Eat and Get Gas, J. A. Wright
Eat and Get Gas, J. A. Wright
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Eat and Get Gas

Author: J. A. Wright

Narrator: Lyssa Browne

Unabridged: 7 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/06/2023


Synopsis

Thirteen-year-old Evan Hanson is always the last in her family to know what's going on. Her father, Gene, who's been meaner since he began serving in Vietnam, isn't around much, and she likes it better that way. But then her brother, Adam, gets drafted and her anti-war mother, Endura, takes him across the border to Canada, leaving Evan alone with Gene and her younger, special needs brother, Teddy.

When he realizes Endura isn't returning, Gene takes Evan and Teddy to Eat and Get Gas, his mother's café and gas station. There, as well as her no-nonsense but loving grandma, Evan encounters Aunt Vivian, a teasing but caring know-it-all; Uncle Frankie, injured in Vietnam and suffering from PTSD; Paco, the draft dodger Frankie is hiding; Hal and Hubert, the strange but gentle next-door neighbors; and Louanne, Frankie's reserved sister. She is drawn in particular to Louanne, who was disfigured by a car accident that killed the rest of her and Frankie's family.

Evan finds a new freedom, and she starts to carve out a place for herself. She eventually, too, learns some of the family secrets she's been kept in the dark about—and comes to understand that her mother isn't coming back any time soon. Then, after reading a letter that wasn't meant for her, Evan discovers the biggest secret of all.

About J. A. Wright

J. A. Wright was raised in the Pacific Northwest and moved to New Zealand in 1990. She is the founder and director of the World Buskers Festival (1994-2014), and the New Zealand Jazz and Blues Festival (1997-present). With more than thirty years in recovery from drug addiction, she's been crafting her novel How to Grow an Addict for years.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Patti on May 29, 2023

I LOVED THIS BOOK! 'Eat and Get Gas' is an engaging and gripping story about thirteen year old Evan navigating the perils of growing up during the early ‘70s with the U.S. in the grips of the Vietnam War. Wright does an exquisite job of creating the very real voice of the young narrator, Evan. The st......more

Goodreads review by Paddy on May 29, 2023

Eat & Get Gas is an incredible book. It's unputdownable, compelling and very enjoyable. So, I laughed (a lot) and cried (a lot). The characters are beautifully drawn. Evan is still with me and will be for some time. Louanne and Willa and Viv - all still there. As for Frank - well, what can you say!......more

Goodreads review by Book.ishJulie on July 06, 2023

With a catchy name like Eat And Get Gas, J. A. Wright wrote a book that caught my eye. I enjoyed learning about the Vietnan War from two different perspectives: the aftermath of someone involved in the war and how some dodged getting drafted. I liked the full cast of quirky characters and loved the a......more

Goodreads review by Liza on May 17, 2023

A great read that is hard to put down! A coming of age story where the author breathes life into the characters, I really enjoyed the plot twist at the end.......more

Goodreads review by Mari on January 03, 2025

Wildly original story, told in a very unique voice! It’s the type of book that sticks with you long after you’re finished reading, I highly recommend! The perfect blend between tragic yet comical, I loved the main character in the secondary cast of interesting supporting characters. Looking forward......more