Summer on Wheels Audiobook

Quotes

• “The two Mexican-American friends encounter interesting people on their excursion. The story is spiced with a mixture of English and Spanish and peppered with humor. Young teenagers will relate to the witty street-wise boys and their antics.”

  — Children’s Literature

• “Readers will wish they could go along on the boys’ adventurous ride. Soto’s story is an engaging and entertaining light summer read.”

  — Horn Book Guide

• “The plot is rollicking, with some dream-come-true aspects, touches of reality, and humor, emphasized by the boys’ banter and enhanced by a sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases. Soto’s descriptions make the journey vivid and, throughout the boys’ scuffles and escapades, they maintain a deep respect for their elders, a love of family, and a healthy curiosity about life.”

  — School Library Journal

• “Their urban adventure is upbeat, told with a casual narrative and irreverent dialogue…The combination of slapstick and affection draws you in ("Aunt Teresa warned the boys that if they drowned she would be really mad at them"). Great for reading aloud, the story captures the physicality of the boys’ experience…There’s no great drama, but that’s precisely Soto’s strength: he embraces the ordinary, messy connections of a happy home with ‘kids, parents, relatives, neighbors, dogs and cats, even chickens nearly falling out of each open window.’”

  — Booklist

• “Anthony Perez does an excellent job with the narration, distinguishing the voices of numerous characters and perfectly pronouncing Hispanic terms and slang. The production quality is first rate in this exuberant tale of friendship and community.”

  — School Library Journal (audio review)

• “This novel about two Hispanic friends, Hector and Mando, is full of hilarious adventure…Although some of the adventures are outlandish—such as, landing a television commercial and being the one millionth Dodger fan—the reaction and interaction of the friends is realistic. The dialogue, which includes a fair amount of Spanish, is heartwarming, witty, and full of imagery. In this coming-of-age adventure Hector and Mando see both sides of humble means and wealth. The high value of unconditional acceptance among family and friends is an enlightening theme. What better way to spend time traveling to visit relatives in the car (or by bicycle) than listening to this outstanding three-hour audio book!”

  — Children’s Literature (audio review)

• “Just as Soto is a master at portraying the ordinary in Hispanic family and neighborhood, Anthony Perez is masterful at voicing these two best friends. His narration is smooth and steady—moving from nerdy cousin to a paintball extravaganza and an unfamiliar barrio, always keeping the listener engaged. Perez’s boyish voice lends credibility to the give-and-take between the two characters. Further, he spices the conversation with natural-sounding Spanish words and phrases.”

  — AudioFile