The Car

by Gary Paulsen Narrated by Luke Daniels

Overview

Fourteen-year-old Terry has parents who never paid him much attention. So when they both disappear after one of their all-too-frequent arguments, Terry isn't exactly eager for them to come home. On his own, he occupies himself by assembling a car kit that's been collecting dust in the garage for years. When the car is finished, Terry is pleased to discover it actually runs. Though he doesn't know much about driving, he gets behind the wheel and heads west, with the notion of visiting an uncle in Oregon.

But Terry's plan takes a detour when he meets Shakespeare-quoting wanderer Waylon Jackson. The aging Vietnam vet has seen and done extraordinary things, and he is still hungry to learn more. With Waylon as his copilot, Terry ends up in locales as varied as a religious commune, a poker game in Deadwood, and Custer's Last Stand. It's an exciting and sometimes dangerous journey. Along the way, he learns a lot about people, about America - and ultimately, about himself.

"Besides evoking a type of independence and tough-mindedness that will appeal to teens, this provocative novel introduces and explores some interesting philosophies of life while stressing the value of learning from experience."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In a starred review, PW praised the Newbery Honor author for ``his ability to create flesh-and-blood characters'' in this story about a 14-year-old who sets out on a road trip and meets up with a Vietnam vet. Ages 12-up. Another Paulsen title, Dancing Carl, is being released simultaneously by Aladdin; $3.95 ISBN 0-689-80410-5. Ages 9-12. (Oct.) q

From the Publisher

"This provocative novel introduces and explores some interesting philosophies of life while stressing the value of learning from experience."—Publishers Weekly
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School Library Journal - Audio

Gr 7–10—After Terry's parents desert him, he puts together a kit car, a Blakesley Bearcat, and heads west in Gary Paulsen's novel (Harcourt, 1994). Intending to travel from Cleveland, Ohio, to Portland, Oregon, to find his uncle, he meets up with Tom Wayland and Wayne, hitchhiking Vietnam veterans. The pair teaches Terry about "trucking" as they visit various places in the Midwest, and Terry finds himself learning more than he'd ever imagined. Ostensibly a road trip story, Paulsen deftly weaves in deeper themes of the consequences of war, the meaning of family, and finding oneself. Luke Daniels's narration brings Wayland's troubled gruffness and Wayne's laidback biker drawl to life, as well as Paulsen's vivid descriptions of Terry's stick-shift driving. Excellent for teens to listen to on long summer trips.—Michaela Schied, Indian River Middle School, Philadelphia, NY

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169932317
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	07/20/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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