Product guide

The Car: YA Coming-of-Age Road Novel

The Car is a young adult coming-of-age road novel about fourteen-year-old Terry Anders, who sets out from Cleveland in his father's unfinished kit car to find an uncle in Oregon. The journey brings new friends and experiences as Terry faces life on his own.

At a glance

A teenage protagonist sets out to find an uncle in Oregon after being left alone by his parents.
The cross-country trip is framed as an adventure and a story of survival, friendship and self-discovery.
Customer feedback describes it as a quick, entertaining read for middle school and older readers.

Price

$3.99Save 56%

Reference price: ~~$8.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A clear road-trip premise combines adventure with coming-of-age themes.
At 192 pages, the listed length may suit readers looking for a comparatively brief novel.
Kindle details list screen-reader support and enhanced typesetting.

Cons

X-Ray and Word Wise are not enabled in this Kindle edition.

Technical specifications

14 specifications

Book details
Publisher	HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication date	December 8, 2015
Edition	First
Language	English
Print length	192 pages
ISBN-13	978-0544836723
Grade level	7 - 12
Reading age	11 - 13 years, from customers

Kindle edition details
File size	1.1 MB
Screen reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Not Enabled
Word Wise	Not Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

What to know before buying

The listed reading age is attributed to customers, while the separate grade-level guidance is 7 - 12. Readers and gift buyers may want to use both as guidance rather than treating either as a precise suitability guarantee.
Customer feedback includes reports that the story ends abruptly, so readers who prefer a fully resolved ending may want to take that reaction into account.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Middle school and teen readers interested in road-trip adventures and coming-of-age stories.
Readers looking for fiction about family, independence, survival and self-discovery.
Kindle readers who use screen-reader support or enhanced typesetting.

Less suited to

Readers who prefer stories with consistently conclusive endings, given customer reports of an abrupt ending.
Readers seeking a Kindle edition with X-Ray or Word Wise.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 538 ratings

5 stars76%76%
4 stars15%15%
3 stars7%7%
2 stars1%1%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes The Car as an entertaining, quick-reading coming-of-age road novel that works for middle school and older readers, with some readers saying they finished it in one sitting. The story draws mixed reactions, including reports of an abrupt ending. That caveat may matter to readers who want a more conclusive finish, while the listed 192-page length aligns with the reported quick read. Aggregate ratings lean strongly toward five-star responses, but ratings alone do not explain individual opinions.

Positive themes

Customers describe the book as entertaining and engaging for middle school and older readers.
Some feedback characterizes it as a quick read, including a report of finishing it in one sitting.

Negative themes

Several customers report that the story ends abruptly.

Mixed feedback

Customer responses to the story are mixed, despite positive reactions to its entertainment and readability.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Car about?

Fourteen-year-old Terry Anders leaves Cleveland in his father's unfinished kit car to search for an uncle in Oregon. The trip brings new friendships and lessons about survival and growing up.

Who may enjoy this book?

Its road-trip adventure and coming-of-age focus may appeal to middle school and teen readers. The listing gives grade-level guidance of 7 - 12 and a customer-attributed reading age of 11 - 13 years.

What Kindle features are listed?

The Kindle edition lists screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting and Page Flip as enabled. X-Ray and Word Wise are listed as not enabled.

Do readers report that the story has a conclusive ending?

Feedback is mixed on the story, and several customers say it ends abruptly. The supplied listing does not provide more detail about the ending.