
Hardcover edition
Publisher Candlewick Imprint Candlewick ISBN9781536239577
My Bicentennial Summer: True Adventures from the Most Epic Family Road Trip of All Time

Award-winning author G. Neri reflects on a childhood cross-country road trip with his family, sharing the wonder of America's most famous landmarks, the best (and worst) of its history, and the remarkable diversity of its people.
The year is 1976, and America is throwing its biggest birthday party ever-its bicentennial. What better way to celebrate than with an eight-thousand-mile road trip? In this vibrant follow-up to his travelogue, My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More, author G. Neri recalls his family's real-life journey in a station wagon crossing twenty-six states in seven weeks, from California to Washington, DC, with only the aid of paper maps and transistor radios rather than smartphones and GPS. Young Greg is entranced by the variety of accents, strange foods, natural wonders, and historical attractions, from the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty. He meets Civil War reenactors at Gettysburg, protesters in Philadelphia, pioneer wagon riders in Valley Forge, and his own rambunctious Texan cousins. And he glimpses the darker side of traveling as a family of color, pondering whether "We the People" includes people like him. Engaging text, sidebars, photos, and dynamic illustrations by Corban Wilkin create a personal snapshot of this extraordinary moment in US history, when a weary, post-Vietnam nation embraced the spirit of celebration. Back matter includes an author's note, history and travel facts, and recommended reading.
Standard MARC Records Cover Art |
US Coast to Coast (Grades 1-4)
US Coast to Coast
US Coast to Coast (Grades 1-4)
For Grades 1-4
This engaging collection delivers 12 books per year, thoughtfully balanced between fiction and nonfiction to spark curiosity and imagination. Young readers will explore stories set in both rural and city life across the U.S., join characters on exciting road trips and everyday adventures, and dive into fascinating facts that satisfy growing minds. With compelling themes and approachable text, these books are ideal for independent reading and shared discovery alike.
Interests
Fiction, Positive Messages, Nonfiction, Diversity