MMGM: Road Trip by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen

Date Published: January 8, 2013 ISBN: 0375990313
Genre: Middle Grade, realistic fiction, humorous fiction
Publisher: Random House
Themes: dogs, rescue, father and son, family
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them.

First Few Lines: 
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Absolutely."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your father and I said so."
"That's really lame."

What Others Are Saying: “The authors score on all fronts: they set an entertainingly frenzied pace, provide twists aplenty, create true dialogue that blends humor and pathos, and bring together a close-knit ensemble.” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review
  
"Dog lovers will especially enjoy the amusing glimpses into the wise dog's mind.Given its notable brevity and Ben's age-appropriate, oft-times snarky, attitude, this should be an easy sell for reluctant readers." —Kirkus Reviews

Tween Review: "My favorite part of this book was the border collie Atticus. The funny part was he didn’t know he was a dog!"—Teen Scene

Bloggers Weigh In:

Twenty By Jenny

Storytime Hooligans

The Late Bloomers Book Blog

What I Thought: A quick fun ride for dog lovers, Road Trip offers twists and turns characteristic of Paulsen's other books. The tween voice of Ben has just the right amount of a sardonic tone to sound authentic. I rarely like when a story is told from the point of view of a dog, usually because too many human characteristics makes the character of the dog seem forced. Atticus was okay and didn't distract from the story. The target age will appreciate Atticus's straight shooting perspective.This will appeal to older middle grade and reluctant readers. 

Photo Credit: Publishers Weekly

About The Authors: 

Gary and Jim Paulsen

Gary's Website
Jim's Website

Publisher Weekly- Great interview with both authors.

Gary: "Running away from home at the age of 14 and traveling with a carnival, Paulsen acquired a taste for adventure. A youthful summer of rigorous chores on a farm; jobs as an engineer, construction worker, ranch hand, truck driver, and sailor; and two rounds of the 1,180-mile Alaskan dog sled race, the Iditarod; have provided ample material from which he creates his powerful stories." —Website

Jim: After studying to be a teacher, Jim realized that even though he loved teaching he missed the arts. He quit teaching and began searching for his place in the art world. "While on the phone on a winters day in 1998, I thumbed a piece of my daughter's play dough. By the end of the conversation, I had completed a simple, crude bust of a man. I fell in love with the clay at that very moment and knew what I was looking for." —Paulsen and Paulsen Fine Art

Exciting News You Don't Want To Miss! No April Fools Here

Thats right! This is the real thing.  
 Announcing:Project Madison

My granddaughter Kayla and her dog Belle!

Did you know...

• There are 78.2 million owned dogs in the U.S.
• 39% of U.S. households own at least one dog.                                              

but did you know this sad statistic?

• Ten million animals are euthanized in shelters each year. 

There are many no-kill shelters that are struggling to stay open. The costs to keep and care for unwanted animals is huge. Food, shelter, healthcare and training all put a substantial drain on rescue facilities that depend on donations. 
There are many things that people can do to help. Project Madison is an effort to make a difference.
How?
Meet Madison Morgan, a spunky eleven-year-old, who learns she has a special gift that leads her to make a daring animal rescue. 


This summer her adventures will be published in my MG novel which, in turn I hope will create awareness and financial support for participating shelters and rescue operations. 


Stay tuned for more details. Be sure to check the Project Madison tab for updates and important information about how you can get involved.