Scoob just wanted to escape being grounded. He didn’t expect to uncover a decades-old secret about his family and the history of his country.
Nic Stone’s “Clean Getaway” follows 11-year-old “Scoob” on an unplanned road trip with his white grandmother, G’ma, through the American South. As they retrace a journey G’ma attempted decades earlier with Scoob’s late Black grandfather, the pair navigates historical landmarks tied to segregation, family secrets, and ethical gray areas. Scoob grapples with G’ma’s increasingly erratic behavior as she changes license plates, and makes cryptic references to the Green Book, a real guide that helped Black travelers avoid danger during the Jim Crow era. Stone balances humor and heartache as Scoob uncovers hard truths about systemic racism, intergenerational trauma, and the complexities of loving flawed family members. This middle-grade novel, a New York Times bestseller and Junior Library Guild selection, packs historical depth into a modern coming-of-age story, earning praise for its accessible exploration of justice and identity.
“Clean Getaway” shines as a tool for teaching SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by connecting past and present struggles for equity. Scoob’s journey to sites like the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church offers concrete examples of how systemic injustice impacts individuals. Educators can use G’ma’s morally ambiguous choices to spark discussions about traits like Open-mindedness (analyzing why historical discrimination required tools like the Green Book) and Reflective thinking (journaling about how students might respond to similar ethical dilemmas).
Try pairing group readings with map-based activities tracing Scoob’s route alongside historical Green Book locations, or debate modern parallels like racial profiling during traffic stops. Stone’s nuanced portrayal of interracial family dynamics also invites critical conversations about privilege and allyship, making this ideal for cross-curricular units linking literacy and social studies. The book’s short chapters and relatable voice ensure engagement, while its layered themes encourage older students to research current initiatives addressing targets like reducing corruption and strengthening child protection systems.
