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The Car

ebook
0 of 1 copy available
0 of 1 copy available

A 14-year-old boy takes a road trip in search of family—and discovers adventure—in this YA novel by the Newbery Award-winning author.

At fourteen, Terry Anders finds himself abandoned by both of his parents. Left alone in their home, he has nothing but an empty refrigerator and his father’s unfinished Blakely Bearcat kit car—abandoned just like Terry. And that gives him an idea.

After getting the car road-ready, Terry takes it out to the highway and heads west. Leaving Cleveland behind, his plan is to track down an uncle he once met who lives somewhere in Oregon. But along the way, Terry makes friends, sees parts of his country he never knew about, and learns a thing or two about life, survival, and himself.

“Terry Anders is a 1990s Huck Finn…this provocative novel introduces and explores some interesting philosophies of life while stressing the value of learning from experience.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from February 28, 1994
      Fourteen-year-old Terry Anders is a 1990s Huck Finn, with parents as neglectful as ``Pap.'' Like Huck he escapes, not on a raft but by constructing a kit car. He takes his red Blakely Bearcat out to the highway and points it west, intending to leave his home in Cleveland for Oregon, where he hopes to find the uncle he only vaguely remembers. Long before he reaches his destination, Terry meets up with a middle-aged wanderer named Waylon, who introduces him to his old friend, the free-living Wayne. The pair, Vietnam vets, lead the young protagonist on a string of impromptu adventures and eventually become his mentors, introducing him to the history, hypocrisy and beauty of his country. 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. Once again the Newbery Honor author demonstrates his abilities to create flesh-and-blood characters and to relate a message without preaching a moral. Ages 12-up.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 4, 1995
      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

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Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:4.8
  • Lexile® Measure:830
  • Interest Level:9-12(UG)
  • Text Difficulty:3-5

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