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Clean Getaway
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2020)From New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes a middle grade road-trip story through American race relations past and present perfect for fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds.
How to Go on an Unplanned Road Trip with Your Grandma:
* Grab a Suitcase: Prepacked from the big spring break trip that got CANCELLED.
* Fasten Your Seatbelt: G'ma's never conventional, so this trip won't be either.
* Use the Green Book: G'ma's most treasured possession. It holds history, memories, and, most important, the way home.
What Not to Bring:
* A Cell Phone: Avoid contact with Dad at all costs. Even when G'ma starts acting stranger than usual.
Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with New York Times bestselling Nic Stone and an eleven-year-old boy who is about to discover the world hasn't always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren't always what they seem--his G'ma included.
How to Go on an Unplanned Road Trip with Your Grandma:
* Grab a Suitcase: Prepacked from the big spring break trip that got CANCELLED.
* Fasten Your Seatbelt: G'ma's never conventional, so this trip won't be either.
* Use the Green Book: G'ma's most treasured possession. It holds history, memories, and, most important, the way home.
What Not to Bring:
* A Cell Phone: Avoid contact with Dad at all costs. Even when G'ma starts acting stranger than usual.
Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with New York Times bestselling Nic Stone and an eleven-year-old boy who is about to discover the world hasn't always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren't always what they seem--his G'ma included.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
353 people are currently reading
7,915 people want to read
About the author
Nic Stone
41 books4,459 followersNic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.
Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info.
Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,217 reviews
September 13, 2024
**4.5-stars rounded up**
Clean Getaway follows 11-year old, Scoob, as he goes on an unexpected RV-adventure with his beloved Grandma, who he calls, G-Ma.
G-Ma is an extra special lady, who Scoob loves spending time with. She seems to understand him when no one else does and knows exactly the right thing to say in any circumstance.
Truth be told, Scoob's Dad has been pretty tough on him lately. Particularly after Scoob got into a little trouble at school just prior to Spring Break.
Now, as far as Dad is concerned, any fun plans he may have had planned for the extended school holiday have been cancelled.
But then, seemingly out of nowhere, G-Ma arrives in a legitimate house on wheels and tells Scoob they are going on a road trip.
He doesn't think much of it, just packs a bag and off they go. It sure beats sitting around the house!
It sort of seems G-Ma has a plan, the specifics of which are a mystery to Scoob, however.
Once on the road, G-Ma gives Scoob a copy of a book called, The Green Book. She tells him that she and his Grandpa had to use this book while traveling together in the 1960s.
The Green Book was used as a guide by black people in the United States initially, and then I believe in other countries around the world, seeking safe lodging and amenities during their travels.
While I knew of the existence and the use of The Green Book, I have never read about it as part of a fictional story.
I thought this was a tremendously clever plot device to open up communication between the characters. I think as a discussion point for adults, with children, it is an easily understandable way for children to begin to learn about the history of race relations in our country.
Scoob is initially surprised by the book. Sure, he knows a bit about the Civil Rights Movement and the people involved, but he never really considered the real life implications for his own family.
As an interracial couple in the 1960s, G-Ma and Grandpa faced a lot of hostility and discrimination when they were seen together in public.
Scoob begins to understand that more on a personal level when he and G-Ma are given nasty looks while they eat lunch at a remote diner.
Apparently, a white woman together with a black boy can still raise some eyebrows. Scoob doesn't like the feeling at all, it makes him so uncomfortable. Later, thinking about it more, he even comes to fear that some of the hateful people from the diner may follow them with the intent to do them harm.
Yeah, as you can tell, there are definitely some serious issues tackled in this book. Scoob and his G-Ma have some great, candid discussions about things that G-Ma has experienced and I think Scoob learned a lot about his family and himself over the course of the story.
Stone is such a gifted writer. Her stories, while full of serious, topical issues, also contain such wit and humor. It really makes them so accessible to every reader.
Scoob is a sweet, funny, caring boy; a great protagonist to follow along with. And don't get me started on G-Ma. I love that woman.
Although this is a fairly short story, even for Middle Grade, it still manages to pack a serious punch. There is so much emotion and heart in this story; it is truly lovely. I just find Stone's style of writing so engaging. It is more than writing, it is absolutely storytelling in its purest form.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. I feel this would be a great book for parents to read with their children this summer!!!
So, add it to your family reading list and prepare for a great adventure! Don't forget to pack your tissues.
Clean Getaway follows 11-year old, Scoob, as he goes on an unexpected RV-adventure with his beloved Grandma, who he calls, G-Ma.
G-Ma is an extra special lady, who Scoob loves spending time with. She seems to understand him when no one else does and knows exactly the right thing to say in any circumstance.
Truth be told, Scoob's Dad has been pretty tough on him lately. Particularly after Scoob got into a little trouble at school just prior to Spring Break.
Now, as far as Dad is concerned, any fun plans he may have had planned for the extended school holiday have been cancelled.
But then, seemingly out of nowhere, G-Ma arrives in a legitimate house on wheels and tells Scoob they are going on a road trip.
He doesn't think much of it, just packs a bag and off they go. It sure beats sitting around the house!
It sort of seems G-Ma has a plan, the specifics of which are a mystery to Scoob, however.
Once on the road, G-Ma gives Scoob a copy of a book called, The Green Book. She tells him that she and his Grandpa had to use this book while traveling together in the 1960s.
The Green Book was used as a guide by black people in the United States initially, and then I believe in other countries around the world, seeking safe lodging and amenities during their travels.
While I knew of the existence and the use of The Green Book, I have never read about it as part of a fictional story.
I thought this was a tremendously clever plot device to open up communication between the characters. I think as a discussion point for adults, with children, it is an easily understandable way for children to begin to learn about the history of race relations in our country.
Scoob is initially surprised by the book. Sure, he knows a bit about the Civil Rights Movement and the people involved, but he never really considered the real life implications for his own family.
As an interracial couple in the 1960s, G-Ma and Grandpa faced a lot of hostility and discrimination when they were seen together in public.
Scoob begins to understand that more on a personal level when he and G-Ma are given nasty looks while they eat lunch at a remote diner.
Apparently, a white woman together with a black boy can still raise some eyebrows. Scoob doesn't like the feeling at all, it makes him so uncomfortable. Later, thinking about it more, he even comes to fear that some of the hateful people from the diner may follow them with the intent to do them harm.
Yeah, as you can tell, there are definitely some serious issues tackled in this book. Scoob and his G-Ma have some great, candid discussions about things that G-Ma has experienced and I think Scoob learned a lot about his family and himself over the course of the story.
Stone is such a gifted writer. Her stories, while full of serious, topical issues, also contain such wit and humor. It really makes them so accessible to every reader.
Scoob is a sweet, funny, caring boy; a great protagonist to follow along with. And don't get me started on G-Ma. I love that woman.
Although this is a fairly short story, even for Middle Grade, it still manages to pack a serious punch. There is so much emotion and heart in this story; it is truly lovely. I just find Stone's style of writing so engaging. It is more than writing, it is absolutely storytelling in its purest form.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. I feel this would be a great book for parents to read with their children this summer!!!
So, add it to your family reading list and prepare for a great adventure! Don't forget to pack your tissues.
September 9, 2019
Y'all.
Gonna ramble a bit, but here it is.
I don't read a lot of middle grade, but when I saw the announcement of a book by one of my all-time favorite authors about a black boy traveling across the American South on an impromptu road trip with his white grandmother, I knew I had to read it. When a giveaway was hosted for said book, I knew I had to enter. (I won!) And when I listened to While Black's podcast interview with the author (at least ten times in the last week), I knew I couldn't delay reading the book any longer.
CLEAN GETAWAY is the third book I've read by Nic Stone, and for me there's no denying the magic of her writing. It's immersive and accessible. It's very much a story about coming to terms with the humanity of our heroes. With the road trip element sprinkling in bits of history of the 1960s South throughout, this is both a literal journey as well as a personal one. With the mystery of his grandmother's sudden quest across America, there's also a journey of self-realization and redemption. And Nic has succeeded.
The book isn't due out until January 7th, but please do yourself a favor and pick this one up when it's released. And in the meantime, check out her other works. I recommend them all! I personally am looking forward to her next YA novel, JACKPOT. (Out next month!)
A huge thank you to Nic Stone for the giveaway.
Gonna ramble a bit, but here it is.
I don't read a lot of middle grade, but when I saw the announcement of a book by one of my all-time favorite authors about a black boy traveling across the American South on an impromptu road trip with his white grandmother, I knew I had to read it. When a giveaway was hosted for said book, I knew I had to enter. (I won!) And when I listened to While Black's podcast interview with the author (at least ten times in the last week), I knew I couldn't delay reading the book any longer.
CLEAN GETAWAY is the third book I've read by Nic Stone, and for me there's no denying the magic of her writing. It's immersive and accessible. It's very much a story about coming to terms with the humanity of our heroes. With the road trip element sprinkling in bits of history of the 1960s South throughout, this is both a literal journey as well as a personal one. With the mystery of his grandmother's sudden quest across America, there's also a journey of self-realization and redemption. And Nic has succeeded.
The book isn't due out until January 7th, but please do yourself a favor and pick this one up when it's released. And in the meantime, check out her other works. I recommend them all! I personally am looking forward to her next YA novel, JACKPOT. (Out next month!)
A huge thank you to Nic Stone for the giveaway.
March 12, 2023
4.5 Entertaining Stars
History is not my strong suit, it was actually my worst subject in school. As I’m getting older I do see the importance of history and I’m more interested but unfortunately when I was younger I couldn’t have cared less. So I’m ashamed to admit this, but Clean Getaway, an important (I believe) adventurous, emotional middle grade book, taught me some things that my ignorant self never knew. Such as what a Green Book was. I’m mortified to admit this, but I’m learning and will try not to be so uneducated in the future.
Scoob is grounded for some bad (but ultimately good hearted) behavior at school and is on punishment. But that doesn’t stop him from deciding to take off with his Gma in her new mobile home on an an illicit adventure through the south.
Gma is reminiscing about this very trip she and Scoob’s Gpop took many years before Scoob’s dad was even born and what is like for a black man (or woman) in the south back then. And how hard it was for them to be together because Gma was a white woman. She is educating Scoob on the way things were back then including bringing out her Green Book from her treasure chest to show him the spots that were safe for black folks to patron.
Scoob had no idea things were so unsafe for his race back then. And he is glad to be on this trip with Gma and learning all this new information until things start to get a little weird. Little things at first like his Gma seems to be changing the plates on the motor home for some reason, then she starts calling him by his Gpop’s name. But the worst is when his Gma starts to walk out with jewelry she tried on at a jewelry store. Something is not right with his Gma and all he wants is to go back home or call his dad.
Middle Grade books are hit or miss for me. But I keep trying because of books like Clean Getaway. This book was really good! It was informative, interesting and a lot of fun. Gma was a hoot! Seriously I would’ve loved to have this lady for my Grandma growing up.
There is an emotional side too, so get ready with the tissue because you might shed a couple tears.
Nic Stone is a terrific author and I will picking up many more books by this talented writer!
History is not my strong suit, it was actually my worst subject in school. As I’m getting older I do see the importance of history and I’m more interested but unfortunately when I was younger I couldn’t have cared less. So I’m ashamed to admit this, but Clean Getaway, an important (I believe) adventurous, emotional middle grade book, taught me some things that my ignorant self never knew. Such as what a Green Book was. I’m mortified to admit this, but I’m learning and will try not to be so uneducated in the future.
Scoob is grounded for some bad (but ultimately good hearted) behavior at school and is on punishment. But that doesn’t stop him from deciding to take off with his Gma in her new mobile home on an an illicit adventure through the south.
Gma is reminiscing about this very trip she and Scoob’s Gpop took many years before Scoob’s dad was even born and what is like for a black man (or woman) in the south back then. And how hard it was for them to be together because Gma was a white woman. She is educating Scoob on the way things were back then including bringing out her Green Book from her treasure chest to show him the spots that were safe for black folks to patron.
Scoob had no idea things were so unsafe for his race back then. And he is glad to be on this trip with Gma and learning all this new information until things start to get a little weird. Little things at first like his Gma seems to be changing the plates on the motor home for some reason, then she starts calling him by his Gpop’s name. But the worst is when his Gma starts to walk out with jewelry she tried on at a jewelry store. Something is not right with his Gma and all he wants is to go back home or call his dad.
Middle Grade books are hit or miss for me. But I keep trying because of books like Clean Getaway. This book was really good! It was informative, interesting and a lot of fun. Gma was a hoot! Seriously I would’ve loved to have this lady for my Grandma growing up.
There is an emotional side too, so get ready with the tissue because you might shed a couple tears.
Nic Stone is a terrific author and I will picking up many more books by this talented writer!
January 24, 2020
I haven't read anything else by Nic Stone before, so I had no idea what to expect when jumping into this middle grade (lower middle grade?) novel. I looved this! I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to kids interacting with their grandparents or stand-in grandparents, but regardless, this is fantastic.
I loved Scoob and his process of learning more about himself, how the world is/can be unfair to brown people, and that the people you look up to as a child are still flawed people. His grandmother teaches him about how things were like in the segregated south (US) for a mixed race couple, pointing out important historical and cultural places along their journey. I really liked how much love Scoob has for his friends and his family, and I found myself so invested in him and his grandma. His grandmother is kooky and loving, just how I love them, but she has made huge mistakes and I appreciate that she has to address them.
I thought the pacing was well done for a middle grade novel, and the questions I had about grandma and their trip kept me engrossed until the very last page.
This is a book that needs to be stocked by every elementary school library.
I loved Scoob and his process of learning more about himself, how the world is/can be unfair to brown people, and that the people you look up to as a child are still flawed people. His grandmother teaches him about how things were like in the segregated south (US) for a mixed race couple, pointing out important historical and cultural places along their journey. I really liked how much love Scoob has for his friends and his family, and I found myself so invested in him and his grandma. His grandmother is kooky and loving, just how I love them, but she has made huge mistakes and I appreciate that she has to address them.
I thought the pacing was well done for a middle grade novel, and the questions I had about grandma and their trip kept me engrossed until the very last page.
This is a book that needs to be stocked by every elementary school library.
December 26, 2020
This book surprises me as do the its reviews by many folk I admire.
What I too value in the story is the appealing character of Scoob and the great line drawings that accompany the story. I too love a road-trip novel (picaresque I think is the proper term.) Totally concur that the inclusion of lots of civil rights history is a big plus. I also appreciated some very sophisticated and nuanced thoughts on wrongdoing. The question ‘why do people do bad things?’ Is a great one for the book’s target age. I loved some of Scoob and his Grandma’s conversations.
What bothered me enough to read it a second time is the abrupt and incomplete ending and what feels like a massive failure to deal with the Grandma’s bombshell revelation that she allowed her husband to be tried and convicted for a crime he didn’t commit and then both never visited him in prison and raised his son to believe that his father was a serious criminal in order to preserve her relationship with the child. In a discussion with a friend and colleague they remembered that the grandfather had willingly sacrificed himself but I can find nothing in the text that supports that.
“But I told myself coming clean would mean losing our baby. Kept myself convinced Jimmy wouldn’t’ve wanted that. The more time passed without the police after me, the easier that was to believe. Also figured it’d cause him trouble with the white inmates if I showed up at the jailhouse. So I never went to visit.”
Grandma makes it clear that her husband Jimmy had no idea she stole jewelry, so that the decision to turn back from their flight to Mexico when they discovered her pregnancy was based on faulty information- he knew he had pilfered a few thousand dollars from various employers- his wife knew she had committed grand larceny. Along with blaming his conviction on a racist judicial system she acknowledges in passing that if the police had only found that cash and not the jewelry, they likely wouldn’t have been sure a crime had been committed. What is a child (or adult) reader to make of this and the additional, appalling denouement in which the grandmother saddles her 11 year-old grandson with both an important family secret he must decide whether to keep from his father and a big bunch of stolen jewelry. Grandma effectively makes Scoob an accessory after the fact and forever makes her grandson responsible for either being complicit in the falsehood that his grandfather was a felon or saddling him with the responsibility of telling his father that his own mother sent his dad to prison for crime he didn’t commit and then defamed him to her son so as to keep his undivided affection. What a terrible burden! The final illustration makes clear the heaviness bequeathed to both her surviving family members. All of this is really interesting and messy human stuff and does have a place in kids literature but I would expect there to be more internal processing of it in the text. All I can hope for is a sequel.
What I too value in the story is the appealing character of Scoob and the great line drawings that accompany the story. I too love a road-trip novel (picaresque I think is the proper term.) Totally concur that the inclusion of lots of civil rights history is a big plus. I also appreciated some very sophisticated and nuanced thoughts on wrongdoing. The question ‘why do people do bad things?’ Is a great one for the book’s target age. I loved some of Scoob and his Grandma’s conversations.
What bothered me enough to read it a second time is the abrupt and incomplete ending and what feels like a massive failure to deal with the Grandma’s bombshell revelation that she allowed her husband to be tried and convicted for a crime he didn’t commit and then both never visited him in prison and raised his son to believe that his father was a serious criminal in order to preserve her relationship with the child. In a discussion with a friend and colleague they remembered that the grandfather had willingly sacrificed himself but I can find nothing in the text that supports that.
“But I told myself coming clean would mean losing our baby. Kept myself convinced Jimmy wouldn’t’ve wanted that. The more time passed without the police after me, the easier that was to believe. Also figured it’d cause him trouble with the white inmates if I showed up at the jailhouse. So I never went to visit.”
Grandma makes it clear that her husband Jimmy had no idea she stole jewelry, so that the decision to turn back from their flight to Mexico when they discovered her pregnancy was based on faulty information- he knew he had pilfered a few thousand dollars from various employers- his wife knew she had committed grand larceny. Along with blaming his conviction on a racist judicial system she acknowledges in passing that if the police had only found that cash and not the jewelry, they likely wouldn’t have been sure a crime had been committed. What is a child (or adult) reader to make of this and the additional, appalling denouement in which the grandmother saddles her 11 year-old grandson with both an important family secret he must decide whether to keep from his father and a big bunch of stolen jewelry. Grandma effectively makes Scoob an accessory after the fact and forever makes her grandson responsible for either being complicit in the falsehood that his grandfather was a felon or saddling him with the responsibility of telling his father that his own mother sent his dad to prison for crime he didn’t commit and then defamed him to her son so as to keep his undivided affection. What a terrible burden! The final illustration makes clear the heaviness bequeathed to both her surviving family members. All of this is really interesting and messy human stuff and does have a place in kids literature but I would expect there to be more internal processing of it in the text. All I can hope for is a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2020
Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, our story follows eleven year old, William “Scoob" Lamar and his unconventional White grandmother, referred to as G'ma on an impromptu road trip in her new Winnebago. At first Scoob is thrilled about this adventure - having recently been grounded for a mysterious event at school, he’s happy to escape his disappointed father’s lockdown. The duo’s journey takes them through Texas, Mexico, Mississippi and Alabama - but why are they going to these places and why is it important for G'ma to embark on this trip with Scoob now? The entire trip is full of unexpected twists and shocking surprises!
G'ma gives Scoob a copy of book called, The Green Book during their travels. The Green Book was used as guide for black people in the United States seeking safe accommodations whilst travelling. The passing of routes and states puts this historical book in context as G'ma slowly explains her history and how she and Scoob’s Grandpa, who was Black, used to use the The Green Book while travelling together in the 1960s. This opens up communication between G'ma and Scoob about the history of race relations and what is was like being in an interracial relationship.
Although Scoob is initially shocked by his G'ma's stories, he experiences first hand this racial tension of her real-life tales during a visit to a diner. Even today, some folks seem to have trouble with a white grandmother having a black grandson.
Nic Stone seamlessly weaves historical context into this contemporary plot beautifully. This is a fantastic book to introduce young readers to the Civil Rights era because it balances family dynamics through intergenerational relationships with a little mystery, humour and important history. This is Nic Stone’s first middle grade novel and I truly hope she continues to write for this age group.
G'ma gives Scoob a copy of book called, The Green Book during their travels. The Green Book was used as guide for black people in the United States seeking safe accommodations whilst travelling. The passing of routes and states puts this historical book in context as G'ma slowly explains her history and how she and Scoob’s Grandpa, who was Black, used to use the The Green Book while travelling together in the 1960s. This opens up communication between G'ma and Scoob about the history of race relations and what is was like being in an interracial relationship.
Although Scoob is initially shocked by his G'ma's stories, he experiences first hand this racial tension of her real-life tales during a visit to a diner. Even today, some folks seem to have trouble with a white grandmother having a black grandson.
Nic Stone seamlessly weaves historical context into this contemporary plot beautifully. This is a fantastic book to introduce young readers to the Civil Rights era because it balances family dynamics through intergenerational relationships with a little mystery, humour and important history. This is Nic Stone’s first middle grade novel and I truly hope she continues to write for this age group.
February 13, 2020
Clean Getaway tells the story of William "Scoob" Lamar, an eleven year old black kid, and G'ma, his white grandmother, and the road trip they embark upon across the American South. A trip for which they have their own motives: Scoob leaves behind serious punishment following a school suspension, and a severe father whose severity only increases after said suspension. He just wants to get away from it all and clear his head. G'ma wants to show Scoob places where history has been made — but also to deal with some unfinished business from her past. Issues that cause her to act increasingly erratic and shady.⠀
⠀
It's a great premise (love me a road trip tale), but I felt the story just didn't live up to its potential. Scoob at times felt like a real and modern kid, dealing with things while still trying to keep his cool, while at others he seemed too unrealistically passive. His G'ma's strange behavior introduces a mystery in the first few chapters of the novel, which is an effective way to hook a reader — having the main character endlessly wonder about said mystery without actually doing anything about it for the remainder of the books is an equally effective way of losing one. But it's the character of G'ma that I found the most problematic. She started off fine — quirky and goofy and lovable. As someone who grew up watching The Golden Girls, I love seeing elderly women as main characters. As the story went on, however, and her eccentricity increased, she just made me uncomfortable. Which I get is sort of the point. Scoob grows more and more suspicious of his grandmother, and we are supposed to be on the same page as him. Only there's no real actual payoff to this. ⠀
⠀
Look — this is a story that deals largely with racism. A theme that is explored almost exclusively through the eyes of this old white woman, who lived through the civil rights movement as the wife of a black man, in a place where this sort of relationship was still largely frowned upon. There's a wealth of subjects to explore, and Stone does an admirable job with what she does delve into. But then we finally learn the secret she's been keeping and how it affected her family, and it's quite a bombshell. You're left wondering how the rest of her family will deal with the shock waves. But it's all ultimately brushed off, the aftermath left to the margins of the story. G'ma is given a simple send-off, and the consequences of her actions are never properly explored. Which is a shame, really. G'ma is a character that is deeply loved and idolized (and idealized) by her grandson and her son. Nic Stone wrote that this was a novel about finding out your heroes are human — flawed to a fault. It just would have been nice to actually see what that entailed right on the page. Clean getaway, indeed.
⠀
But while the overall concept didn't work for me, there were still aspects I really enjoyed: this is a fast, fun read, full of interesting facts that I suspect will lead young readers down interesting, awareness-increasing rabbit holes, and that can only be a good thing. Nic Stone's prose has a few missteps (it sometimes falls into that common and condescending trap of writing simple for a simple audience), but it is mostly clear and sharp. This is the writer's first foray into middle-grade fiction, though, and I'm sure she can only get better from here.
⠀
It's a great premise (love me a road trip tale), but I felt the story just didn't live up to its potential. Scoob at times felt like a real and modern kid, dealing with things while still trying to keep his cool, while at others he seemed too unrealistically passive. His G'ma's strange behavior introduces a mystery in the first few chapters of the novel, which is an effective way to hook a reader — having the main character endlessly wonder about said mystery without actually doing anything about it for the remainder of the books is an equally effective way of losing one. But it's the character of G'ma that I found the most problematic. She started off fine — quirky and goofy and lovable. As someone who grew up watching The Golden Girls, I love seeing elderly women as main characters. As the story went on, however, and her eccentricity increased, she just made me uncomfortable. Which I get is sort of the point. Scoob grows more and more suspicious of his grandmother, and we are supposed to be on the same page as him. Only there's no real actual payoff to this. ⠀
⠀
Look — this is a story that deals largely with racism. A theme that is explored almost exclusively through the eyes of this old white woman, who lived through the civil rights movement as the wife of a black man, in a place where this sort of relationship was still largely frowned upon. There's a wealth of subjects to explore, and Stone does an admirable job with what she does delve into. But then we finally learn the secret she's been keeping and how it affected her family, and it's quite a bombshell. You're left wondering how the rest of her family will deal with the shock waves. But it's all ultimately brushed off, the aftermath left to the margins of the story. G'ma is given a simple send-off, and the consequences of her actions are never properly explored. Which is a shame, really. G'ma is a character that is deeply loved and idolized (and idealized) by her grandson and her son. Nic Stone wrote that this was a novel about finding out your heroes are human — flawed to a fault. It just would have been nice to actually see what that entailed right on the page. Clean getaway, indeed.
⠀
But while the overall concept didn't work for me, there were still aspects I really enjoyed: this is a fast, fun read, full of interesting facts that I suspect will lead young readers down interesting, awareness-increasing rabbit holes, and that can only be a good thing. Nic Stone's prose has a few missteps (it sometimes falls into that common and condescending trap of writing simple for a simple audience), but it is mostly clear and sharp. This is the writer's first foray into middle-grade fiction, though, and I'm sure she can only get better from here.
November 7, 2024
3.25 stars
I enjoyed this book initially, but the more it went on, the less I liked it. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t love how the story of G-ma unfolded. I did like our main character, Scoob, and listening to him tell the story. As a whole, this one was okay for me.
I enjoyed this book initially, but the more it went on, the less I liked it. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t love how the story of G-ma unfolded. I did like our main character, Scoob, and listening to him tell the story. As a whole, this one was okay for me.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.25 stars
Narrators: Dion Graham
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Middle Grade
Length: 3h 56m
March 11, 2020
2.5 stars
At this point, Nic Stone has become an author whose books I always check out when I hear that she's got a new one out because I would trust her with my life. And while this book wasn't my favorite, I am still looking forward to reading more from her. Middle grade isn't an age category that I read very often (which is something I should fix, so send me your recs please!!) but I had to pick it up because it's Nic Stone.
I adore the way Stone writes her main characters. They're always incredibly compelling and well established and this book was no different. I adored the relationship Scoob had with his grandmother (who I'm angry at but you know,,, details) and I adored the process that Scoob went through learning more of who he was through the history that his grandma was sharing with him. That said, there were also definitely parts where I wanted to scream at him because he was being really fucking dumb, but that's a necessary part of any book, right?
The part that I didn't enjoy as much was the plot and the pacing of it. This is something that I usually don't pay much attention to in books because I read for the characters a lot more so than the plot. But here, it was quite an important part of the story and essential to the characters' growth. Throughout the story, Scoob and his G-ma are on a roadtrip and they're using the Green Book to guide them. This allowed for a discussion on institutionalized racism in the 60s, as Scoob's G-ma has a lot of stories from when she and her husband tried to travel the US when they first got married. I thought this exploration was done extremely well and incredibly necessary and I actually really enjoyed this part of the plot.
The part that rubbed me the wrong way was the rest of the plot aka Scoob's sort of being kidnapped by his grandmother?? I thought the clues that were dropped for this were spaced out kind of strangely?? I can't really explain without spoiling the book but there were no clues being dropped and then we would suddenly be getting fifty and I was very confused with what Stone was trying to do there.
I don't have a lot more to say on this book because it took me about three hours in total to read this book and I'm not gonna lie, a lot of it has become a blur in my mind because it wasn't exactly the most memorable book I've ever read. I did think that this did a really good job of relating the institutionalized racism present in the 60s with modern-day racism that's not as obvious but still there. However, I do think that there were some issues that were brought up that could have been handled with more care.
At this point, Nic Stone has become an author whose books I always check out when I hear that she's got a new one out because I would trust her with my life. And while this book wasn't my favorite, I am still looking forward to reading more from her. Middle grade isn't an age category that I read very often (which is something I should fix, so send me your recs please!!) but I had to pick it up because it's Nic Stone.
I adore the way Stone writes her main characters. They're always incredibly compelling and well established and this book was no different. I adored the relationship Scoob had with his grandmother (who I'm angry at but you know,,, details) and I adored the process that Scoob went through learning more of who he was through the history that his grandma was sharing with him. That said, there were also definitely parts where I wanted to scream at him because he was being really fucking dumb, but that's a necessary part of any book, right?
The part that I didn't enjoy as much was the plot and the pacing of it. This is something that I usually don't pay much attention to in books because I read for the characters a lot more so than the plot. But here, it was quite an important part of the story and essential to the characters' growth. Throughout the story, Scoob and his G-ma are on a roadtrip and they're using the Green Book to guide them. This allowed for a discussion on institutionalized racism in the 60s, as Scoob's G-ma has a lot of stories from when she and her husband tried to travel the US when they first got married. I thought this exploration was done extremely well and incredibly necessary and I actually really enjoyed this part of the plot.
The part that rubbed me the wrong way was the rest of the plot aka Scoob's sort of being kidnapped by his grandmother?? I thought the clues that were dropped for this were spaced out kind of strangely?? I can't really explain without spoiling the book but there were no clues being dropped and then we would suddenly be getting fifty and I was very confused with what Stone was trying to do there.
I don't have a lot more to say on this book because it took me about three hours in total to read this book and I'm not gonna lie, a lot of it has become a blur in my mind because it wasn't exactly the most memorable book I've ever read. I did think that this did a really good job of relating the institutionalized racism present in the 60s with modern-day racism that's not as obvious but still there. However, I do think that there were some issues that were brought up that could have been handled with more care.
August 16, 2020
I heard this pitched as a road trip through Black US history, and while that is true, it's also about family secrets, discovering your parents and grandparents are complex and flawed and human, and a jewel thief. The mystery of Scoob's family history kept me engaged, and I finished this in one day. I highly recommend the audiobook!
June 9, 2020
This was a great middle grade novel that I think will resonate with both adults and children alike! It approaches the subjects of segregation, racism, and discrimination in a way that is digestible enough for young readers while still carrying enough weight to keep adult readers engaged.
Content warnings:
Racism
Cancer
Content warnings:
Racism
Cancer
May 19, 2020
I tell you what! @nicstone knows how to write her arse off! This middle grade novel about a 12 year old black boy and his white grandmother was so cute and intriguing. It kept me on my toes the entire time, so much so that I finished it in one day (which is amazing for me when you add in work and homeschooling). I was just as invested as the main character William in trying to figure his grandmother and what this adventure she was taking him on was all about. It was a rollercoaster of emotions (from interracial relationships, the struggle of being a black person in the south, Amber Alerts, jewel theft, you name it) with a nice mix of black history. Some teachable moments for the little ones for sure. I am also a fan of Diamond Doris, I loved that the grandmother shared some similarities. Can’t wait to share this one with my kiddos one day!
February 15, 2020
I adored this middle grade novel by Nic Stone. As someone who is African American, growing up there were never any books that addressed civil rights in a way that made sense for my young mind to comprehend. So I appreciate how Nic threads together civil rights issues with family has the vehicle.
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Scoobs grandma takes him on a road trip and along the way she lets him in on how life was during segregation and how being in an interracial relationship was. Sometimes even for myself I found it baffling that dating someone of another color was a legit crime you could serve time or lose your life for. This road trip wasn’t just a personal journey for Scoob or his grandmother, it was one that lead through history and also self redemption in a way. Scoob’s grandmother talks about how life could have been different had she not taken the exit. And that is something I could relate to, because how many times have we chosen a path to end up learning how difficult it would be or how it feels like we have to go around the world before we end up where we are meant to be?
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I absolutely enjoyed this book and can definitely see this being one of those books that kids can not only enjoy but learn from as well.
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Scoobs grandma takes him on a road trip and along the way she lets him in on how life was during segregation and how being in an interracial relationship was. Sometimes even for myself I found it baffling that dating someone of another color was a legit crime you could serve time or lose your life for. This road trip wasn’t just a personal journey for Scoob or his grandmother, it was one that lead through history and also self redemption in a way. Scoob’s grandmother talks about how life could have been different had she not taken the exit. And that is something I could relate to, because how many times have we chosen a path to end up learning how difficult it would be or how it feels like we have to go around the world before we end up where we are meant to be?
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I absolutely enjoyed this book and can definitely see this being one of those books that kids can not only enjoy but learn from as well.
December 23, 2019
I was reading this while my family was embarking on a trip of our own, so I was in a road trip state of mind. This new middle grade novel by Nic Stone will have wide appeal. Most readers will be able to relate to our hero and the inter-generational dilemmas he experiences. Using the green book as a destination determination device will help kids learn more about the era where this book was a necessity for travel. Would be a great book to utilize to discuss this era of our history as well as other race-related issues. I enjoyed being along for the ride and wish I could meet G'ma.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2020
Finished my 11th book of the month! This was my second novel from nic stone that I have read from her and I enjoyed it, but it's not my favorite of the month or of her works!(:
Sorry. Maybe this was just a little young for me):
Clean getaway by nic stone is a middle grade novel all about Scoob and he decieds to go on a road trip with his grandmother and the grandmother was really funny. Trigger warring for death of a family member and cancer....
Sorry. Maybe this was just a little young for me):
Clean getaway by nic stone is a middle grade novel all about Scoob and he decieds to go on a road trip with his grandmother and the grandmother was really funny. Trigger warring for death of a family member and cancer....
January 20, 2020
The publisher’s summary had me intrigued and fairly certain that “Clean Getaway” would be a book that both I and my 5th grade library patrons would enjoy. Skoob Lamar is a mixed race middle school student who has a complicated relationship with his single, African American dad. He has his white grandmother on a lofty pedestal so she is able to sweep him away willingly on a cross country RV trip down memory lane with only a note to his father and no idea of where they are going or when they will return. The trip gets complicated, family secrets are leaked out and choices must be made. Along with this unique plot were great history lessons about racism in the 60s: informative but brief references to Emmitt Till, Medgar Evers, and Martin Luther King, Jr and a thorough explanation of the Green Book that is so often not a part of Civil Rights curriculum in the younger grades. Unfortunately, very little of G’ma Lamar is believable or likeable. At best, she is sad and pitiful and at worst, she is a crook and a terrible wife. Readers are likely to be unsure of Skoob’s dad as his actions and background are confusing. The conclusion ties up every loose end and leaves the reader with the feeling that all will be well with dad and son, but with the epic dysfunction on all sides, I don’t know how. There will definitely be a readership for this book—those looking for a character who looks like them, students interested in the unrest of the 60s, and readers of slightly crazy and zigzagging storylines—but I may pass on using my ever-dwindling library budget to purchase it. Those who do will be pleased that it is free of profanity, sexual content, or violence other than the biographical references listed. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.
October 14, 2020
I wish I could give this book a rating other than one star, but I can't. The other Nic Stone books I've read are excellent and she seems like a really cool and inspirational person, but this book made me feel uncomfortable after reading it.
The book centers around a boy running away from his Dad to go on a road trip with his grandma, and it discusses their complicated family history and historical racism in the 60s along the way. The concept was great, the writing was incredible, but I just didn't enjoy reading this book. I was pushed to keep reading because I was concerned about the main character's well being and didn't know what was going on. So I guess that shows good character building and plot, but the pacing seemed off to me.
Several times in the book, Scoop discusses how his Dad tells him things are tougher for people with his (Scoop's) skin color. This was true, but it was weird that his Dad's experience with racism as a mixed-race person raised by a single white mom was never discussed or even referenced. It made it seem like racism skipped a generation.
The other thing that made me feel uncomfortable was
I'm not the target audience for this book, so maybe middle school readers would like this, and it would make more sense to them but it just wasn't fun to read.
The book centers around a boy running away from his Dad to go on a road trip with his grandma, and it discusses their complicated family history and historical racism in the 60s along the way. The concept was great, the writing was incredible, but I just didn't enjoy reading this book. I was pushed to keep reading because I was concerned about the main character's well being and didn't know what was going on. So I guess that shows good character building and plot, but the pacing seemed off to me.
Several times in the book, Scoop discusses how his Dad tells him things are tougher for people with his (Scoop's) skin color. This was true, but it was weird that his Dad's experience with racism as a mixed-race person raised by a single white mom was never discussed or even referenced. It made it seem like racism skipped a generation.
The other thing that made me feel uncomfortable was
I'm not the target audience for this book, so maybe middle school readers would like this, and it would make more sense to them but it just wasn't fun to read.
February 11, 2020
Once again, Dion Graham nailed it with the narration in the audiobook! This is my second Nic Stone, and I really like her work and how true to life and just REAL her characters are. This is technically a middle grade book, but it didn’t feel that way at all - it was quite adult in its way, and educational, too.
March 30, 2022
I'm glad I read this! It's a middle grade book that talks about racism, history, and family ties. Some parts are heavy, but there's a good balance of fun parts too and I loved Scoob as the main character. He and his G'ma have a close bond and I'm glad he got to go on the trip and learn about the grandfather he never got to meet.
This is fast paced and I liked the road trip plot. Scoob sees new places while learning bits about his grandparents and the trip they took long ago. Scoob also realizes that while his dad has been hard on him lately, it's because he loves his son and just wants the best for him. There are some sad revelations, but I'm glad Scoob got the truth of his family, good and bad.
The audiobook is well narrated and a quick read. I can't wait to read more books from Stone.
This is fast paced and I liked the road trip plot. Scoob sees new places while learning bits about his grandparents and the trip they took long ago. Scoob also realizes that while his dad has been hard on him lately, it's because he loves his son and just wants the best for him. There are some sad revelations, but I'm glad Scoob got the truth of his family, good and bad.
The audiobook is well narrated and a quick read. I can't wait to read more books from Stone.
October 30, 2020
What secrets is G'ma hiding? When G'ma takes Scoob (aka William) on a road trip to finish a trip that she and G'Pop started over 50 years ago during the 1960s, he learns about her many famil secrets. It seems his G'ma might not really be who she appears to be.
May 4, 2020
I have heard so many good things about Nic Stone and I really wanted to like this book, but I was not impressed. Everything felt forced and superficial. We don't learn much about Scoob and Grandma beyond their direct involvement in the plot. Every time Scoob has an opportunity to face his emotions he gets foggy and can't focus. This might be authentic to a teen, but frustrating for a reader who would like to have more insight into the character. The Green Book that is touted in the summary is only referenced a handful of times and then only as an excuse to drop a civil rights lesson in the middle of the story (important lessons, but don't fit the flow of the rest of the story). I expected the actual content of the book to play a more integral role in the story. Utterly confused about what the message of this book was supposed to be.
March 3, 2020
I really didn't love this, despite themes I usually really enjoy (1960s civil rights, mixed race families, road-trip adventures). I didn't find characters believable. Particularly the white grandmother. She is portrayed as sympathetic to AA civil rights to the point of tears in recollecting injustices but I can't tell if it's because she herself has been a part of the problem or because of the way prejudice and racism has hurt people she loves. Also, I felt like the book reads a bit like Magic School Bus visits the Civil Rights Movement. I get that Stone is appealing to middle grades, but I felt like she missed the mark here, especially compared to how Jewell Parker Rhodes handles serious topics with middle grades (Ghost Boys, Twin Towers) and the great Jason Reynolds (Ghost series).
August 8, 2019
So grateful that Nic Stone decided to write a middle grade novel. Fantastic book that balances family dynamics, being a mystery, while sprinkling in so many historical events for kids to learn more about, but most of all for being a story that will pull kids in, keep them there, and leave them changed when done. Preorder this book for when it comes into the world in January! #pernillerecommends adding it to my best books of the year list too
March 10, 2020
I wanted to like this, but I found myself skimming the second half because I was bored. I really disliked G’ma, though I loved Scoob.
November 3, 2020
This grandmother-grandson roadtrip is a really interesting premise, and it definitely kept me turning the pages! I'm still sort of chewing on the ending--there's a big reveal and then things seem to wind up too quickly to me, but nevertheless I think a lot of tweens will enjoy the mystery of it and learn a little bit about the Green Book. I think in a classroom or book club setting there would be MUCH to discuss here.
July 24, 2020
Good book! Would be fun to read aloud to fourth graders, and also very informative about important racial topics.
November 8, 2024
3.5 stars
January 29, 2020
As usual, I love Nic Stone’s sound. I love her inclusion of big words. I love her contemporary description of emotion. Specifically for this book, I love the inclusion of history from the civil rights era and tying it to modern day. I like stories with overall goals so having a plot surrounding a road trip with a specific destination was great for me.
Here’s why it did not get five stars. Like her other novels, Stone builds up a main character only to reveal a disappointing and unbecoming trait about them. Gma in the beginning is this confident, vivacious, old lady with an altruistic goal of “fixing” a wrong done in the 60s. The last chapter left me conflicted learning that she caused the very problem that needed to be fixed. It feels like Stone is trying to promote sympathy for Gma’s actions but leaving your husband to rot in jail while you turn a blind eye didn’t sit right with me.
All in all, I love Scoob throughout the story and how his relationship with his father slightly changes by the end, but the unveiling of Gma’s past left me angry and uneasy.
Here’s why it did not get five stars. Like her other novels, Stone builds up a main character only to reveal a disappointing and unbecoming trait about them. Gma in the beginning is this confident, vivacious, old lady with an altruistic goal of “fixing” a wrong done in the 60s. The last chapter left me conflicted learning that she caused the very problem that needed to be fixed. It feels like Stone is trying to promote sympathy for Gma’s actions but leaving your husband to rot in jail while you turn a blind eye didn’t sit right with me.
All in all, I love Scoob throughout the story and how his relationship with his father slightly changes by the end, but the unveiling of Gma’s past left me angry and uneasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2019
Excellent book to introduce the civil rights era to younger readers, through the travels and feminine’s of G’ma and Scoob, as they take, what Scoob thinks, is an impromptu road trip with his grandmother.
It turns out it is a little more than that, and he learns a lot more than he expected, from his White grandmother, who married a black man, back when there were Jim Crow laws, and they needed the Green Book to be safe on the road.
Scoob is a great narrator. And the whole story feels very natural and informative.
The ending, however, felt rushed, and I would have liked the same flow there, as we got through the rest of the book.
But, despite the ending, I still enjoyed this book, and I think it should be read by youngsters just the same.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It turns out it is a little more than that, and he learns a lot more than he expected, from his White grandmother, who married a black man, back when there were Jim Crow laws, and they needed the Green Book to be safe on the road.
Scoob is a great narrator. And the whole story feels very natural and informative.
The ending, however, felt rushed, and I would have liked the same flow there, as we got through the rest of the book.
But, despite the ending, I still enjoyed this book, and I think it should be read by youngsters just the same.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
June 24, 2020
This is the book I’ve been looking for. The description didn’t do it justice - a young boy goes on an RV adventure with his grandmother. It’s that but so much more. The boy is Black. The grandmother is white and retracing her footsteps from a similar trip with her husband decades ago. There’s history (Ruby Bridges, Emmett Till, Medgar Evans), there’s strong plot (why does G’ma keep calling her grandson the wrong name? Why won’t she take calls from her son?), there are examples of small and large ways racism is at play.
I liked that this book hits big topics in a writing style that is readable and accessible. It seems like a book that will help middle grade and even older readers examine their privilege and see the world differently. I’m so glad Nic Stone wrote this book. I’ll be checking out her other books as well.
I liked that this book hits big topics in a writing style that is readable and accessible. It seems like a book that will help middle grade and even older readers examine their privilege and see the world differently. I’m so glad Nic Stone wrote this book. I’ll be checking out her other books as well.
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