The Passport Project: Two Sisters Ditch Middle School for a Life-Changing Journey Around the World

by Kellie McIntyre

2024 CALIFORNIA Dept of Education Recommended Reading List for Grades 6-8
2024 INDIANA Read Aloud Selection for Middle Grade
2024 MISSISSIPPI Magnolia Book Award Nominee
#1 Best Seller YA Nonfiction Adventures & Adventurers


When 14- and 12-year-old sisters get trapped in their parents' "global family field trip," they must navigate new customs, cultures, religions—and detainment in a communist country—while also navigating adolescence. A true, coming-of-age adventure.

***WARNING! Some readers have reported being infected with the travel bug. Others have nightmares. Read at your own risk!

“THANKS FOR RUINING MY LIFE!”

Delaney McIntyre's eighth-grade dreams crumble when her parents announce their "five-month family field trip." And despite her begging, bawling, and silent treatment, Delaney can't derail their obvious midlife crisis.

Seventh-grade Riley McIntyre is thrilled to ditch middle school for world school. She dreams of bungee jumping in New Zealand and completing the Riley Reinvention Project during this global adventure.

What about school? Forget science and math. The only way to pass this class is to survive:

Public nudity in Iceland
Deadly stingers in Australia
Monster cockroaches in Panama
Scam artists in Italy
Projectile puking in Indonesia
Toilet catastrophes in Thailand

…and many more horrifying and humiliating lessons that aren't in their textbooks! Each day is a real-life social studies class where the sisters must navigate new countries, cultures, and religions—while also navigating adolescence.

But when a flight mistake leads to the family’s detention in a communist country, the sisters face the ultimate challenge. Will they fail the assignment? Or will they find their way home?

In this thrilling and witty account of their family's trek over four continents, author Kellie McIntyre deftly weaves her own experiences with her daughters' blogs and personal journals into a one-of-a-kind travel memoir. And as readers of all ages follow them around the world, they'll be inspired to abandon their comfort zones for priceless life lessons.

The Passport Project is a captivating true story perfect for middle graders, teenagers, and families. If you like unique perspectives, education outside the box, and inspirational transformations, then you'll love Kellie McIntyre's eye-opening exploration.

*This title includes maps, graphics, and a discussion guide.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Travel, Middle Grade

346 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2022

About the author

Kellie McIntyre is a Southern girl with a passion for the world. Her quest for culture and adventure has taken her to 50 countries across seven continents.

In 2013, Kellie, her husband, and two daughters packed one suitcase each and embarked on a five-month journey around the world. Now she’s on a mission to help other families travel boldly.

Kellie holds a BA from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but her worn passport has provided her most valuable education.

Kellie shares tips for planning and surviving global family (mis)adventures—like being detained in a communist country—at https://4WornPassports.com.

For more information about the book, please visit: https://ThePassportProjectBook.com

Reviews

[Tracy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I spent a few years in Kellie and Dale McIntyre's orbit when I lived in Birmingham, Alabama, a lifetime ago. Even then, I knew Kellie was a genius at many things, and chief among them was finding an amazing travel deal. Decide you want to go somewhere? Call Kellie and ask her where you should go and how you should get there. Everyone knew that.

Years later, when I learned she was pulling her girls out of school for a five-month trip around the world, I remember thinking, "Naturally." It is with that same natural talent that Kellie weaves her family's own "Around the World" adventures bouncing between the 1st-person perspectives of her two teenage daughters, teaching us as readers the lessons each family member learned along the way. No matter who you are, you will learn something from this book. From the well-chosen epigraphs at the start of each chapter, to the family high/low report card at the end of each visit, Kellie shows her reader exactly how her family opened their eyes to the ways in which we are different only to realize ultimately, our hearts are all the same. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It will be a book I reference often in my own class, and someday, if I am lucky enough to be reincarnated, I would love to have a turn as Kellie and Dale McIntyre's third daughter. What an adventure; what an amazing family; and what an education to give your children: perspective.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and enlightening travel and cultural read from the perspective of two middle school girls, ages 14 and 12, who traveled round the world with their parents for 4 months. Neither of them wanted to go. Limited to one small carry on and a backpack, leaving friends and anticipated middle school events behind, they include the good, scary, bad, and happy things that happened. The two girls consider it, now that they have returned, a life-changing experience. Definitely will book talk this one.

[Scott Lemke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much for travel books because I generally don't relate to the people who write them. I am neither a jetsetter nor an adventurer. But these people are relatable. As a middle aged dad, of course I can relate to Dale. But when it comes to travel, I relate more to the older daughter, Delaney. I am all for buildings that look like they are from Harry Potter, but mud huts with huge bugs, not so much. Not to give away too much, but I don't enjoy public nudity either.

The stories were really entertaining. I whizzed through it in a couple nights. It made me want to travel more and perhaps even consider some parts of the world I had too quickly dismissed before.

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired by Kellie to take my own kids on a global adventure and loved reading this fun account of their family's trip. Having two daughters myself, I could relate to Riley and Delaney's experiences, personalities and feelings. The questions at the end of the book also made me reflect on my own thoughts and think about travel through my daughter's eyes. This was a fun, easy, educational and entertaining read!

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a little every night, staying up well past my bedtime. This well-written book makes me want to travel more. I felt like I was with this wonderful family sharing their adventures. I held my breath as they did several things I could never do. If you want to travel the world and fall off your seat with laughter, The Passport Project by Kellie McIntrye is for you.

[Gina Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am not adventurous I so enjoyed reading of the McIntyre’s adventures!! What a cool experience for this family to spend 5 months traveling together. I enjoyed viewing this from the girls perspective, like a journal. It was well written and easy to read. I feel sure the girls learned more about the places they visited than they ever could have learned in a classroom. They also learned some important things about culture and people that many people don’t learn until they are much older if ever. This is a great read for both kids and adults!

[Carla Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyable - middle school read. Highly recommend. It's for middle schoolers but not condescending or babyish. Delightful.

[Jennifer Isbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Following the Four Worn Passports around the world was so much fun. I laughed. I cried. I was scared. The Passport Project is so insightful. As a history teacher, I like to think I know it all, but this book taught me so much. Geography, culture, religions, and customs I never knew existed. Not only that, I loved the including of the maps (sorry Kellie, but I'm with Rachael Brooks on this one!) and the country's report card at the end. The quotes to start off each chapter were great as well. Thank you for sharing this book with me. I can't wait to purchase a copy and have my daughter read it!

[Jordan Singletary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story of family and life changing adventures all told from the mind of a middle school girl. I know I am not the only one that relates to the struggles of being a middle school girl! The Passport Project is beautifully written and includes so many fun maps and pictures of these amazing girls. All around, such a great read!

[Cheryl Meibos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning about different cultures and I enjoyed the perspective of the daughters. I think this book is for older middle schoolers.

[Chassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an absolute joy to read about the journey of the McIntyre family. Not only was this book packed with harrowing travel tales and hilarious anecdotes, it is also full of cultural information. I'm a history teacher, but I still learned something in every chapter! I was inspired to Google several locations and customs that Kellie mentioned in the book to learn more about them.

The format of the book is so engaging, and I loved the "report cards" from each family member at the end of each country. Seeing so many parts of the world through the eyes of the family's middle school daughters made this book even more enjoyable. Watching Delaney and Riley go from a couple of kids reluctant about leaving their comfortable "bubble" to two young ladies with a wealth of knowledge about life, freedom, and culture was really moving. I loved hearing the girls explain how much this trip impacted their lives and reflecting on all their little realizations along the way. (Sidenote, I was also REALLY excited to see that a link to Riley's baton video was included!)

While practically any reader would enjoy this book, I think it's a very important read for middle grade children. This is a wonderful story that will hopefully inspire teens and tweens to see the world from a different perspective and take some adventures of their own.

[Melissa Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never been followed by a Taper in the Amazon named Cynthia, snorkeled with Penguins in the Galapagos, driven 100 MPH on the Bangkok freeway less than 2' behind the car in front of you or seen a man proudly displaying a 6" hair shooting out of the mole on his chin on a bike ride in Cambodia, you may not even be able to comprehend the joys and challenges of world travel. However, with the visually descriptive writing of Kellie McIntyre, anyone can imagine they were along on the adventure of The Passport Project.

Most importantly, through the relatable reactions to each family member, the educational and often hilarious telling's of the real life adventures, children and adults alike, will be exposed to one of life's most amazing transformations-escaping your personal bubble, embracing diversity and really living!

Anyone can do it, starting small as recommended; getting out of your click, your neighborhood, your town. Many volunteer organizations and cultural exchange programs make world travel available to those with the most modest incomes, if you want to explore this big beautify diverse world, just make it a priority and it will happen, as did the McIntyre's. If you are surrounded by those who don't support your dream, keep pushing forward to get them on board, do it alone or find travel buddies who share your aspirations and will provide the teamwork required for successful adventures, you won't be disappointed (as Delaney confirmed).

Follow the tips and tricks of the McIntyre family and you are sure to have experiences of a life time and no regrets.

[Pat Trattles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventh grader, Riley and her eighth grade sister, Delaney are taken out of school in the fall to embark on a six month round-the-world trip with their parents. Riley is ecstatic but Delaney who doesn’t want to miss her final year of middle school without her friends, wants nothing to do with the idea. But as time goes on she warms to it and begins to enjoy herself. Chronicling the actual adventures of the McIntire family the text is complemented by photographs of the places they visited and things they did along the way. The information is presented in such a way that it reads like a novel told from the girls’ alternating points of view. Information concerning the customs, practices and uniqueness of each country visited is woven into the text. This would be a fantastic books for middle school history/geography teachers to include in their curriculum as it is much more interesting than reading a dry textbook. Highly recommended for this reason. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[marcie d haynie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am speechless. I finished this book and could not stop smiling. I loved reading about their adventures and mishaps. I loved the photos and honestly, I felt their pain. There were parts of the book where I thought they were absolute nuts, but the ending was amazing and made me realize how thankful I am for my freedom. My favorite parts were learning about the sheep and the horror of being detained. Also, I loved how happy they were when they got to spend the afternoon with their friends and when they ran into the guys they were detained with. Such an amazing story and a very brave family. I love the different perspective of each person, but more than anything it was heartwarming to see how they depended on each other and how close they became through their adventure. Also, I loved the end of the book and the speech given to the middle schoolers. I would highly recommend this book.

[Amy Graziano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and relatable, I think that any reader, but especially middle schoolers, would enjoy. The format is great and I loved the report cards at the end of each chapter. Fun read about the McIntyre's family travels. As a mom of another family that traveled and "world schooled" their daughters for a time, I found so many great opportunities to smile and remember our own adventures. The McIntyres went to different locales than we did, so I took a lot of notes on great places for future adventures.

[Mary Largent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The family adventure of a lifetime! The Passport Project allows all of us to join in on this family trip around the world that leaves you longing to pack your own bags. Hilarious adventures, mishaps and discoveries that give all of us much needed insight into the people, places and cultures outside of our insulated neighborhoods. This is a book that every age group will enjoy, learn from and leave you ready to dust off your own passport and experience all that our world has to offer. A joy from start to finish!

[Drew Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible journey the McIntyres had with their two daughters travelling around the world for months. What makes this book both unusual and more interesting is that it is written from the perspective of the two girls rather than the author herself. The girls’ diaries, blogs and memories have provided the core source of material for the retelling of their experiences, and you really get a sense of how these impressionable young women were feeling at each stage of their adventure. Reading this, I’ve learned an awful lot about places I haven’t yet visited and some places I thought I was already familiar with. It may also have informed my wanderlust about one or two places I may now wish to avoid, or at the very least treat with caution. I would recommend this book for anyone to read.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the journey it took the reader on, as it told the story of a young family of four, taking a break from traditional school and life, to learn from traveling the world for roughly 6 months. As a 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher, I will highly recommend it to my students to read, and may even read it with all of them, especially thanks to the chapter discussion questions included at the end of the book. Reading this would be interesting and educational for those who already love to travel, those who don’t, or those who don’t have the means to, and I would recommend it. As a dad, it also confirms my desire to travel as much as possible with my kids as they grow up.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book!!!! I love the perspectives being from the middle school girls and the experiences they had. This book made me want to get my passport out and travel the world! This book is very well written— I learned a lot but felt more like I was on a vacation instead of in a classroom! I want to go on a global family field trip now!!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this true travel story for kids as well as adults. Told mainly from the view points of the seventh and eight grade daughters it is refreshingly unique as well as entertaining. I plain on buying a copy for my grandkids who are about the same age as Riley and Delaney.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rajesh Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I immigrated to New Zealand from India nearly 19 years ago. Now with my kiwi wife and our three boys, we are planning to go to India for a whole year. They all been to India to visit family before. But this is going to be different as we spend time bonding with family and connect to people and visit places. Very timely for me to come across this book, lots of takeaways from this book for our family to prepare ourselves and how we are going to do our journey. Thank you for sharing your family story, very encouraging, engaging and entertaining. Very special to read it from kids perspective.

[Julie Furlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book which kept me reading to see what new adventure lied ahead for Delaney, Riley and the family. I laughed so many times that I ended up reading many portions of the book to my husband (who doesn’t enjoy reading) and he laughed with me along the way. It definitely made me think about where I want to go in the future to visit. I loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone!!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book about a family taking a months-long trip around the world! This would be an awesome book to use in a Geography class (5th-7th-ish), where kids could keep track of the places they visit, the tourist stops they saw, and the cultural things they learned. This definitely motivated me as a parent to get out of our Disney vacation rut, and to get outside of my comfort zone and travel internationally!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun way to learn about the differences and similarities of people around the world through the adventures of two middle schoolers

[Jaime Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story and it perfectly captures the importance of getting out of your bubble.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK!! Inspiring. Fun. Educational. Page Turner. Memorable.

Kellie McIntyre's masterful first book is not only a pleasure to read, but is also full of life lessons for each and every reader. Life lessons include acceptance and appreciation for other cultures and people across the globe, geography, a love of travel, sibling relationships, deep family love/bonds ... all rolled into a VERY entertaining and relatable book that will keep every reader wanting more.

As a past middle school teacher, a mother of three (youngest now in middle school), and an avid reader who participates in many book clubs, this book is a must for any child and/or family.

As a past teacher, I would have loved this book in my curriculum and line up of book studies for my students. This book absolutely captures students' interests and also provides a vehicle for engaging dialogue and learning of current events, history, and simply being an open and accepting human being. There are so many important lessons to be gained from the McIntyres' experiences. Through her words, we readers are transported around the world, all from the comfort of our own homes and classrooms.

I simply cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you Kellie McIntyre for creating such a wonderful novel.

[Erin Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story which is so well written. I love the unique perspective of seeing world travel through the eyes of middle schoolers. The maps, quotes and report card for each chapter help the book flow and make it fun read! Each day of the travel adventure brings something new - which is sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, sometimes amazing and sometimes scary. The writing perfectly captures the universal thoughts, dreams and fears of young teens, while it simultaneously teaches history and provides country specific facts. It is a great mix of entertainment and education. This book will encourage parents to take their families out of their comfort zone and will inspire teens to explore the real world!

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this families adventures. It was very honest and down to earth, sharing both highlights and hard times from the perspective of the daughters. As an adult I enjoyed this story, but it would be good for youth also. It was especially fun to read about the family's adventures in places I have been.

[Holly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and original idea in the telling of it.

[Johnna Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Passport Project is a delightful read incorporating geography, social mores and insightful acceptance of various cultures through the eyes of two teen/tweens told with humor, sensitivity and realism. Most Americans travel internationally “within the bubble” returning to their American branded hotel at night after visiting various tourist “must see” spots during the day – The Passport Project takes a totally different approach: immersing these sisters into the true lifestyles of the off the normal touristy traveled pathways for a journey which cultivates introspection and appreciation of not only how blessed we are as Americans for all of the privileges we take for granted but also a true indoctrination and acceptance of others’ cultures, morals and values. A great reading experience for both adults and youth who are open to traveling down the (many) roads less traveled!

Johnna Clift Horton, MA
Masters in Counseling with a Specialization in Adolescents