America the Beautiful?
This review was written by: Stephanie Rowitz
About the Book
Tired of her day job (and travel books written by privileged, white men) Blythe takes off in a borrowed Prius for a road trip across the U.S. In search of inspiration and adventure, she travels from the Midwest to the Pacific coast and down to the Southwest, meeting up with several friends along the way. America the Beautiful features musings on ecotourism, conservation, freedom, climate change, and even racial and financial inequities.
I really enjoyed following along on Blythe’s adventures, learning from her valuable insight as a female solo traveler about what safety looks like for young women traveling alone. For example, never tell strangers you’re traveling alone and always be aware of your exit strategy in case you get cornered. I also very much enjoyed learning about the (often overlooked) disparities between travel as a white person versus someone of color.
While Blythe’s choice of language and subject matter may not be suitable for young children, high school students will definitely get a lot out of this book—like valuable life lessons about racial inequities, safety 101, and how to appreciate the rich (though sometimes unsettling) history America has to offer.
America the Beautiful? is a must-read for any big explorer. Afterwards, you’ll be ready to hit the open road, feel the wind on your face, and uncover something new to love about this land we call home.
About the Author
Blythe Roberson is a comedian, a humor writer, and author of How to Date Men When You Hate Men. She has written for The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan, Kinfolk, Esquire, Vice Magazine, and for the NPR quiz show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Blythe was raised between Illinois and Wisconsin and currently lives in Brooklyn.
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America the Beautiful?
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America the Beautiful?
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