See You Down the Road

Reader reviewed by mlecompt

Bridget's family are Travelers- they live in a trailer and move all over the country scamming people out of their money. Bridget is growing a little tired of the life. She longs to be in school full time and is scared about her arranged marriage to Patrick. Patrick is a good guy and Bridget likes him, but she is only 16 and is not sure if this is what she wants for the rest of her life. Her brother Jimmy is also restless with their life, but he is restless because he wants to go for big scores while his father wants to play it safe. Bridget, Jimmy, and Patrick all end up going to Arizona with Bridget and Jimmy's Uncle Jim to pull a big scam.

I liked Bridget and liked reading about how she felt about the life she had been handed. It was also interesting to read about a life I can only imagine. However, I really disliked how the book ended (even if it was realistic) and it took away a lot of the sympathy I had for the main character.

Reader reviewed by Grace

See You Down the Road is about a group of Irish Travelers who travel around the south in America pulling off scams, making money, then going back on the road, through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Bridget Daugherty, who is starting to question this way of living. Bridget is to be married to Patrick, which is their tradition of marrying young. She's not sure she's ready for marriage, and she starts to feel guilty about tricking people and taking their money. She wonders what it would be like to live in a real house and go to school like a real kid. Will she abandon the Traveler life and leave her family, or will she stay and stick it through?

This book revealed a way of life I never knew about. I heard about "gypsies" before, but I didn't know the scams they pulled to make money. I wouldn't want to live like that and sympathize with Bridget, who is a tough and strong person. Readers will hold their breath waiting to see what Bridget chooses in the end.

Reader reviewed by safia

This is a great novel about making choices. Sixteen year old Bridget was born into the Travelers way of life. Travelers are actual people (that exist today) who are always on the road making a living by scams, con jobs, and petty theft.

But Bridget isn't sure this is how she wants to live life. She thinks about going to college and living a regular life instead of earnig money by tricking and stealing from people. However, her parents have already set up a marriage for her. Bridget feels stuck, not knowing what to do. Now, she has tough decisions to make on family issues, marriage and sex, and also the everyday scams she and her family do.

Reader reviewed by Mary Elizabeth

I totally loved the book!!!! I live right inside Murphy Village and I know a lot about The Travelers considering my family is Irish my uncle being a traveler i know the struggles we/ they have I would sometime love to write my own book about the travelers! I loved this book!

Reader reviewed by Dylana

This book really caught my interest right when I read the first page. This book was unlike any other novel I've ever read about a modern teenage girl. I could not put it down until I was done.
It;s about 16 year old Bridget Daughtery's life as a Traveler. She and her family live in a trailer and are always on the move across the country. The ways of the travelers are much different than the country people, or normal people. Bridget isn't sure a life of scamming others for money, ripping off Kmarts, and never settling in one place is the life for her. Her parents have set a marriage for her to Patrick, who she likes a lot, but she doesn't think she's ready. She feels she has no control in her life.
Then her Uncle Jim shows up and her dad is not really on good terms with him. He plans to take Patrick, Bridget, and her brother Jimmy to Arizona for a scam that is sure to bring in lots of money. Bridget is a bit nervous, but then she gets into it. But she also finds out another secret that has been kept from her, about her sister she's never known. She then starts to think about a life outside trailerparks and campgrounds, and about going to school and studying history. She doesn't know what she wants exactly. Bridget learns a lot through her travels and you'll be fascinated by her tale. It's an awesome book! Read it now!