Reading Metrics
Description
In 1979, when his life in Iowa seems to fall apart, seventeen-year-old Simon takes his father's car and sets out for Texas to look for his birth parents. Along the way, he picks up a man claiming to be Elvis, two bums, and an abused young wife.
Quick Summary
Imagine stealing your dad's car at seventeen and picking up a supposed Elvis, two wandering souls, and an abused wife on your way to finding your birth parents in Texas. Readers will laugh through Simon's wild road trip and root for the unexpected family he finds along the way. If your kid loves the road trip chaos and coming-of-age vibes of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw Part-Time Indian" or wants something with more humor than "The Outsiders," this Iowa-to-Texas adventure delivers. Perfect for grades 9-12, this 6-point AR read at 4.1 level is ideal for teens who want a quick, meaningful story about belonging without the heavy drama.