First published 1996
Lucius Priest lives a comfortable life in Jefferson, Mississippi until the day his family leaves him behind. The eleven-year-old boy finds himself drawn into an adventure when Boon Hogganbeck, his grandfather's employee, convinces him to borrow the family's Winton Flyer automobile for a trip to Memphis. What starts as a joyride becomes something more complicated when they discover Ned McCaslin hiding in the car. The three unlikely companions make their way to Memphis, where Ned trades the automobile for a racehorse he claims can win them enough money to buy the car back. Lucius must navigate a world of adults making questionable choices while trying to understand honor, loyalty, and responsibility. The boy faces situations that force him to grow up quickly as he grapples with the consequences of their impulsive decision.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, coming-of-age, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Jefferson, Mississippi, Memphis
Period: 20th-century
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