It was the fall of 2009. My agent started sending the Jumped In manuscript to editors. He told me it was time to get to work on the next book. It didn't take me long to decide that I wanted to explore how kids were dealing with the fallout from the economic recession. I knew there were students whose parents had lost jobs, students whose families were thrust into a housing transition.
At the same time, I was hearing more and more news stories about soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these stories focused on the difficulties some veterans had in transitioning back to civilian life.
I wondered what it would be like for a high school kid whose family was dealing with all these issues. What would a school day look like? What would home look like? How does a kid stay true to a family in chaos while trying to forge their own path? Where are hope and humor and love in these circumstances?
American Road Trip is my exploration of these questions.
At the same time, I was hearing more and more news stories about soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these stories focused on the difficulties some veterans had in transitioning back to civilian life.
I wondered what it would be like for a high school kid whose family was dealing with all these issues. What would a school day look like? What would home look like? How does a kid stay true to a family in chaos while trying to forge their own path? Where are hope and humor and love in these circumstances?
American Road Trip is my exploration of these questions.
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