Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

This might be the best middle grade book I have ever read. As other reviewers mentioned, I was expecting something light-hearted or even goofy, but the HEART in this story blew me away. I found myself looking up places and events mentioned throughout the Ball cousins' journey -- June and his family will stick with me for a long time.

I got so much more than I was expecting from this book. I thought it would be fun, lighthearted book about cars. It was. But it was also about some pretty heavy topics. I love the writing. I loved the characters. I may have cried a little bit. A very good book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Road to Wherever is a heartfelt road trip adventure story about family, community, and purpose. This middle grade novel is vivid, pulsing with life and emotion, and perfect for anyone who has ever experienced longing. Hand this to fans of road trip stories, books with sensitive male protagonists, or books about mental health challenges.

This is a story that tricks you, making you think it is about road trips and Fords, when really it's about abandonment, loss, and why and how we keep going in spite of them. Heavy themes, but offset with plentiful humor and colorful characters. If there's a flaw, it's that some of the storylines and characters end before you're ready, or just as you're getting attached to them. But, this is likely intentional, as to mimic how June must feel when he has to leave the people he has come to know. A good book for readers of all ages, from those who are young and still finding themselves, to those who are older and trying to reconnect with the past.

With thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for an early copy in return for an honest review.

One of my favorite genres of books is books which allow you to travel through the pages. As they said early in the story, "Every young person should experience the American road." June is forced to hit the road with his two older male cousins for a summer of traveling around the country repairing vintage Ford vehicles. June learns a lot along the way about repairing cars, but he also learns a lot about growing up and the kind of person he wants to be as he matures.

As a note for parents and teachers - I think this book will be particularly appealing to kids who are really into cars, and I haven't found many books in this category so I will definitely be adding it to my classroom library.

A few quotes I don't want to forget...
"•What can I do to make things better for this kid? How can I help her?"
•"You finally decided what kind of person you want to be, and then the rest comes down to having the courage to be it."
•"Old Fords might be my passion, but I've always had a heart for neglected and forgotten things."

Loved, loved this book about Junior, known as June, whose mom forces him to go on a trip with his older male cousins after his dad, who suffers from PTSD, leaves without a word. June’s eccentric cousins are going around the US restoring Fords for people. They tell June they fix the cars because it brings meaning to their lives and the owners. They believe if you’re going to do something go all out. As they make friends restoring the cars, June realizes that you can take a friendship with you even if you leave the friends behind. As they start their journey back home, June realizes the kind of person he wants to be. Does he have the courage to be this person?