Oh, by gosh, by jingle; it’s time for carols and Kris Kringle…
… plus car rides and complaining kids!
Yes, it’s that time of year … when so many folks head over the river and through the woods … on very long trips to grandmother’s house. And as in 2023, Webb’s resident book-lover herewith suggests 10 Audible titles to help with travel in the coming days and weeks.
Designed to be family-friendly (mostly “young adult”), this year’s list also focuses on lesser-knowns — and on picks that will hopefully hold Mom & Dad’s attention too.
Blood Fever, Charlie Higson – Best of Higson’s five terrific “Young Bond” books, with the adolescent future-spy getting in over his head on some globe-trotting action. It might sound sketchy or silly — but take it from a lifelong fan of 007: This series is the real McCoy: exciting, authentic and very much in the Fleming tradition. (Perhaps too strong for younger kids, though.)
Fair Weather, Richard Peck – Author of more than 50 books — including the beloved Year Down Yonder and its sequels — Peck brings his usual charm and humor to this nostalgic tale of a plain-living farm family and its eye-opening trip to the 1893 Chicago exposition.
The Lion’s Paw, Robb White – White, who wrote gripping kids’ adventures in the mid-20th century, is now all but unknown, with most of his titles out of print. The Lion’s Paw — a fast-paced boating tale that seems to have ignited a love of reading in a whole generation of school-kids — is happily still available. Nearly every Amazon review gives it five stars. Nuff said.
Maniac McGee, Jerry Spinelli – Spinelli is another young-adult genius, as witnessed by his beloved Stargirl. Similarly splendid is this exhilarating and hilarious saga of a legendary urban orphan who inspires every life he touches. Not to be missed.
The Trolls, Polly Horvath – My sole suggestion that’s not available on Audible, The Trolls can — thank heavens — be found on YouTube; and that’s the priceless version read by actress Julie Hagerty (Airplane!). Uproarious but ultimately cautionary story of three siblings under the care of a loopy aunt, who is bursting with lunatic stories of her childhood in Canada. Horvath’s Everything on a Waffle is likewise delicious.
The Trumpet of the Swan, E. B. White –Yes, another “White” writer — this one much better known, as the author of both Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web; but I like this book better. It’s the whimsical and enchanting story of Louis the swan, who was born mute; with help from an 11-year-old boy, Louis — accompanied by a handy trumpet to compensate for his condition — makes his way from the Canadian wilderness to Camp Kooskooskoos to the Philadelphia Zoo, and even Boston’s Ritz Hotel. Audible’s laugh-out-loud version features sardonic narration by the author himself. What a treat.
The Truth According to Blue, Eve Yohalem – I wanted to include Yohalem’s amazing African adventure Under the Forever Sky; but there’s no audio version of that based-on-a-true-story thriller — and Blue is almost as good. Young protagonist Blue Broen wrestles with crippling diabetes and a bratty new “friend,” all while on a treasure hunt along with her loyal medical-alert dog.
The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall – This first of Birdsall’s instant-classic series involving a family of active young ladies deservedly won the National Book Award. This initial installment bears the subtitle, “A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy.” The four sequels are just as great.
Under the Blood-Red Sun, Graham Salisbury – Deeply moving story of a Japanese boy and his family living on Hawaii at the time of Pearl Harbor. Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Blood-Red was followed by a wonderful sequel, House of the Red Fish.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis – A perfect road-trip book because it centers on … a road trip! In this case, a lower-class black family’s drive from Michigan to Birmingham at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. According to Wikipedia, it has garnered more than two dozen awards — including the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Honor.
I’m already starting my list for next year — so email suggestions to robbwhitefan@gmail.com (from which you can infer a mild obsession with one author here!).
There’s no place like books for the holidays; from Atlantic to Pacific — hope your reading is terrific!
