I can‘t stop thinking about this book. A young boy embarks on what appears to be a benign road trip with his grandmother. As the story unfolds, however, some things seem out of place: his grandmother keeps changing their license plates, he’s pretty sure she didn’t pay for their dinner at a restaurant, and he definitely saw her steal some earrings. Why won’t she answer his dad’s phone calls? At the same time, she’s teaching him about his family history, Black history in America, and what it was like for her (a white woman) to be married to a Black man in the 60s.

Throughout this book, I couldn’t decide if it was a heartwarming story about family and Black history, or if I felt really uncomfortable because the main character’s grandmother was essentially kidnapping him. The more you read, the more it becomes apparent that it is both these things and more. There’s so much packed into this short novel, you won’t want to put it down. Best for 5th grade and up, this would be a great book club book.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME