Whitney, Kim Ablon. (2004). See You Down the Road. New York: Knopf. ISBN: 0375824677. 185 pages.

Summary and Evaluation: Kim Ablon Whitney's first novel takes place in a family of Travelers, a clan of people who move like gypsies throughout the United States running and con-jobs to make their money. Though they may make their money in questionable ways, they have a cultural rules and expectations they are all bound to. Main character Bridget, 16, is arranged to be married to her brother's best friend, Patrick. Following tradition, Patrick happily helps Bridget's father with swindles. Her mother takes care of the finances, but her father makes all the decisions.

Bridget isn't sure she fits in with this normal Traveler lifestyle however. She likes school and reading, and wants to make her own decisions. She questions her family's way of life. Is it okay to make a living cheating other people? Does she want to be married? Is it fair that Traveler boys can mess around and Traveler girls have to stay "pure" until marriage? What would it be like if she lived in one place? Where is her life headed?

Whitney's created a collection of teenage characters that bring universal angst about individualism and freedom into an atypical situation. There are a few missteps, but for the most part it is an enjoyable read. The pace is quick and the plot remains exciting throughout. The novel ends a bit too quickly or too neatly, but it does remain consistent with the characters. In addition, it introduces the reader to a culture that was certainly foreign to me before reading this book.

Booktalk: This could be a good book to introduce by giving the group a secret fact about Travelers: Do you know some parents raise their children to be conartists? They are called "Travelers," and this story takes place with teenagers coming of age in this world.
You could also start this book by introducing a few of the Traveler terms like "kad" and "country." And explaining that with this group of people, they have their own language, and we get a peek of it in the book.