“A road trip’s about the journey, not the destination.”
This line from Wierwille’s book is at the heart of main character Kimmy’s search for family and friends.
As a girl with only half an arm, Kimmy has always felt out-of-place, so when she sees her lost dog featured in a magazine article, she knows her search for friendship is only a few hours away. But as she travels from Pennsylvania to New York with her aunt, Kimmy discovers her lost dog is not the only creature who loves her. She has all the friends and family she needs.
This family-friendly, realistic fiction tugged at both my heart and my thirteen-year-old daughter’s. It was a quick read, both in length and pacing, but packed in so much. The community in this book shines as the main character is surrounded by people who love her, even if she doesn’t quite realize it. The characters are relatable and realistic. The mystery of how Kimmy’s dog got in the magazine article and her impatience pulls us along the winding road into New York until we have to know what Kimmy’s parents seem to be hiding…
The end of the story sets up a second book while resolving Kimmy’s story, meaning this book can stand alone or lead into Wierwille’s next two books. (Right now the kickstarter for the third installment is live! Check it out here.)
Bottom Line: The lessons Kimmy learned are for all of us. For instance…
…that God loves us and perfectly puts us in our circumstances—good or bad—to grow us.
…that we are blessed when we have family and friends around us.
…that we often have more than we think we do.
All these beautiful truths would make Roadtrip Rescue a great read for a preteen girl either on her own or alongside a special woman in her life. It would also make a great family read-aloud!