 2020
What an adventure that unfolds with each turn of a page. The detail is superb and is backed by letters back home to Alaska and keepsakes from the road along the way. I truly felt like I was piled in the Wayward Bus with family and I learned quite a bit about 1960s history. Determination, love, loss and lots of mileage. This is a great book for anyone looking for inspiration to take a plunge into the beautiful unknown.
July 22, 2020
What a treasured adventure of a lifetime! Thank you to the author for vividly writing about her experience. This is a great read and will take you on a ride through history.
July 13, 2020
What a beautiful, endearing, and reflective book. Sandra wisely and honestly discusses a lot of family drama and social issues while describing a truly remarkable journey organized and executed by a literal bus-load of dauntless, badass women.
April 21, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this travel memoir. I think these two sisters were ahead of their time; their independence and bravery to take their 5 children and the Grandmother on this epic 14 week journey of discovery from Alaska and around the US is remarkable to say the least. What an adventure. I love the format and the little post-stamp-pictures that head each chapter as well as the little snippets of the history of some of the places they visited. The music of the time, that is mentioned brought back wonderful memories for me, being very close to Sandra's age. It was interesting to read how this trip inspired these children to becoming extremely well travelled adults. A well deserved 5/5 stars for a well written and entertaining read.
February 6, 2022
Two sisters decide to pack up their kids and their mom, and leaving their husbands behind have the road trip of a lifetime, going from Alaska, down the east coast of America, through the south and back up the west coast. But this was 1965, no GPS/satnav back then. And the country was going though some huge social upheavals. Told by one of the daughters: Sandra was 13 years old at the time, but with the aid of the many letters they wrote home, and the souvenirs they took back she has created not just a wonderful story of their journey, but glimpses into the social history and changes that were happening in the mid 60s. Three generations of a family, traveling in and sleeping in a customized van, and driving thousands of miles would be a recipe for disaster in many families. I enjoyed the descriptions of the places they saw, and the extended family members they met, but for me the real gem of this book is the look at a different time, when a way of life was being changed for so many people. Racial equality, sexual equality and the space race are all explored in this well written book. Definitely recommended; a fabulous read.
August 31, 2020
When I chose to read this book, it was as a traveler who has been grounded by present circumstances. I was simply looking for an armchair travel experience. What I got was much, much more. I started out by quickly reading the first chapters, but then felt compelled to slow down and only allowed myself a chapter a day, which gave me an often underused opportunity for self-reflection. I grew up in the same time-frame as the author so it was interesting to me to think about how I experienced the same events that she talks about in the book. When had I first really noticed abject poverty? Who were the strong women in my life during my formative years? What travels had expanded my horizons?
This book will be different things to different people. For me it started out as a travel journal, but ended up being a reflective journey. Thanks for the trip, Sandra Reed!
This book will be different things to different people. For me it started out as a travel journal, but ended up being a reflective journey. Thanks for the trip, Sandra Reed!
October 31, 2020
I enjoyed Sandra’s memoir of her family’s cross country road trip. Sandra is a contemporary of mine but we never met. I did meet her brother Glenn while he attended Chugiak High School which made the book more personal for me. I enjoyed the stories of Alaskan kids seeing the lower 48 for the first time. They were reminiscent of my experiences. I am also Alaksan born and raised.
The history of the world that accompanied the details of the road trip was very interesting. Many of these news events were in my memory but I had forgotten they had taken place the year after we survived the Good Friday earthquake.
I recommend this well written and interesting book.
The history of the world that accompanied the details of the road trip was very interesting. Many of these news events were in my memory but I had forgotten they had taken place the year after we survived the Good Friday earthquake.
I recommend this well written and interesting book.
December 31, 2020
I have to admit, my review is biased as a mom raising little Alaskans. When you're able to identify places mentioned, laugh at experiences because you've lived them yourself, fully understand the magnitude, magic, and awe fireflies would have on a child that's never seen them before; well, you feel intimately connected to an author as there's a bond of understanding that would otherwise not be present.
How inspiring and brave to conjure up, save for, and plan out a literal, cross-country road-trip with three, adult women at the helm and five young people; even more so, when you take into account this true story took place in 1965!
What I loved about this book was the historical references: Experiencing the first-hand account of what transpired as the author survived the 1964 earthquake in Alaska to her sharing aspects of the Vietnam War, space exploration, and moves made within the Civil Rights Movement that were taking place in '65.
Relaying the events of 1965 and then expounding upon them by bringing them full-circle as they relate to current events and statistics was a genius move by this author! She did this not only with the events themselves but also in how they played out personally within the lives of her relatives.
The most moving aspect of this book was found within the road trip itself and how it opened everyone's eyes to the abject poverty of certain segments of the American population. To find wonder in intricately woven baskets and to have mercy on the woman selling them was a beautiful thing. It's in those moments you're left wishing you could do more but take solace in the fact that at least you were able to do something; and, it's those same moments that make the deepest impressions and stick with you for a lifetime.
This book is eye-opening to the life you may have been born into, raised up in, and lived in comparison to the lifestyle you provide your own children with. Born in the Mid-West, I've been no stranger to dairy farms and cornfields, and the heat, humidity, and languid days of Summer; however, the same cannot be said for my children. Although I gave birth to an Alaskan, a Texan, and two Wyomingites, my husband and I moved our 4 children to Alaska permanently by the time our oldest was 6 and our youngest 2. They don't recall the land where the buffalo roam and the antelope play instead, they're familiar with moose and bear, whales and salmon; with, (thankfully), nary a skunk in sight! To realize what they don't know vs. what they do brings a smile to my face. It's a stark contrast! Therein begets another layer to this book that's wholesome truth, the differences found from one state to another. There's a culture found in each state that's unique unto itself; we remain blessed, under a banner of freedom, to have the opportunity to experience it all.
Happy trails to you!
*I received an advance review copy, via Reedsy Discovery, in exchange for my honest review.
How inspiring and brave to conjure up, save for, and plan out a literal, cross-country road-trip with three, adult women at the helm and five young people; even more so, when you take into account this true story took place in 1965!
What I loved about this book was the historical references: Experiencing the first-hand account of what transpired as the author survived the 1964 earthquake in Alaska to her sharing aspects of the Vietnam War, space exploration, and moves made within the Civil Rights Movement that were taking place in '65.
Relaying the events of 1965 and then expounding upon them by bringing them full-circle as they relate to current events and statistics was a genius move by this author! She did this not only with the events themselves but also in how they played out personally within the lives of her relatives.
The most moving aspect of this book was found within the road trip itself and how it opened everyone's eyes to the abject poverty of certain segments of the American population. To find wonder in intricately woven baskets and to have mercy on the woman selling them was a beautiful thing. It's in those moments you're left wishing you could do more but take solace in the fact that at least you were able to do something; and, it's those same moments that make the deepest impressions and stick with you for a lifetime.
This book is eye-opening to the life you may have been born into, raised up in, and lived in comparison to the lifestyle you provide your own children with. Born in the Mid-West, I've been no stranger to dairy farms and cornfields, and the heat, humidity, and languid days of Summer; however, the same cannot be said for my children. Although I gave birth to an Alaskan, a Texan, and two Wyomingites, my husband and I moved our 4 children to Alaska permanently by the time our oldest was 6 and our youngest 2. They don't recall the land where the buffalo roam and the antelope play instead, they're familiar with moose and bear, whales and salmon; with, (thankfully), nary a skunk in sight! To realize what they don't know vs. what they do brings a smile to my face. It's a stark contrast! Therein begets another layer to this book that's wholesome truth, the differences found from one state to another. There's a culture found in each state that's unique unto itself; we remain blessed, under a banner of freedom, to have the opportunity to experience it all.
Happy trails to you!
*I received an advance review copy, via Reedsy Discovery, in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2020
I absolutely loved this book—maybe because I am one year older than Sandra. Growing up in Alaska her mom and aunt decided to take their kids (5 total) on a summer road trip. They bought a van—outfitted it, saved their money, grabbed grandma and away they went. If you were a teen in the 60’s you should love this book and if you weren’t it will be interesting to see what was happening in the US in 1965. They went all over the lower 48 and visited family and friends. When they headed south the heat was really getting to them and they were learning about sharecroppers and the very poor people in the south. I know a lot about this as I was born and raised in Florida—love the heat. Lots of fresh fruit and veg that they don’t get in Alaska but the heat was to much for them. They even went to Mexico but their time there really made them homesick and they couldn’t wait to get home (and they needed the cool). I really enjoyed reliving what was happening in 1965 and the book really feels like it was written by a young teenager. Sandra also lets us know what happened to the kids when they grew up and that trip really set them up for the future. Can you imagine—3 months, 8 people in a van (sleeping there also), traveling over 20,000 miles. Nope—there was only one of me and I am sure I asked every 5 minutes—how much longer—that is why my dad like to drive at night so I would be asleep. Sandra-thanks for writing about your amazing trip and I highly recommend it to others.
June 12, 2021
Sandra Lynne Reed’s story takes you through a nostalgic ride from Alaska, through Canada, and into the United States’ eastern coastal region, where the family’s crowded Wayward Bus enters at Niagara Falls and treks all the way down to Florida. I did not feel nostalgia until the family entered the mainland United States and entered places and cities I traveled, and that nostalgia grew as Sandy reported happenings and events of the ‘60’s era. I am close to Sandy’s age, and the memories swarmed in my head as I read and recalled my interpretation of those events. And I learned additional facts.
I envied this family and their fearless mothers (two sisters) who gathered their children and embarked on this three-month journey in 1965, unaccompanied by any adult males. That was simply not done. My mother would have never taken the wheel, and Sandra is one lucky girl. But as luck would have it, this adventure showed her the abject poverty and racial struggles many in our nation were experiencing, giving her pause for thought as she rode through those impoverished areas. At the same time, the traveled road showed the vastness of our nation and its myriad of cultures as well as sights galore. I will not mention the heat, sweat, rashes, and sunburns picked up along the way. A book replete with humorous anecdotes, history tidbits, and news of the ‘60’s, Reed has crafted an interesting and fun read. I highly recommend taking the drive in ‘65 with her!
I envied this family and their fearless mothers (two sisters) who gathered their children and embarked on this three-month journey in 1965, unaccompanied by any adult males. That was simply not done. My mother would have never taken the wheel, and Sandra is one lucky girl. But as luck would have it, this adventure showed her the abject poverty and racial struggles many in our nation were experiencing, giving her pause for thought as she rode through those impoverished areas. At the same time, the traveled road showed the vastness of our nation and its myriad of cultures as well as sights galore. I will not mention the heat, sweat, rashes, and sunburns picked up along the way. A book replete with humorous anecdotes, history tidbits, and news of the ‘60’s, Reed has crafted an interesting and fun read. I highly recommend taking the drive in ‘65 with her!
October 17, 2020
1960s Nostalgia
This is a lovely memoir is part travelogue, part historical and part reminiscing on past family events. Travelling from Alaska through Canada, the states to Mexico and back.
What a fun ride it sounds to have been, two Sisters, their Mother and five Children in a van adapted to accommodate them all. Along the way they had mis-turns, car trouble, sunburn, heat rashes bee stings and encounters with wild life they had never met before. Along the way there was lots of fun, laughter and tears, there were times when tempered frayed but lovely lasting memories were made.
Sandy who was thirteen at the time of the adventure tells the story of their journey. It was an amazing achievement one which many said would fail and they would be back by tea time. They had the occasional stop over in a rented cabin or hotel where a hot shower and bed was sheer bliss. Then of course there were the well overdue visits to relatives. The trip was prompted by Mum and Aunt Phyllis' desire to surprise their youngest sister Betty by just turning up unannounced in Long Island.
Sandra writes with a lovely warm inviting way and makes you feel as if you are the ninth person along on their ride of a lifetime. Thank you Sandy for a wonderful story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is a lovely memoir is part travelogue, part historical and part reminiscing on past family events. Travelling from Alaska through Canada, the states to Mexico and back.
What a fun ride it sounds to have been, two Sisters, their Mother and five Children in a van adapted to accommodate them all. Along the way they had mis-turns, car trouble, sunburn, heat rashes bee stings and encounters with wild life they had never met before. Along the way there was lots of fun, laughter and tears, there were times when tempered frayed but lovely lasting memories were made.
Sandy who was thirteen at the time of the adventure tells the story of their journey. It was an amazing achievement one which many said would fail and they would be back by tea time. They had the occasional stop over in a rented cabin or hotel where a hot shower and bed was sheer bliss. Then of course there were the well overdue visits to relatives. The trip was prompted by Mum and Aunt Phyllis' desire to surprise their youngest sister Betty by just turning up unannounced in Long Island.
Sandra writes with a lovely warm inviting way and makes you feel as if you are the ninth person along on their ride of a lifetime. Thank you Sandy for a wonderful story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 6, 2021
When Sandra Lynne Reed’s mother and aunt propose a summer-long road trip from their Alaska home across the lower 48 states, with their mother and kids in tow, it seems like a crazy fantasy. But the women and children rally behind the idea (husbands’ skepticism notwithstanding), save up money, plan and prepare, and set off—all eight of them—in a van that less adventurous souls wouldn’t trust to take them across the state line.
What follows is a journey of discovery, with new experiences to be found in unexpected places. Picking sweet corn—a mundane task for Heartlanders—is a novelty for this family who’ve never seen a cornfield. Catching fireflies is pure magic.
Reed captures both the delights of the summer ramble and the downsides of being cooped up in a van with seven other people when temperatures turn sweltering, tempers wear thin, and homesickness sets in.
More than a chronicle of one family’s travels, The Drive in ’65 is a trip through the culture of the times and the history of our nation. Some readers might find the historical digressions distracting from the main narrative, but I appreciated the context and perspective. In addition, Reed’s use of letters and journal entries provides in-the-moment glimpses of this remarkable journey. Whether or not your summer plans include travel, I highly recommend The Drive in ’65 as a summer—or anytime—read.
What follows is a journey of discovery, with new experiences to be found in unexpected places. Picking sweet corn—a mundane task for Heartlanders—is a novelty for this family who’ve never seen a cornfield. Catching fireflies is pure magic.
Reed captures both the delights of the summer ramble and the downsides of being cooped up in a van with seven other people when temperatures turn sweltering, tempers wear thin, and homesickness sets in.
More than a chronicle of one family’s travels, The Drive in ’65 is a trip through the culture of the times and the history of our nation. Some readers might find the historical digressions distracting from the main narrative, but I appreciated the context and perspective. In addition, Reed’s use of letters and journal entries provides in-the-moment glimpses of this remarkable journey. Whether or not your summer plans include travel, I highly recommend The Drive in ’65 as a summer—or anytime—read.
July 7, 2023
"The Drive in '65" by Sandra Lynne Reed is a captivating and nostalgic tale that takes readers on a journey through time, love, and self-discovery. Set in the mid-1960s, this coming-of-age novel beautifully captures the essence of the era and explores the complexities of teenage life.
The author's vivid and evocative prose transports readers to a time of jukeboxes, drive-in theaters, and the turbulence of social change. Whether it's the iconic songs playing on the radio or the small-town diners they visit, every scene is steeped in authenticity and nostalgia. The friendships and relationships that evolve throughout the story feel genuine and realistic, and the dialogues are natural and engaging.
"The Drive in '65" is not just a story about the past; it also explores timeless themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the search for identity. It reminds readers of the power of youthful aspirations and the importance of embracing change. It's a heartfelt and nostalgic journey that will leave readers reflecting on their own moments of growth and self-discovery.
The author's vivid and evocative prose transports readers to a time of jukeboxes, drive-in theaters, and the turbulence of social change. Whether it's the iconic songs playing on the radio or the small-town diners they visit, every scene is steeped in authenticity and nostalgia. The friendships and relationships that evolve throughout the story feel genuine and realistic, and the dialogues are natural and engaging.
"The Drive in '65" is not just a story about the past; it also explores timeless themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the search for identity. It reminds readers of the power of youthful aspirations and the importance of embracing change. It's a heartfelt and nostalgic journey that will leave readers reflecting on their own moments of growth and self-discovery.
December 2, 2025
Such an entertaining and easy read!
Reed was 13 yrs. old when her aunt and mother organized a phenomenal opportunity. They were taking their kids on an extended road trip for fourteen weeks and over 22,000 miles from Anchorage, AK all the way around the Lower 48 and even as far south as Mexico City. With many differing personalities and cramped quarters, they made it work, but certain events and overtones in letters exchanged with family hinted at life changes that would follow after they returned.
Some memoirs aren't endearing because they're not "personal", but Reed really did a sensational job characterizing each family member and making them pop off the page. By the time the book ended, I wanted to know what happened to everyone after returning. And along the way, readers will discover plenty of fun-facts tucked within the text to remind them of the turbulent 1960's.
A delightful 5 Stars!
Reed was 13 yrs. old when her aunt and mother organized a phenomenal opportunity. They were taking their kids on an extended road trip for fourteen weeks and over 22,000 miles from Anchorage, AK all the way around the Lower 48 and even as far south as Mexico City. With many differing personalities and cramped quarters, they made it work, but certain events and overtones in letters exchanged with family hinted at life changes that would follow after they returned.
Some memoirs aren't endearing because they're not "personal", but Reed really did a sensational job characterizing each family member and making them pop off the page. By the time the book ended, I wanted to know what happened to everyone after returning. And along the way, readers will discover plenty of fun-facts tucked within the text to remind them of the turbulent 1960's.
A delightful 5 Stars!
July 31, 2020
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author.
The Drive in 65 is an engaging and entertaining journey across North America of 1965. Sandra Lynne Reed and 8 family members climbed into a van they dubbed the Wayward Bus in the Spring of 65 to begin a 22,000-mile road trip. Along the way, they met family members and strangers who contributed to the poignant memories they’ve carried with them for the more than 50 years since that summer. Set against the backdrop of escalating tensions in Viet Nam and here in America, The Drive in 65 is a travelogue, memoir, and history book. Reed’s vibrant retelling of their trip will draw you in and keep you hooked until the last legs of this epic road trip.
The Drive in 65 is an engaging and entertaining journey across North America of 1965. Sandra Lynne Reed and 8 family members climbed into a van they dubbed the Wayward Bus in the Spring of 65 to begin a 22,000-mile road trip. Along the way, they met family members and strangers who contributed to the poignant memories they’ve carried with them for the more than 50 years since that summer. Set against the backdrop of escalating tensions in Viet Nam and here in America, The Drive in 65 is a travelogue, memoir, and history book. Reed’s vibrant retelling of their trip will draw you in and keep you hooked until the last legs of this epic road trip.
August 4, 2020
Hop in the ninth seat of the Wayward Bus with Gram, two moms, and their five kids and hit the road to adventure from Alaska through the lower 48 and Mexico in 1965. This charming memoir and travelogue pulled me right along with the family as well as sparking happy memories of my own family road trip that sweltering summer. The epic journey undertaken by her family inspired in the author a lifelong love of history and desire to explore the wider world outside of her home state. Her story may inspire you as well.
October 6, 2020
Ms. Reed's memoir is a touching and symbolic journey, capturing a pivot period in America's history. In one sense, it represents the coming of age not only of a young woman but that of a nation. Told with humor and pathos, the story is as engaging as it is enlightening. If you lived through this year as a young adult, you'll be transported to a time that changed your perception of what it meant to be American. As we now know, that experience depended upon a great many factors, gender, race and the region you called home. Highly recommended.
September 30, 2023
I enjoyed this book. It was well-written and included interesting detail about a long family road trip from Alaska, to the East coast, to Mexico, and then back, hitting many locations along the way in 1965. The author shared the fun and challenges of surviving a long road trip with extended family in a van. The author included contemporaneous tidbits about politics, historic events, and cultural headlines that were occurring.
July 31, 2020
Sandra does a great job pulling a reader into the story of two brave mothers traveling for 22,000 miles in a bus full of children. Tidbits of history woven through-out, and peeks into personal lives all make this a worth while read! You will grow to love her real life characters almost as if you had traveled with them.
August 2, 2020
Good Book
If you lived through the sixties this book brings so many memories of that era . Great writing with the history of that time so vivid. It does show how leaving your twenty mile radius of life changes your view point of the world and expands your knowledge. So take this journey and have one of your own while you can.
If you lived through the sixties this book brings so many memories of that era . Great writing with the history of that time so vivid. It does show how leaving your twenty mile radius of life changes your view point of the world and expands your knowledge. So take this journey and have one of your own while you can.
August 12, 2020
“Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased,” so says John Steinbeck and Sandra Reed. Through “The Drive” we are drawn into a journey that has meaning beyond the events themselves, impacting a family journey that she tells us continues even today. Personal and introspective. I wish someone in my family had captured their personalities and stories in such a way!
July 6, 2023
Love, love, love this book! Born and raised in AK, it’s a very relatable book- driving the Alcan, going “outside” (lower 48) for the 1st time, etc. I also enjoyed the history inserted to tie the trip into what was happening in the world. The author is a superb writer and made the book easy and enjoyable to read. I highly recommend it.
December 26, 2025
Great for recalling my own travels
This is a wonderful story of a family adventure, at a time when it was unusual for families to travel for so long and for so far. I traveled to many of the same places in the 60s, although in a collection of shorter trips, so I enjoyed recalling those experiences through Reed’s retelling of her family experiences.
This is a wonderful story of a family adventure, at a time when it was unusual for families to travel for so long and for so far. I traveled to many of the same places in the 60s, although in a collection of shorter trips, so I enjoyed recalling those experiences through Reed’s retelling of her family experiences.
July 30, 2020
If you love history, memoirs, road trips, and inspiring stories of the human experience, you will enjoy this book. I love how history is artfully woven through the author's experiences in this memoir. A great gift book option!
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