Incredible Books Which Celebrate Travel Writing, History of Cars, and Road Trips for Read Across America Day

March 2nd is Read Across America Day!  What could be more wonderful than celebrating the popculture and history of road trips, travel in the US, and the intersection of automotive history?  Today, we’ve rounded up some great reads from nonfiction to adult fiction to family and children’s literature that all feature cars, motorsports, travel, and more.

We hope that you’ll find something on this list that inspires you to take your own adventure, or at the very least transports you away from the hustle and bustle of daily living to find respite and peace in between the pages.  We’ve even got some great highlights about women and cars to celebrate Womens History Month, too!

Have a book we’ve left off the list? Let us know in the comment section below!

Power Under Her Foot: Women Enthusiasts of American Muscle Cars
Written by Chris Lezotte

This nonfiction book chronicles the history of American Muscle cars and their departure from a mostly masculine pursuit, to the emergence of more women collectors and enthusiasts. After consulting 88 women in automotive circles, this book highlights their passion, enthusiasm, and interesting American Muscle and challenges the gender norms of the hobby.

Ladies Start Your Engines: Women Writers on Cars adn the Road
Edited by Elinor Nauen

A collection of fiction, poetry, essays and anecdotes from some of the 21st century’s top voices in literature, featuring Gertude Stein, Meg Swenson, Jan Kerouac, and more. 

Women At the Wheel: A Century of Buying, Driving and Fixing Cars
Written by Katherine J. Parkin

This nonfiction book chronicles the social dynamics and implications into the stereotype of cars as a symbol of masculinity and women as “disinterested”, and the relationship between the auto industry, collectors, mechanics, and changing dynamics. You’ll learn about gender stereotypes as relates to early driver’s education, buying and driving and selling cars, vehicle maintenance, and so much more. It’s a fascinating look at the contrast between men and women and their vehicles across the centuries.

Fast Cars and Bad Girls: Nomadic Subjects and Women’s Road Stories

Written by Debora Paes de Barros

An in depth and fascinating analysis of the relationship between nomadic road trip and travel narratives across multiple literary disciplines.  It explores the contrasts between narratives of male and female writers, and the way women experience the world around them, mother-daughter relationships, angst, and feminist concepts to exlplore travel writing by women in America.

Fast Women: The Legendary Ladies of Racing

Written by Todd McCarthy

This nonfiction book chronicles the exceptional women who broke barriers and challenged the status quo in the sport of car racing.  These women broke into the sport and made waves through their progress and staying power during the heyday of motorsports in the 1950s. 

Women Talking About Cars: Series 1-3
Audiobooks by Audible

Victoria Coren Mitchell explores the fascinating lives and jorueys of women and their cars.

Lost Children Archive: A Novel
Written by Valeria Luiselli

An artist couple sets out on a road trip from NY to AZ with their two children in an emotional, inventive, and heartwarming story about exploring family, crisis, the intimacies of marriage, parenthood and childhood.  With a genuine sense of humor, compassion, and thoughtfulness, this book will capture your heart and mind.

The Wangs Vs. The World
Written by Jade Chang

After losing everything in a financial crisis, Charles Wang uproots his children from their home and school in Bel Air and they embark on a cross-country journey along with his wife, Barbra, as the family heads to the home of the eldest Wang daughter, Saina. This sweet, charming, and emotional family journey will capture the hearts of anyone who reads it.

Cars Cars Cars by Kimi Weart

Featuring cars from the collection of Museum of Modern Art, this beautiful picture book is a tie-in to the MoMA’s “Automania” exhibit about cars and car culture.  Follow along with Rosario Abigail Bergen Delgado as she explores the things she loves about cars, and takes a look at 10 different vehicles from the MoMA collection in New York and the adventures she has!

Duck Duck, Moose by Dave Horowitz

Best pals Duck, Other Duck, and Moose embark on a quest to go south for the winter and explore the joys of discovering something new, experiencing new places, and how those experiences can help you grow, change, and see things differently.

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