This is the kind of middle grade book that sticks with you—not because it's flashy or action-packed, but because it gets at something real about family, identity, and what it means to be brave in everyday ways.

Pablo Cartaya (who also wrote The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora) has crafted a road trip story that works on multiple levels: there's the literal journey from California to Miami in a classic convertible, and then there's the emotional journey of a kid and his grandfather learning to see each other. The fantasy-author grandfather angle is clever without being gimmicky, and Gonzalo's artistic, introverted nature is treated as a strength, not something to overcome.

The grief and estrangement themes give this more weight than your typical summer adventure story, which is why it's better suited for 4th grade and up rather than younger elementary readers. But for kids ready to engage with those ideas, this is enriching without being homework. It's a New York Times bestseller for good reason—it's just really well-written, with characters who feel real and a story that keeps you turning pages while sneaking in all sorts of good stuff about empathy, cultural identity, and family healing.