Joyride

Name: Joyride
Brand: Blackstone Audiobooks
Availability: InStock
Author: Anna Banks
ISBN: 9781504605847

Author: Anna Banks

Narrator: Kyla Garcia, Andrew Eiden

Unabridged: 8 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Published: 06/02/2015

Categories: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Social Themes

Synopsis

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices in midnight pranking and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from New York Times bestselling author Anna Banks.It’s been several years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. Carly lives with her older brother, studies hard, and works the graveyard shift at a convenience store to earn enough to bring her parents back from Mexico.Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He used to date popular blondes and have fun pranking with his older sister Amber. But now all that has changed, and Arden needs a new accomplice—especially one that his father, the town sheriff, will disapprove of.All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to not do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve allowed their lives to be driven by the wishes of others. Just like real life, Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

About Anna Banks

Anna Banks is a young-adult author whose first novel, Of Poseidon, was a Macmillan Fierce Reads title. She lives in Crestview, on the Florida panhandle, with her husband and their daughter.

About Kyla Garcia

Kyla Garcia is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. Born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, she discovered acting at the age of eight when she played Lady Macbeth in a children’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy. She made her off-Broadway debut at fifteen when she played Dorothy in Oz: A Twisted Musical. Eleven years after she discovered her passion for acting, she would go on to play Lady Macbeth once again in London at the Globe Theatre, where she studied Shakespeare during her third year at Mason Gross School of the Arts. She received her BFA in acting from Rutgers University.

About Andrew Eiden

Andrew Eiden is an actor and winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award for narration. He has been acting since the age of four, working at regional theaters, in national commercials, and on numerous television shows.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alyssa on May 21, 2015

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Joyride by Anna Banks Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication Date: June 2, 2015 Rating: 2 stars Source: ARC sent by the publisher Summary (from Goodreads): A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are......more

Goodreads review by Leslie on September 11, 2015

I reallllly liked this book. This is the first book that i read with a Mexican female lead because theres not many YA books with hispanic characters and i hate that but I think Anna Banks did i great job with this book!......more

Goodreads review by Danielle (Love at First Page) on June 06, 2015

3.5-4 stars Joyride by Anna Banks gave me lots of feels! I've been looking forward to reading it all year, and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. It's got a really fun romantic set up, plus a deeper, heartfelt message at its core. I think it's fairly unique for a contemporary romance, even provid......more

Goodreads review by FlourishandQuotes on November 09, 2017

I didn't like this book. I don't know how much of it is the book's fault and how much of it is my own fault for picking a book by its cover. I was expecting a cute summer romance, which is not crazy to think given the name of the book and the summery cover. I was expecting the usual boy meets girl,......more

Goodreads review by Hari on August 05, 2017

So good, and so cute. You don't see much of a Mexican female lead in YA, but this book pulled it off. It discussed some very true topics like poverty, immigration and racism. Mix it in with a good amount of romance, and you got your next summer read.......more

Quotes

“With a dash of romance, Banks’ book tackles the issues of human smuggling, immigration, and a rogue police officer. It could be too much for any young adult novel, but buoyed by irresistible characters, sincere dialogue, and robust prose, this is one ride readers will all want to take…Relevant, risky, and romantic, this work is a clear standout in today’s contemporary YA niche.” Library Journal

“Banks respects her readers by penning an engaging narrative that deepens her central love story…As Carly and Arden open themselves to love and draw closer together, the book’s message comes through loud and clear: personal growth can lead us toward unlikely destinies.” Booklist

“Two teens form an unlikely bond across a racial and cultural divide…Banks offers a book brimming with original humor and mostly complex characterization (Mr. Shackelford is a delight) even as she tackles race and imigration issues. Both a heart-stopper and heart-tugger.” Kirkus Reviews

Joyride tackles a lot in a relatively short book: race relations, class, immigration ethics—heavy stuff!—yet the novel is fun. Some plot points may leave readers incredulous, but Carly’s behavior is ultimately understandable. The most interesting dynamic in the novel is certainly Carly’s relationship with her parents, who have been deported to Mexico.