In the summer of 1976, thirteen-year-old Mary embarks on an unforgettable cross-country journey with her father and younger twin sisters. What begins as an exciting road trip in their beat-up car, Blue Pierre, soon unravels into a chaotic adventure as their father's decisions force them into unexpected situations.

Traveling through iconic American landscapes-from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone and San Francisco-Mary grapples with the growing realization that her father is not the hero she once believed him to be. When the trip takes a disastrous turn in Texas, leaving them stranded, Mary must find the strength to navigate their way home to Ohio, hitchhiking with strangers and confronting the painful truth about family, loyalty, and growing up.

Set against the backdrop of America's Bicentennial celebrations and based on real-life events, Bicentennial Summer is a coming-of-age story about love, disappointment, and the bittersweet journey of understanding the people we cherish most.

About the Author
Berelson, Mary: - Mary Berelson is a storyteller, adventurer, and lifelong educator. With a 30-year teaching career, she spent 25 years guiding kindergarten and first graders before transitioning to middle school technology. She and her husband raised their two daughters in Truckee, California, where she embraced the beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Now retired, Mary draws inspiration from a life shaped by her Ohio childhood, California adventures, and her roots in Tennessee.Mary enjoys road-tripping in her beloved VW bus, tending her garden, and crafting in her creative space. When she's not writing, she can be found mountain biking with her husband and dog or spending precious time with her new granddaughter. Bicentennial Summer is inspired by a road trip she took with her younger twin sisters and their father during the summer of 1976.