HIT THE ROAD
Caroline B. Cooney
Laurel-Leaf Books/Random House
Fiction
Hardcover: 0385729448
Paperback: 9780440229292
192 pages

Sixteen-year-old Brit has only had her license for 11 days when her parents drop her off at her Nannie's house while they go on vacation to Alaska. Little does Brit realize, but she's about to get the driver's education of her life. Nannie doesn't plan on sitting in the house for the next two weeks; she has bigger things in store. Nannie and her three best friends from college --- Flo, Aurelia and Daisy --- have gone to every single reunion since their college graduation up until last year, when their adult children won. Their children deemed them "too old and sick" to attend. Nannie has decided, however, that this year "They lose. I'm the driver."

Brit knows this is a problem. Not only is Nannie's eyesight poor, she also can't reach the gas and break pedals. That's why Brit's mother sold Nannie's Cadillac and cut up Nannie's license. But that still doesn't stop the plan to go to Reunion. Nannie gets a replacement license and a rental car. Now Brit is faced with a dilemma --- either let her grandmother drive and risk injury to herself and others, or Brit will be the driver. Even though Brit has her driver's license, it's illegal for her to drive a rental car, plus she'd get in big trouble with her parents. Nevertheless, Brit loves her grandmother and feels sad that Nannie and "the girls" won't make this special Reunion without her. Putting her best judgment aside, Brit reluctantly agrees and begins the tri-state road trip of her life.

But there are many bumps in the road. Brit has to drive crazy and scary highways from Connecticut to Long Island where they pick up Flo. Her cell phone is ringing off the hook and she's repeatedly lying to her parents concerning her whereabouts. And they have to kidnap Aurelia from the nursing home that her evil son Aston III has put her in without her consent. Aurelia insists her son is just out to get her money, but Aston argues that his mother has Alzheimer's and doesn't know what she's doing. When he finds out that Brit has taken his mother out of the home, he threatens the teen. The action comes to a head when Brit and Aston come face to face.

HIT THE ROAD is a very different type of road trip story. Brit realizes that the more time she spends with "the girls" the more enlightenment she has on her own life. While Brit's life is truly just beginning, the girls spend their time reminiscing about times in the past. The friendship and bonds between these old women inspire Brit to help the girls get to their beloved reunion despite all the bumps they encounter. Brit's cell phone plays a key role in the story, which is refreshing to see in modern YA fiction. Her phone gives her a link to the outside world where she can connect with her parents, friends, and her crush/helper/friend, Coop. Coop does all sorts of Internet research to help Brit as she is in the midst of her journey. While the story may start out a bit slow, it snowballs into a fast-paced adventure with some great characters you just can't help but love.

   --- Reviewed by Kristi Olson

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