10 Best Travel-themed Young Adult Books featuring Heartwarming Journeys
Ever get that itch to just get up and explore another corner of the world but can't quite get there at the moment? Well, we've got a solution for you that doesn't require a single penny on flight tickets, or even stepping out of your comfort zone. Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring world of literary journeys with these 10 incredible young adult books, each one centered around the enchanting theme of travel. Trust us, it’s the next best thing to actually hitting the road!
These meticulously chosen novels whisk you away on unforgettable adventures, delivering coming-of-age tales set against the backdrop of amazing destinations. You'll walk on the cobblestone streets of European cities, scale high mountains, and sail throughout the Seven Seas without moving an inch - save for the flipping of pages. Each treasured journey is painted with heartwarming encounters, invaluable life lessons, laughter, and pensively silent moments that define the essence of growing up.
Prepare yourself for a wild literary ride that you'd never want to end. After all, the beauty of books is the fact that you can hit the pause button at any moment, and return whenever you’re ready. So, buckle up, fellow bookworms – our journey is about to begin!
『The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants』
Four best girlfriends spend the biggest summer of their lives enchanted by a magical pair of pants.
Author | Ann Brashares |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Dell Books for Young Readers |
Release Date | Apr 26, 2005 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Other Side of Lost』
Girl Online meets Wild in this emotionally charged story of girl who takes to the wilderness to rediscover herself and escape the superficial persona she created on social media. Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least, to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet. But when she breaks down and posts a video confessing she’s been living a lie—that she isn’t the happy, in love, inspirational online personality she’s been trying so hard to portray—it goes viral and she receives a major backlash. To get away from it all, she makes an impulsive decision: to hike the entire John Muir Trail. Mari and her late cousin Bri were supposed to do it together, to celebrate their shared eighteenth birthday. But that was before Mari got so wrapped up in her online world that she shut anyone out who questioned its worth—like Bri. With Bri’s boots and trail diary, a heart full of regret, and a group of strangers that she meets along the way, Mari tries to navigate the difficult terrain of the hike. But the true challenge lies within, as she searches for the way back from to the girl she fears may be too lost to find: herself.
Author | Jessi Kirby |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | HarperTeen |
Release Date | Aug 07, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Tokyo Ever After』
Emiko Jean’s New York Times bestseller and Reese Book Club Pick Tokyo Ever After is the “refreshing, spot-on” (Booklist, starred review) story of an ordinary Japanese American girl who discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan! Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izumi discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity...and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess. In a whirlwind, Izumi travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight. Izumi soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself—back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairy tale, happily ever after? Look for the bestselling sequel, Tokyo Dreaming, out now.
Author | Emiko Jean |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Flatiron Books |
Release Date | May 18, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『13 Little Blue Envelopes』
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson’s funny, heartbreaking, and utterly romantic tale gets a great new cover! Ginny Blackstone never thought she’d spend her summer vacation backpacking across Europe. But that was before she received the first little blue envelope from Aunt Peg. This letter was different from Peg’s usual letters for two reasons: 1. Peg had been dead for three months. 2. The letter included $1000 cash for a passport and a plane ticket. Armed with instructions for how to retrieve twelve other letters Peg wrote—twelve letters that tell Ginny where she needs to go and what she needs to do when she gets there—Ginny quickly finds herself swept away in her first real adventure. Traveling from London to Edinburgh to Amsterdam and beyond, Ginny begins to uncover stories from her aunt’s past and discover who Peg really was. But the most surprising thing Ginny learns isn’t about Peg . . . it’s about herself. Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of the 13 little blue envelopes. Look for the sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope!
Author | Maureen Johnson |
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Price | $13.99 |
Publisher | Harper Collins |
Release Date | Oct 06, 2009 |
Source | Google Books |
『In a Perfect World』
From critically acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a “tender story that’s both realistic and hopeful” (Publishers Weekly), set in Cairo, Egypt, about the barriers we tear down for the people and places we love most. Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall. But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known. With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But what she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege.
Author | Trish Doller |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | May 23, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『See You in the Cosmos』
“I haven't read anything that has moved me this much since Wonder.” —Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places A space-obsessed boy and his dog, Carl Sagan, take a journey toward family, love, hope, and awe in this funny and moving novel for fans of Counting by 7s, Walk Two Moons, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. 11-year-old Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom, his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan—named for his hero, the real-life astronomer. All he wants is to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan (the man, not the dog) launched his Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to L.A., Alex records a journey on his iPod to show other lifeforms what life on earth, his earth, is like. But his destination keeps changing. And the funny, lost, remarkable people he meets along the way can only partially prepare him for the secrets he’ll uncover—from the truth about his long-dead dad to the fact that, for a kid with a troubled mom and a mostly not-around brother, he has way more family than he ever knew. Jack Cheng’s debut is full of joy, optimism, determination, and unbelievable heart. To read the first page is to fall in love with Alex and his view of our big, beautiful, complicated world. To read the last is to know he and his story will stay with you a long, long time. "Stellar." —Entertainment Weekly “Life-embracing.” —The Wall Street Journal "Works beautifully." —The New York Times Book Review “Irresistible.” —The Chicago Tribune “The best I've read in a long, long time.” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s “Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious.” —Kirkus, starred review “A propulsive stream-of-conscious dive.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “A gift—a miracle.” —Paul Griffin, author When Friendship Followed Me Home “Exuberant.” —Booklist "Full of the real kind of magic." —Ally Condie, author of Matched "Absorbing, irresistible." —Common Sense Media “Incredible.” —BookRiot "Full of innocence and unwavering optimism." —SLC "Inspiring." —Time for Kids “Powerfully affirms our human capacity for grace and love and understanding.” —Gary D. Schmidt, author of Okay for Now
Author | Jack Cheng |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | May 15, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Mosquitoland』
"First published in the United States of America by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 2015"--Title page verso.
Author | David Arnold |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Speak |
Release Date | Mar 01, 2016 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Summer of Us』
A swoon-worthy story about five best friends on a whirlwind trip through Europe, perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, and Jennifer E. Smith! American expat Aubrey has only two weeks left in Europe before she leaves for college, and she's nowhere near ready. Good thing she and her best friend, Rae, have planned one last group trip across the continent. From Paris to Prague, they're going to explore famous museums, sip champagne in fancy restaurants, and eat as many croissants as possible with their friends Clara, Jonah, and Gabe. But when old secrets come to light, Aubrey and Rae's trip goes from a carefree adventure to a complete disaster. For starters, there's Aubrey and Gabe's unresolved history, complicated by the fact that Aubrey is dating Jonah, Gabe's best friend. And then there's Rae's hopeless crush on the effortlessly cool Clara. How is Rae supposed to admit her feelings to someone so perfect when they're moving to different sides of the world in just a few weeks? Author Cecilia Vinesse delivers a romantic European adventure that embraces the magic of warm summer nights, the thrill of first kisses, and the bittersweet ache of learning to say goodbye to the past while embracing the future.
Author | Cecilia Vinesse |
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Price | $8.99 |
Publisher | Poppy |
Release Date | Jun 05, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Dear Haiti, Love Alaine』
“I couldn’t put Dear Haiti, Love Alaine down!” —New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory Co-written by sisters Maika and Maritza Moulite, this exceptional debut novel captures a sparkling new voice and irrepressible heroine in a story sure to thrill fans of Nicola Yoon and Ibi Zoboi! Alaine Beauparlant has heard about Haiti all her life… But the stories were always passed down from her dad—and her mom, when she wasn’t too busy with her high-profile newscaster gig. But when Alaine’s life goes a bit sideways, it’s time to finally visit Haiti herself. What she learns about Haiti’s proud history as the world’s first black republic (with its even prouder people) is one thing, but what she learns about her own family is another. Suddenly, the secrets Alaine’s mom has been keeping, including a family curse that has spanned generations, can no longer be avoided. It’s a lot to handle, without even mentioning that Alaine is also working for her aunt’s nonprofit, which sends underprivileged kids to school and boasts one annoyingly charming intern. But if anyone can do it all…it’s Alaine. “Delightful.” —Essence magazine "Stunning.” —Booklist (starred review) Also by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite: One of the Good Ones
Author | Maika Moulite/Maritza Moulite |
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Price | $5.99 |
Publisher | Harlequin |
Release Date | Sep 03, 2019 |
Source | Google Books |
『Your Destination Is on the Left』
“Emotional and sexy…I loved it!” —Miranda Kenneally, bestselling author of Catching Jordan “Dessa is a winning and resilient heroine.” —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity “A journey I would happily take over and over again.” —Dahlia Adler, author of Just Visiting “The fantastic, feminist novel I wish I’d had as a teen.” —Jessica Spotswood, author of the Cahill Witch Chronicles “A heartfelt—and at times, heartbreaking—exploration of finding yourself.” —Stacey Kade, author of Finding Felicity “An emotional, aesthetic, and hopeful journey to self-discovery.” —Kirkus Reviews “[T]he message of maintaining persistence, courage, and creativity is a worthy and welcome one for teen readers.” —Booklist Seventeen-year-old Dessa Rhodes is torn between leaving her modern nomadic life and pursuing her dreams of becoming an artist in this fun, contemporary debut novel that’s “perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson” (Ashley Poston, author of Geekarella). Dessa Rhodes is a modern day nomad. Her family travels in an RV, their lives defined by state lines, exit signs, and the small communal caravan they call home. Among them is Cyrus, her best friend and long-time crush, whom she knows she can never be with. When your families are perpetually linked, it’s too dangerous to take a risk on romance. Instead, Dessa looks to the future. She wants to be a real artist and going to art school is her ticket to success and a new life. There’s just one problem: she hasn’t been accepted…anywhere. Suddenly her future is wide open, and it looks like she’s going to be stuck traveling forever. Then an unexpected opportunity presents itself: an internship working with a local artist in Santa Fe. Dessa struggles to prove to her boss—and herself—that she belongs there, but just as she finally hits her stride, her family suffers an unexpected blow. Faced with losing everything that she has worked for, Dessa has a difficult decision to make. Will she say goodbye to her nomadic lifestyle and the boy she loves? Or will she choose to never stop moving?
Author | Lauren Spieller |
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Price | $8.99 |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | Jun 26, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
Time to wrap things up folks! By now, I'm hoping you feel pumped-up to start your own adventure across worlds and cultures just sitting on your comfy couch. These travel-themed young adult novels aren't just about journies across countries, they are a journey of self-discovery, of friendships formed and love blossomed, serving you life’s joys and sorrows on a tantalizing literary platter. They will let the wanderlust in you flourish, making your heart race with thrilling discovery, chill with breathtaking landscapes, warmed by the connections formed along the way, and stirred by the raw emotions. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just a beginning explorer, they will remind you that the world is a big place, filled with bigger stories to tell. But remember, the right book could be the best travel guide you ever have. So go on, pick a book, turn the pages, and ride along on these heartfelt adventures! Adventure is out there, in printed black and white. Safe travels, fellow wanderers!
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