american road trip patrick flores scott summary

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Review: American Road Trip

Title: American Road Trip Author: Patrick Flores-Scott Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Pages: 336 Genre: Contemporary Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley Availability: Releases Sept. 18, 2018

Summary: A heartwrenching YA coming of age story about three siblings on a road trip in search of healing.

With a strong family, the best friend a guy could ask for, and a budding romance with the girl of his dreams, life shows promise for Teodoro “T” Avila. But he takes some hard hits the summer before senior year when his nearly perfect brother, Manny, returns from a tour in Iraq with a devastating case of PTSD. In a desperate effort to save Manny from himself and pull their family back together, T’s fiery sister, Xochitl, hoodwinks her brothers into a cathartic road trip.

Told through T’s honest voice, this is a candid exploration of mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, and the many inescapable highs and lows that come with growing up—including falling in love.

Review: Relationships and connections. These are things that keep Teodoro “T” going. First, he has a best friend who believes in him and is willing to stand by him through pretty much anything. Second, he has a sister who will push him, but will also hold him tightly. I loved seeing the back and forth between Xochitl and T. They both want the best for each other and their brother Manny though they don’t always go about things the same way. Flores-Scott lets readers get to know T, but also allows us to see the ways in which the siblings interact and how those relationships shape the individuals. Beyond these two, he also has quite a few others in his corner both near and far. One of the beauties of this story is how many, many people are willing to pitch in to make life better for both T and his brother. Their lives are often dark and difficult, but hope doesn’t curl up and die because of the many people around them.

And who can resist a road trip story? Road trips almost always provide moments for bonding even if it’s just having some horrible shared experience. This particular road trip is all about connecting and re-connecting with people. Each stop felt like they were tying themselves to others. I pictured pins on a map with the strings connecting from one to another. This was not an upbeat road trip though. There are some moments of humor, but Manny’s PTSD is intense and no matter how far they run, they can’t seem to escape it. Xochitl’s plan is to buy time for healing, but this isn’t easy.

This might be a challenging book for those who have experienced PTSD in their families. The pain is hard to witness even knowing it’s fiction, but the love and caring of so many people offers hope and optimism. Woven in throughout the most difficult issues, there are moments of laughter and a lovely bit of romance so it’s not constant intensity.

Recommendation: Get it soon especially if you enjoy family stories. This is not the story of a perfect family, but does show a family willing to do what’s needed even when it gets hard. I loved getting to know the characters in this story and hope many people get to experience them too.

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AMERICAN ROAD TRIP

by Patrick Flores-Scott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018

A compassionate success.

After Teodoro’s older brother, Manny, left for Iraq, the Avila family began to fall apart.

Then the 2008 financial crisis hit, and the Mexican-American Avilas downsized to a dumpy rental home amid a loss of income. Teodoro doesn’t see much hope for his broken family, but news of Manny’s return inspires the Avilas to improve their lives. Spurred on by an old childhood friend, Latina Wendy Martinez, and his Polynesian best bud, Caleb Ta’amu, Teodoro even tries to become a college-bound student. But when Manny comes home, he can’t shake off the shock of war. Situated between the hope-filled election of Barack Obama and the beginning of Teodoro’s senior year, Flores-Scott’s ( Jumped In , 2013) latest explores the fragile bonds of a fractured family through moments full of poignant confession and self-discovery. Teodoro’s funny, wry first-person narration features quick, emotionally charged sentences that provide the narrative a breathless, hard-hitting quality. In hopes of helping Manny heal, Teodoro’s spunky sister, Xochitl, plans an impromptu road trip, ensnaring an unknowing Teodoro in the process. The trio travels all along the West Coast, reconnecting with old friends and family. A final stop in New Mexico offers Teodoro the chance to help his brother confront his PTSD, pull his family together again, and possibly begin something meaningful with Wendy. Featuring a diverse cast of delightful characters, this novel bursts with much-needed optimism.

Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-62779-741-2

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Henry Holt

Review Posted Online: June 23, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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More by Patrick Flores-Scott

BOOK REVIEW

by Patrick Flores-Scott

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.

In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me , three characters tell their sides of the story.

Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781728276229

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

More by Laura Nowlin

by Laura Nowlin

IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2013

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.

The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.

Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

Pub Date: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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Book Review of American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott

Cover American Road Trip: a yellow background, the back of a car showing two silhouettes inside and one hanging out of the window

About the Book

Patrick Flores-Scott
Contemporary
Latine / Latinx / Latin American (Non-Specified)

Grading Scale

Cover Story: Montell Jordan BFF Charm: Platinum Talky Talk: Deceptively Simple Bonus Factors: Amazing Friends, Tasty Business, Siblings Factor: Lost Optimism Anti-Bonus Factor: War Relationship Status: I’ll Stand By You

Cover Story: Montell Jordan

This is a great cover—eye-catching with the contrasting saffron yellow and red letters, a beautifully detailed drawing with Sally the Rambler and the three siblings. The scenery fading around them is perfect, as this trip—and book—are really more about what’s happening inside that car than outside it.

It’s 2008, and it’s been 5 years since Teodoro last saw his older brother, Manny, leave for the Iraqi War. That decision seemed to break the spirit of his family and was the first in a series of downturns that laid his parents off, strained their marriage, and forced them to move into a dilapidated rental in Sea-Tac. But things might be looking up: Manny is coming home! And T just ran into Wendy Martinez and the girl is all grown up, whip-smart, and headed to the University of Washington—a place T has no business going, yet all of his dreams now include he and Wendy hanging out at the HUB, together.

But when Manny gets back, though he looks the same, Teodoro can see the tremor in his hands and the way his smile seems strained. He stays in his room all day, drinking, watching TV, and smoking weed (something pre-war Manny would have never done). He has bad dreams that include punching holes in the walls, scaring the crap out of T—this isn’t his brother. In a last ditch effort to get through to Manny, T’s sister, Xochitl, engages in some light kidnapping by taking them all on a summer road trip. Now is the time to heal themselves, or die trying.

BFF Charm: Platinum

So I almost gave Teo a Be Mine charm, but, honestly, he only has eyes for Wendy and they are just too cute together. (Plus I have some proud-sister feels bubbling up for how he’s trying to turn his life around, and that seems a little weird, so we’ll stick with less complicated good buds.) When we first meet Teodoro he’s just gotten off an all-nighter Halo fest (on a school night!) with his BFF, Caleb, and he’s unconcerned with the fact that his grades are so bad he may not be graduating in two years. Dude! But he has determination, I’ll give him that (more below). And while T may not have a clue how to help his parents reconnect, help his sister succeed at her music career, or support his brother after the war messed him up, he loves them fiercely. I got some serious Ryan Atwood vibes from Teo, which I think you’ll understand after reading.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7

If Teodoro is Ryan Atwood, Wendy is way more of a Taylor than a Marissa (thank GOD ). T has basically an instant crush on this little-nerd-turned-hot-girl who used to drive him crazy when they were younger, but because she lives about four hours away, their relationship has time to develop organically via flirty texts. Teodoro is so besotted with Wendy after they reconnect he immediately decides to turn his academic standing around, getting himself enrolled in an at-risk youth program at school, hiring a tutor, and spending his nights studying instead of gaming. (I mean, if that’s not love…) This decision could have easily felt trite and unrealistic, but it worked for me not only because of the type of person Teodoro is but because he realizes this is something he needs too, not just for Wendy, but for his own self-worth. I am a cheerleader for this relationship to succeed, for sure.

Talky Talk: Deceptively Simple

Right away, you’ll see that Flores-Scott isn’t into flowery prose; this book is quick, simple sentences and sparse language. It isn’t my preferred style, but it didn’t take me more than a couple of pages to fall into the easy, conversational rhythm. The pages began to fly by without me even noticing. And while the language may be simple, the ideas and concepts presented are most definitely not. PTSD is no joke; Manny—and, by extension, his whole family—is having a hard time processing what he saw and did while he was at war, and he isn’t capable of identifying and requesting the help he needs.

Despite the weighty topic, there was still an underlying sense of hope and some beautiful insights about life, love, and family. This wasn’t a full-on sobfest, but there were multiple moments I had some tears slipping out, even occasionally with a smile on my face at the same time. It’s the kind of book you finish and give a little squeeze before you set it gently back down on the shelf—what, is that only me?

Bonus Factor: Amazing Friends

Caleb, Teodoro’s best friend, deserves his own bonus factor for being such a kickass, supportive AF friend. When T announces he is going to try to get better grades to get into college, Caleb literally stands up, unplugs his Xbox, and says, okay, let’s do this together. * heart eyes *

Bonus Factor: Tasty Business

Teodoro’s uncle runs a chile farm in the Southwest and regularly sends his family a batch of New Mexican green chiles. T’s mom makes her super-special green chile cheeseburgers, and all the people who’ve tried them wax poetic about them. They sound amazing . Is it wrong that I am a little bummed there is no recipe in the back of the book?

Bonus Factor: Siblings

Brothers Loki and Thor from Marvel movies

While everyone is rightfully focused on Manny and his road to wellness, I’m glad that Teodoro understood how awesome his older sister, Xochitl, was. According to T, Manny may be the glue that held their family together, but I’d posit that Xochitl is the nails you drive in after the glue dries to ensure that shit really doesn’t go anywhere.

Factor: Lost Optimism

Portrait of Barack Obama, former US President

Damn you, Flores-Scott. You knew what you were doing. This book starts off in the Fall of 2008, and you may remember a small thing that happened in November when America voted for its first black president. Teodoro has a great and funny moment where he’s struggling with his newfound scholastic aspirations, but then he sees Obama’s win and it kicks him back on track. Just thinking about where we’ve gone in the last ten years from then to now was…more than a tad depressing.

Anti-Bonus Factor: War

Flores-Scott doesn’t go in-depth about what haunts Manny from his time away, but it’s all too easy to conjure my own worst nightmares. Instead, the real tragedy described is how little support our vets receive after they leave their service. Manny is completely left to his own devices after he gets home, and it leads to some scary moments. At one point, Manny’s family takes him to the VA and they wait for so long they leave without getting help. Luckily for Manny, his uncle is an awesome person and went through his own issues with PTSD, so he may know just what Manny needs.

Relationship Status: Stand By You

How did you make me care about you so quickly, Book? You’re going through a major life upheaval right now, and I get it. I won’t lecture or prod, but I will be sitting right here next to you when you want to talk. I’ll celebrate every hard-won success you achieve, because you are that special to me.

Literary Matchmaking

american road trip patrick flores scott summary

Heather Demetrios knows how to bring the swoon and the tears as her own characters struggle with making something of themselves in a small town and readjusting to civilian life in I’ll Meet You There .

What is it about sadness and road trips that go so well together? Jessi Kirby’s In Honor also deals with sibling relationships, grief, and road-tripping across America.

For a book with a little more levity but no less realism, check out Trish Dollar’s Something Like Normal about a Marine returning home.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Henry Holt & Co. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. American Road Trip is available now .

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Book Reports
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Stephanie (she/her) is an avid reader who moonlights at a college and calls Orlando home. Stephanie loves watching television, reading DIY blogs, planning awesome parties, Halloween decorating, and playing live-action escape games.

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YA Review: American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott

“American Road Trip” A Book Review for a Great Story

Follow the struggles of a family that finds a unique way to help a member with PTSD in the novel, American Road Trip, which is a story you’re sure to love.

The Plot of American Road Trip

American Road Trip was written by Patrick Flores-Scott and was published in 2018. The book follows Teodoro, nicknamed “T” by close friends and family, as he tries to turn his life around and focus on making a future for himself. But there are many things that are distracting him; his childhood friend and the girl he loves, Wendy, is back in his life and he dreams of attending the same college as her.

His parents are struggling financially and have had to move into a small, impersonal rental. And Manny, Teodoro’s older brother, is finally coming home after a long time away serving in Iraq. But having Manny home isn’t at all what T, his parents, and his older sister Xochitl were expecting .

Manny is heavily affected by PTSD, so Xochitl does what seems the most reasonable thing to do: she tricks her brothers into a road trip from their home in Seattle to their uncle’s green chile farm in New Mexico, where she believes that once Manny reconnects with family members and precious memories, he will be able to clear his head of the terrible memories he created in Iraq, and their broken family will be healed.

Family Relationships and Realism

One of the most amazing things about American Road Trip is the depiction of the Avila family. They are not perfect, and in fact, are very fractured, and this fact comes up several times throughout the novel. They cry together, laugh together, sing and dance together, fight together, and eventually heal together. Flores-Scott does an amazing job of beautifully portraying how even though life sometimes gets in the way , sacrifices have to be made for your family.

T and Xochitl make many sacrifices for their brother, including spending their summer with him in New Mexico and putting their own dreams and plans on hold, and Manny works hard to make a change and to overcome what is haunting him. But it doesn’t come easily to the three siblings, and that is another great aspect of the book-how realistic the relationships and events are.

Their family isn’t perfect, and their problems are not solved quickly. It takes a lot to get the family back to having strong, loving bonds, and even then, the ending isn’t one hundred percent perfect, but it is just right for the story and its characters. Creative and Interesting Story and CharactersAlthough the actual road trip in American Road Trip doesn’t kick off until over a hundred pages in, the story is never boring and constantly has interesting moments.

At the beginning of the story, readers are drawn in with T’s unique character and his fantastic character development, as he goes from a lazy teenager with a lackluster future to a dedicated young man who learns about the sacrifices that have to be made for family and how hard work will help secure his future.

Xochitl, the middle sibling, and the only girl is a strong female character who is willing to do anything that will help her older brother, including giving up her dream of singing and playing in a band. The novel intertwines the plot lines of T’s plans for his future, his love for Wendy, and his family struggles, as well as a road trip with his brother and sister.

The road trip is a creative idea that leads the siblings back to extended family members who help the three remember how things used to be. The green chile farm in New Mexico is another creative element that further advances the plotline. American Road Trip thoroughly develops its main characters who all have different personalities and goals, and this leads to a very interesting novel that grabs the reader and doesn’t let them go until the end.

Themes and Messages Found in American Road Trip

Many heartwarming messages and themes can be obtained from this book, including some about family, sacrifice, hard work, love, perseverance, and dreams. The road trip from Washington to New Mexico shows how even though families can become weak and go through rough patches, in the end, they can become strong again and will always be there for each other. T learns how setting goals and having dreams, as well as fighting to attain them, helps him to shape who he wants to become.

T also learned about the huge amount of love he has for Manny, Xochitl, and his parents, as well as Wendy, with whom he also goes through some ups and downs. In the end, American Road Trip shows that even through hardships, families will be there for each other.

This novel has definitely earned five stars out of five and will tug on the heartstrings of all who turn its pages.

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.

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American Road Trip Hardcover – 18 Sept. 2018

A heartwrenching YA coming of age story about three siblings on a roadtrip in search of healing. With a strong family, the best friend a guy could ask for, and a budding romance with the girl of his dreams, life shows promise for Teodoro “T” Avila. But he takes some hard hits the summer before senior year when his nearly perfect brother, Manny, returns from a tour in Iraq with a devastating case of PTSD. In a desperate effort to save Manny from himself and pull their family back together, T’s fiery sister, Xochitl, hoodwinks her brothers into a cathartic road trip. Told through T’s honest voice, this is a candid exploration of mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, and the many inescapable highs and lows that come with growing up—including falling in love. Christy Ottaviano Books

Print length 330 pages
Language English
Publisher Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication date 18 Sept. 2018
Grade level 7 - 9
Dimensions 14.45 x 2.97 x 21.41 cm
ISBN-10 1627797416
ISBN-13 978-1627797412
See all details

Product description

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

Daylight creeps into the game cave.

I turn to Caleb. "We played all night, man. We played all night."

Caleb Ta'amu does not respond. His wide body is sucked into the sofa, long hair frizzing wild, eyes bugging on a flat screen, zombied out on too much Halo.

I toss my headset. Dig through fast-food wrappers on the coffee table. Grab my phone and shove it in Caleb's face.

He slaps my hand, pissed I'm messing with his gamer trance. "What the hell, T?"

"Check the time!"

Caleb checks it. He whips off his headset. "Do not tell me it's tomorrow."

"It's tomorrow, Caleb."

He drops his controller. Hops to his feet. "You gotta get outta here."

We sneak upstairs. Caleb opens the door. He rubs his eyes in the gray morning light. "Second day, junior year. We're off to a stellar start."

"Yeah," I say. "We're killing it."

"You gonna try and make first period?"

"I guess. You?"

"I guess. If my dad doesn't strangle me first. You better go, T."

I hike the sidewalk-less, residential streets of SeaTac, Washington. Drizzle spraying my face. Water sloshing through my shoes. A mile of dark, evergreen-tree-lined streets. Shabby houses, beige apartments, barred windows, rusted cars on blocks ...

I arrive at my destination.

But I can't go inside.

I stand, stuck in this spot on this potholed road, soaking up rain to the rumble soundtrack of Sea-Tac Airport jumbo jets.

They come. They go. Move in and out.

I cannot move.

And I can't stop staring at the dented-up front door of a tiny, falling-down rental house — our tiny, falling-down rental house.

And I can't stop thinking how we got here.

How two summers ago, we rode the happy housing bubble right into a bright blue, boxy, four-bathroom house down in Des Moines. My mom and dad's marriage needed a spark. My dad hoped a big new house would do the trick.

One year later the housing bubble popped.

The whole economy popped.

Orders for Boeing planes slowed way down and Fauntleroy Fabrication in Seattle — where my dad machined airplane parts and my mom was a warehouse clerk — went belly-up.

Papi's fat union check was gone.

Mami traded her living-wage job for part-time work at Walmart.

And we went from being a family that didn't worry much about money, to one that did.

I'll never forget the night last spring. My dad drove me and my sister, Xochitl, ten minutes from Des Moines to SeaTac. And he parked right here in front of this rental. Right where I'm standing. He told us he'd done the math and decided it would be better to hang on to some savings and walk away from the new house now, than be stuck owing way more than it's worth. He'd rather tank his credit for years than put us in a deeper financial hole. He said we'd swallow our pride and move on.

Then he pointed at the dented-up metal door. And said we'd be living here for a while.

The drizzle turns to showers. I take a step toward that door.

But I can't do it.

I can't open up.

Cuz I can't stop thinking about my big brother, Manny.

And I can't stop thinking about us back when we were still living in our old house — the solid little house we all grew up in — the one where we still lived when Manny left us for Iraq. For years, every time I saw our front door, I'd have this hope he'd be inside when I opened up. My brother would be sitting there, smiling at me like he never went to war. He'd be ready to toss a baseball. Take me for a ride in his Mustang. Fishing at the Des Moines pier. Slurpies. Double-scoop cones. French fries and homework help.

I'd see that old door, and I'd feel that stupid hope.

But Manny's tours of duty kept getting extended.

So I gave up hoping for Manny.

And I settled for hoping I'd walk in and catch my parents dancing or cooking together again, teasing each other like they used to. Something would click and they'd remember how good they were before my brother shocked us with his big announcement.

Spring of his senior year, Manny sits us down and tells us he's off to basic training right after graduation. He says he's been planning this ever since those towers fell a year and a half before.

My mom flips. She tells him he can't go because he's headed to college. She tells him he can't kill people for this lie of a war. That's what Mami tells him.

He gives Manny a back-pounding hug. Tells him he's proud and gives him his blessing.

And that's the start of my parents fighting their quiet war at home.

The front doors have changed since then.

But Mami and Papi haven't changed.

Screw it. I'm soaked to the bone and freezing cold. I walk up. Turn the knob. And push in that messed-up door.

My big sister is sitting at the table. Xochitl is postshow buzzed. Scribbling in her journal. Badass in her purple-striped hair and tattooed arms. Smelling like cigarettes and beer.

She shakes her head at me back and forth, dramatic, fake-parental, wagging her finger, then pointing at the spot on her wrist where a watch would go.

I shrug my shoulders. Make a pleading face, playing like I'm in big trouble.

She chokes back a laugh.

I can't help but laugh out loud.

She shushes me, leaves the room, and returns with a towel. Throws it at me.

I sit at the table. She sits across.

It's been so long since the two of us hung out.

And so long since we played Radio Xochitl. I raise my pointer finger in the air.

My sister smirks and shakes her head no.

I bob my head. Oh, yes.

She looks to our parents' room. Mouths the words, It's too late.

I know she can't resist showing off. So I press the invisible power button and Xochitl starts singing.

She's Aretha Franklin. Powerful, even with the volume on low.

They say that it's a man's world.

She keeps her eyes on me.

But you can't prove that by me —

I mime spinning the dial. Xochitl babbles gibberish as stations fly by.

I stop and she belts out norteño — Los Tigres del Norte.

Somos más americanos que toditos los — I turn the dial. Xochitl busts it.

My method on the microphone is bangin' Wu-Tang slang'll leave your headpiece hang —

I spin again and again and she doesn't miss a beat. Dixie Chicks, Café Tacuba, Jill Scott — then serious and intense with some Ani DiFranco ...

What kind of paradise am I looking for? I've got everything I want and still I want more

Even in a whisper, Xochitl can kill you with a song. I poke that power button in the air. Radio Xochitl fades to silence. She's smiling, loving this. I'm smiling. Loving my crazy sister. The doors have changed. Thank God Xochitl hasn't.

Xochitl wasn't quiet enough. My mom woke up and freaked about my all-nighter with Caleb. So today I head straight back to the rental after school.

Xochitl's here, too. She's never home for dinner. I'm guessing she either got fired from selling zit cream at the mall or she quit another band.

Mami doesn't ask questions. We're all home, so she gets to work whipping up her one comfort food specialty: green chile cheeseburgers.

Mami's uncle, our Tío Ed, got married to a New Mexican and moved down there a long time ago. He started farming New Mexican green chile, and for years he's sent us a box every fall. Mami tried out the recipes they make down there, like green chile enchiladas and green chile stew. Those were tasty as hell. But the Avila family go-to became the green chile cheeseburger.

These peppers are not jalapeños. Not poblanos. I got nothing against 'em. But New Mexican green chile was created by the Almighty Gods of Flavor for the purpose of combining heat with cream or cheese and creating ecstasy in your mouth. So Mami only pulls them out of the freezer for special occasions.

I don't think this qualifies as a special occasion. But I'm not gonna argue.

It's a quiet dinner. Nothing but the sounds of faces being stuffed till Xochitl slaps a drum roll on the table. She splashes an imaginary cymbal and says, "I bring you this announcement from Fallujah, Iraq: Manny's coming home! They promised. He's home for good in February."

"How do you know?" Mami says.

"We e-mail. It's all set up. He'll call you with the details."

Mami looks at Xochitl like she feels sorry for her for being hopeful.

We've been burned so many times. I can't stand Xochitl even talking about it.

My dad says, "Vamos a ver, mija. We'll see."

Xochitl scoots her chair back. "We can't wait, Papi." She hops to her feet. "We have to get our act together now. For Manny. "

Barely twenty years old, and she's taking charge. "We have to make this house feel like a home," she says. "We'll paint. Put up prints. Get our old furniture in here."

"Xochitl, stop," I say.

"I'm not stopping. And I'm reinstituting game night. Everyone plays." She points at our parents. "And you two are going out on mandatory dates."

" Xochitl, " Mami says.

"And counseling?"

"Déjalo, mija," Papi says.

"At least talk to Father Michael?"

What is Xochitl talking about? We haven't been to mass in forever.

Then she points at me. "What's Manny gonna think when he sees you, you big lazy clown? There's a world out there, T. Find a passion. Set a goal. And go for it, bro!"

I make a beeline for my room, pissed at my sister for turning on me. Pissed at her for jacking up the volume on our quiet dysfunction.

Before I can slam my door, she says, "He's coming home, guys. Let's see some energy. Let's see some smiles. Oh, and I quit the Art Institute."

"No, Xochitl, no." Mami drops forehead onto palm and shakes her head. "You can't do that."

"I already did."

Xochitl tells them it's great she's quitting because it's too expensive. Plus she can work full-time during the day and help with rent and bills till Papi finds union work again.

"This way I'll be home afternoons before rehearsals to help out," she says.

"We're okay," Papi says. "No te preocupes tanto, mija."

Xochitl looks at the bare walls of the rental. Looks at our parents. Shakes her head. "We have to get right. And we need to do it before Manny comes home."

I wanna tell Xochitl that's impossible. Cuz Manny being here — being with us — is the only thing that can get us right.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

Breaks squeal. Rubber doors slap open. I hop a bus headed for Seattle. I do not care where.

It's been a whole week of my sister telling us stuff we already know about how bad we suck. A whole week of her taking charge in a way our parents should be taking charge.

Plus, she bought Risk. And tonight she will open that box. My mom will grumble as Xochitl explains the rules. Papi will ask a ton of questions. Xochitl will try very hard to explain. Mami will roll eyes at both of them. Then Xochitl will bawl them out like she's the parent.

If I'm there, I'll get pissed and walk out and my sister will throw down another lecture about my lame life. And the whole night will be a confirmation that Manny's still gone, my parents are a lost cause, and Xochitl has flipped and she's no longer my sister.

I flash the driver my pass. He nods. The breaks exhale. The engine rumbles and jerks us into traffic.

I would be over at Caleb's, but his dad got on his case after our all-nighter. Kennedy Ta'amu told Caleb it was time to get a life. Play a sport. Volunteer at church. Get a job. So now he's working a couple nights as a dishwasher at Vince's Pizza.

The bus winds its way north. Up Pac Highway. Past Sea-Tac Airport. Onto 405, then I-5. Into Seattle. The U District. The University of Washington campus.

I hop off at the Husky Union Building — the HUB — a brick, ivy-covered, dry place to kill some time.

I pull open the old wooden doors, walk past a bike shop, past a little branch of University Book Store, into a big open corridor. College kids lounge at tables and couches. They flirt. Surf the web. Read important novels. Argue about important things.

I head over to a newsstand to grab a Coke. I pay the lady and turn to go. No big deal.

But I almost bump into the girl behind me cuz she's on one knee tying her laces. She's got this shiny, dark brown hair hanging down so I can't see her face, but I got a feeling she might be cute and I want to find out.

So I fake sneeze.

The girl springs to her feet. "Do everyone a favor and cover that stuff up."

All I've got are uh s and um s because she is, in fact, kind of cute. Cute cheeks. Cute scowl as she stands there with cute brown eyes staring at me through long lashes and black dork glasses.

"Sorry about that," I say as I walk away fast.

"You wait, mister." She grabs me by the arm and examines my face.

And I'm like, "What?"

And she's like, "Your momma taught you better than that."

"Excuse me? My momma ?"

"Yeah. She taught you better."

"Leave my momma outta this cuz you don't know my momma."

Then she slips a bit of a wicked smile. "I think maybe I know your mamá."

I can't help but slip some of my smile and say, "How you think you know my mamá?"

And she says — her smile growing bigger — "Summers in Florence, Oregon. My great-uncle Frank's place."

I'm frozen stupid as time and space mess with my head.

This is Wendy Martinez, Frank O'Brien's grandniece.

But the Wendy Martinez from way-back summers was not cute. She was a bossy little busybody who chased me around and drove me nuts and — I'll admit it — I was a tiny bit scared of the little Wendy.

"You had better manners back then," she says. She busts out a full-on smile. "Teodoro Avila! Dude! Hug it out!"

We go in for the hug. Wrap arms like people do and ...

This hug. It's like firm? But soft and warm.

I turn to jelly in Wendy's arms as she squeezes tighter and my mind — everything fades and this is all there is. Me wrapped around Wendy. Wendy wrapped around me.

Then both of us — at the same exact time — inhale deep and fast and look big eyes right into each other.

That breath, those eyes — it's all way too much. So we let go and step back.

"My mom's at the bookstore," she says. "You have a second to talk?"

"I have lots of seconds," I say. But I'm thinking, I got the rest of my life, Wendy Martinez.

We find a bright spot in the atrium. We sit across a table from each other. Smile some nervous smiles. Then Wendy asks me about the family.

I tell her to go first.

Wendy says she and her mom still live a couple hours away in Vancouver, across the river from Portland. She's here at the University of Washington looking into a scholarship for women in science. She says this is the place to study health care. She's thinking about med school already. Wendy's got all the data and all her stuff one hundred percent together.

Before I know it, she asks me what I'm doing here.

I start telling Wendy about staying away from game night, but that feels way too complicated. So I sneeze again — I cover up this time — and I tell her that I am also here checking out the University of Washington, only I call it U-Dub so she knows I know people call it that.

And I say it with a straight face. As if I believed they would let me into the University of Washington. For actual college.

That's the first of my lies as I try to convince beautiful and brilliant Wendy Martinez that my parents are doing great. Xochitl's got a great music career going and she's doing awesome in art school. And I'm carefully considering my many college options before making my decision.

The thing about Wendy — besides her smile, her hair, her not-skinny curves, and those smart-girl glasses — is she is so full of caring. Like when the subject of Manny comes up and I tell her how bad I miss him. How scared I am he might never come back. Wendy looks me in the eyes as I talk. Touches my hand to make a point. Asks me if I'm okay — like really okay.

And when a stupid tear slips when I say I miss him, she acts like it's nothing. She just reaches over and wipes it away with a finger midsentence and says she can't imagine how stressful the waiting must be. How difficult it must be on all of us that Manny keeps getting redeployed. How much she hopes he makes it back.

When people try to make us feel better about Manny, they say, Everything's going to be okay. God has a plan. Everything happens for a reason.

Wendy doesn't say any of that BS. She gets that it's way more complicated. And that makes me like her even more.

In a minute, Wendy's mom walks our way. Rebecca O'Brien acts thrilled to see me. She asks how the family is and I keep my lies straight as Wendy takes off running. We watch her go and I'm about to ask, but Rebecca sighs and says, "You never know with that girl."

Rebecca tells me Uncle Frank misses us terribly. She says it'd be great if we all spent a week in Florence, like old times. I tell her I'll let Mami and Papi know.

Pretty soon, Wendy's standing there again, one hand hidden behind her back.

Rebecca edges away and it's clear they have to go.

I don't want this moment to end, so I say, "Wendy, being here, soaking this place in, I think this old U-Dub might be tops on my list."

"That's awesome," she says. "It'd be great if we both went here."

Then I totally lose it and I tell Wendy if she comes here, I'm coming here.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (18 Sept. 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1627797416
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1627797412
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.45 x 2.97 x 21.41 cm
685 in Books on Being a Teen for Young Adults
880 in Young Adult Fiction on Depression & Mental Health
3,739 in Coming of Age Fiction for Young Adults

About the author

Patrick flores-scott.

Patrick Flores-Scott was, until recently, a long-time public school teacher in Seattle, Washington. He’s now a stay-at-home dad and early morning writer in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Patrick’s first novel, Jumped In, has been named to the 2014 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list, an NCSS/CBC Notable Book for the Social Studies, a Bank Street College Best Books of 2014 list and one of five finalists for the National Council for the Teachers of English Walden Award for YA Book of the Year for 2014.He is currently working on his second book, American Road Trip.

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American Road Trip Hardcover – September 18, 2018

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A heartwrenching YA coming of age story about three siblings on a roadtrip in search of healing. With a strong family, the best friend a guy could ask for, and a budding romance with the girl of his dreams, life shows promise for Teodoro “T” Avila. But he takes some hard hits the summer before senior year when his nearly perfect brother, Manny, returns from a tour in Iraq with a devastating case of PTSD. In a desperate effort to save Manny from himself and pull their family back together, T’s fiery sister, Xochitl, hoodwinks her brothers into a cathartic road trip. Told through T’s honest voice, this is a candid exploration of mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, and the many inescapable highs and lows that come with growing up―including falling in love. Christy Ottaviano Books

Reading age 12 - 18 years
Print length 336 pages
Language English
Grade level 7 - 9
Lexile measure HL550L
Dimensions 5.69 x 1.17 x 8.43 inches
Publisher Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date September 18, 2018
ISBN-10 1627797416
ISBN-13 978-1627797412
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Editorial Reviews

A Teen Vogue Best Gift Book for Teens A Texas Tayshas List Selection A Washington Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee A Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee A YALSA Best Fiction List Selection "Told via T’s honest, engaging, and often-naive voice, the story openly explores mental illness spawned by war and how the illness affects family members and those around them. This powerful story also reminds readers that the paths to their dreams may have to take detours but are still attainable. "-- Booklist , starred review "In a story about mending broken ties, making sacrifices, and visiting landscapes and loved ones from the past, Flores-Scott invites readers to follow T on a road trip that brings to life the Avilas’ Latino heritage and Manny’s disorder. . . it celebrates many things: family love, realized dreams, and the taste of a green chile cheeseburger. "-- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Adeptly provides a window and a mirror of Latinx culture and reimagines the American road trip as an individual journey, one deeply anchored in sacrifice for those we love." -- School Library Journal , starred review "Written in T's vulnerable, observant voice, 'American Road Trip' holds true to classic road-trip themes like the emotional power of singalongs and unexpected detours, but it also wades into the darker waters of mental illness with both realism and sensitivity ."-- The New York Times " American Road Trip is as multifaceted as its protagonist, Mexican-American teen Teodoro (known as “T”), wrapping a moving multigenerational story into a endearing coming-of-age tale ."-- The A.V. Club "Flores-Scott's latest explores the fragile bonds of a fractured family . . . Teodoro's funny, wry first-person narration features quick, emotionally charged sentences that provide the narrative a breathless, hard-hitting quality . This novel bursts with much-needed optimism. A compassionate success. "-- Kirkus Reviews " Flores-Scott’s character development is extraordinary . . .Readers will find themselves intimately connected to and cheering for the success of these siblings. With strong messages of hope, survival, and the power of family, American Road Trip is a must-read. "-- VOYA

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