“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

From Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen’s Road Trip.

It’s the first day of summer vacation, but 14-year-old Ben and Dad are up super early about to embark on a trip.  Dad doesn’t like to make plans in advance and prefers adventurous bonding experiences with Ben; this adventure is rescuing a Border Collie puppy.  So Ben, Dad, and the observant Atticus (the family’s 15-year-old Border Collie) head off to pick up the puppy in need. Right after they leave, Dad informs Ben that he’s quit his job to start his own house-flipping business and the family will have to cut extra spending… like hockey camp.  To spite his dad, Ben invites his slightly-juvenile-delinquent friend, Theo, on the road trip.  When dad’s truck breaks down, the trio and dog must transfer their road trip into an old school bus after the grumpy mechanic (Gus) learns of their puppy rescue mission; Gus comes along to make sure his bus is okay.  On a stop, Theo and Ben meet a young waitress from a diner named Mia who quits her job after the boys witness her throwing out a rude customer that Theo seems unhappy to see.  Through a strange turn of events, Mia invites herself to join them on their road trip.  While Ben was promised a simple puppy rescue, what takes place is a road trip filled with burning cars, races with a cop car, dangerous confrontations, and maybe even some bonding.

The narration is shared between Ben and Atticus; it is very interesting to watch the story’s situations develop from the drastically different perspectives.  The story and narration are hilarious and sweet, filled with surprising developments throughout the adventure.  Both Paulsens write in a way that creates a truly cohesive story, which only enhances the book.  Road Trip is a quick read that easily makes itself a must-read for dog lovers of all ages!