Gr 3–6—When Scoob's grandmother offers him the chance to escape grounding by going on a road trip with her, he
leaps at the chance. The duo are guided by the Green Book, which helped Black Americans travel safely in the era
of Jim Crow. But they are also haunted by Grandma's memories, which slowly unfold during their journey. A cleverly
told mystery, with a good dose of history; readers will be deeply invested in this intergenerational adventure.

Using the Negro Travelers’ Green Book and her hidden past as a road map, a grandma takes her grandson on a cross country journey.

When G’ma pulls up to William “Scoob” Lamar’s house in a brand-new Winnebago and invites him on an adventure, Scoob leaves a note for his dad and jumps in. Despite not knowing where they are going, or why G’ma has traded in her Mini Cooper and house for the RV, Scoob is a willing wingman because he wants to save spring break and escape his strict single dad for a few days. Readers will appreciate the bond between Scoob and G’ma; Stone balances fun with emotion for a compelling read. After they cross from Georgia to Alabama and G’ma keeps avoiding Dad’s calls, Scoob begins to get suspicious. When G’ma lets him see the contents of her once off-limits treasure box, which includes a 1963 edition of the Travelers’ Green Book, Scoob understands this trip means much more than even he imagined. The complex role race plays in their family and on this trip—Scoob is mixed-race and presents black, and G’ma is white—is explored in a meaningful way that provides details about a period in time as well as present-day realities. Rich in history, Stone’s middle-grade debut entertains and informs young readers. The subdued ending may frustrate, but the journey, punctuated by Anyabwile’s grayscale cartoons, is well worth it.

A road trip to remember. (Fiction. 8-12)

-Kirkus Review

Clean Getaway follows 11-year old, Scoob, as he goes on an unexpected RV-adventure with his beloved Grandma.

Recommend for fans of J Woodson and J Reynolds. ( )

Funny, heartwarming, and interesting story of a black boy and his white grandma on the run ans exploring the impact of racism in their lives. ( )

William "Scoob" Lamar is on an adventure. He's with his G'Ma in a Winnebago....journeying through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Scoob doesn't know what the plan is or where he is headed. But he knows it is better than staying home and being in detension.

G'Ma reveals her treasure box. And in this treasure box, there is a Green Book. Yes, THE Green Book. The guide for where it was safe for people of color to visit and stay.

You see, his G'Ma is white....and was married to a black man.

Clean Getaway is a tremendous story for middle grade readers. It is a glimpse into systemic racism and Civil Rights history. Readers will get a taste of names and events like Emmett Till, Ruby Bridges, Meridian, MS......books like this are much needed right now. Especially for multiracial children. It's an #ownvoices story. After all, we do know that, unfortunately, shades of brownness do define a person's treatment. And we also know people look strangely at those when a white person is with someone of color. Will we ever change????

For a book that has comedic moments and a though provoking storyline, why did I only give it 3 stars? It was the ending. If you read other reviews here on Goodreads, people say the ending feels rushed. And they are right. For a book that started out as a travel tale, we drifted into a "jewel thief/falsely imprisoned" tale. I wasn't here for it.

I do still highly recommend it. I think it can be a conversation starter for families or a book club choice.......there are messages of family, race, acceptance, the past and the future.... ( )