"Michael Grant is a natural storyteller, literally setting the
wheels in motion from the start. He has an eye for detail
and obvious compassion for his characters, equally attuned
to both teenage Eve and her octogenarian fellow runaway,
Muriel. This is a road trip story unlike any you've read
before, so jump into the back seat and enjoy the ride."
-Jennifer Armstrong, author of over 50 books including
'Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World'. Many of her books
have been designated as Notable Books by the American
Library Association and the International Reading Association.
"This is a capacious page-turner of a novel, old-fashioned in all
the best ways. Grant engages the imagination and lifts the spirits
as he draws on a singular mix of delightful influences: Imagine
Thelma, Louise, and Herbie the Love Bug eating fried green
tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe. With its poignant plotting,
nimble prose and winking humor, Joy Ride is a joyful read."
- Jim Gladstone, writer and cultural journalist, author of
'The Big Book of Misunderstanding.'
"Michael Grant has written a thoroughly entertaining road
trip bildungsroman whose principal characters consider their
lives from opposite ends of existential crisis - the youthful
angst of the as-yet-unknown, and a fading wisdom of how to
accept the ultimately unknowable. With pathos and subversive
humor, Grant constructs an intelligent framework for
the plot, with a clever choice for narrator. All the elements
of good storytelling are on display, told through prose with
velocity and wit. It's a novel worthy of your consideration."
-Chris Millis, author, screenwriter
"Michael Grant's novel is a unique exploration of generational relationships
and captures the truth that human connection supersedes
age or circumstance. Michael Grant does a brilliant job of weaving
his characters' many back stories into an entertaining page turner. Joy
Ride illustrates that age has no limit on friendship, understanding,
forgiveness and hope. Redemption is a beautiful thing especially when
it involves a Cadillac! Bravo Michael Grant!"
-Candice Rosen, author
"Joy Ride is indeed an excursion, immersing the reader in
a journey that highlights generational priorities and pitfalls.
Grant deftly captures the essences of a teen girl and an aging
woman, putting their nuances into a delightful interplay
as the two fumble through life on the lam. From the scent
of a car that's out of its era to the physical repercussions of
aging, the book hits all the senses. Joy Ride drives the reader
through the intersections of family, religion, and identity, carefully
considering their complexities. Grant gives his readers a
front row in the backseat of the book's titular Cadillac to an
engrossing story whose truths echo through all of our lives."
-Julie Casper Roth, Filmmaker-Educator
