Road Trip Mysteries: The California Adventure (Dyslexia & ADHD-Friendly Chapter Books for Kids Ages 7-12)

The Gold Rush · A 170-Year-Old Riddle · A Race to the Treasure · Real Places You Can Visit

Stan never thought a family road trip could turn him into a real treasure hunter. But when his parents buy a used RV, launch a travel vlog, and pull him out of school for a year of learning in real life, that's exactly what happens.

At a small diner in Barstow, a waitress named Dotty slides a whole pie onto the family's table, along with a 170-year-old journal. It belonged to her great-great-grandfather, Rufus Pennywhistle, a Gold Rush miner who buried his luck and left behind a trail of riddles telling where to find it. Five generations of his family have searched. Nobody has ever solved it.

As Stan follows the riddles one line at a time, the mystery leads his family across California, from the bubbling La Brea Tar Pits and the sea lions of Monterey Bay to the fog and crooked streets of San Francisco, the towering trees of Muir Woods and Sequoia National Park, and finally the riverbank where the entire Gold Rush began. Along the way, they uncover golden history, hidden pages, and the real reason state parks protect the past, while learning that some kinds of luck are worth more than gold. Illustrated throughout, this fast-paced adventure weaves more than 67 real California facts into the story. Every fact is true and is collected in Stan's Fact Notes at the back of the book, making it easy for curious readers, classrooms, and homeschool families to explore the real places, history, geology, and wildlife featured in the adventure.

Written for reluctant readers ages 7 to 10, with short chapters, engaging illustrations, and a just one more chapter pace, it's perfect for independent readers and family read-alouds.

Visit the adventure yourself! Most of the places Stan visits are real locations your family can explore across California.

Perfect for kids who love mysteries, road trips, hidden history, and unforgettable adventures inspired by real places they can visit long after they turn the final page.