William “Scoob” Lamar jumps at the chance when G’ma pulls up in a brand new  Winnebago and invites him on a little adventure. Not only is it a chance to spend time with one of his favorite people, but he gets to escape dad’s punishment for his latest infraction, and might even miss a couple days of school. Scoob packs his suitcase and hops in without giving a thought to where they’re headed. Soon they are leaving Georgia and entering the state of Alabama. When they stop at a diner, Scoob can’t help but notice the negative vibes sent their way by people in the restaurant. It isn’t the first time brown-skinned Scoob and his white grandmother have raised eyebrows. G’ma must’ve noticed it, too, because after they finished eating, she responded by bolting without paying the bill.

Scoob realizes G’ma is taking him on a journey through the South, visiting civil rights landmarks and retracing a route she took in the sixties with her newlywed husband. As their journey progresses, G’ma’s actions become suspicious and hard to explain. She changes their license plates and avoids contacting his father. At first, Scoob is happy not to talk with his father who will most likely be ballistic about his getaway. Scoob’s dad is especially hard on him, always pushing him to be perfect. His dad never knew his father, G’pop, who died in prison while serving a sentence for theft.

As their journey continues, G’ma’s behavior becomes more erratic with each stop bringing up unhappy memories.Scoob learns shocking things about his grandmother and her past. He doesn’t know what to do and is unable to contact his father.

Love, forgiveness, and healing prevail in this inventive story about a beautiful relationship between grandmother and grandson, and how race can impact generations. Clean Getaway handles serious topics with a light touch.

Nic Stone is a New York Times best selling author. Learn more about her at: http://www.nicstone.info/