For readers grappling with life's unexpected turns, this collection of short stories offers diverse perspectives on navigating change, self-discovery, and embracing the unknown.
A parent should reach for this book when their teen is facing an unsettling change or feeling lost about their future. This collection of short stories explores the theme of unexpected journeys, both literal and emotional. Characters embark on road trips, vacations, or new life chapters, only to find their plans disrupted and their destinations altered. The stories thoughtfully navigate themes of resilience, identity, and friendship, making it perfect for teens 12 to 17. Its accessible format is ideal for reluctant readers and provides a gentle way to show a young person that life's detours can often lead to the most important discoveries about oneself.
The stories touch on common adolescent challenges like parental conflict, the pain of a friend moving away, social anxiety, and burgeoning romance. The approach is consistently realistic and secular, focusing on the internal emotional experience of the characters. Resolutions are not always perfectly neat but are generally hopeful, emphasizing personal growth and acceptance over solving every external problem. For example, a story about a father leaving focuses on the child's emotional processing rather than the family's reunion.
Ideal Reader
A teen aged 13-16 who is feeling anxious about the future, whether due to a specific event (a move, a new school) or a more general sense of being adrift. It's perfect for a thoughtful, introspective reader who prefers character-driven, slice-of-life stories over high-stakes action plots.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold without any special preparation. However, a parent might want to be ready to discuss ambiguity. The stories often end on a note of new understanding rather than a complete resolution, which can be a valuable starting point for conversations about how life rarely offers tidy endings. A parent hears their teen expressing frustration or anxiety about the future: "Everything's changing and I hate it," "What's the point of making plans?" or "I don't know who I am anymore." The teen may seem discouraged after a personal plan or expectation fell through.
Age Experience
A younger teen (12-13) will likely connect with the more concrete plots about moving, family trips, and changing friendships. An older teen (15-17) will better appreciate the metaphorical nature of the journeys and the subtler themes of identity formation, recognizing the stories as allegories for their own internal struggles with uncertainty.
What Makes It Special
Unlike a single-narrator novel, this anthology offers a chorus of diverse voices and situations exploring a universal theme. This variety increases the chances that a reader will find a story that directly mirrors their own experience. The short story format also makes it highly accessible for teens with shorter attention spans or those intimidated by longer novels.
Read plot summary
This is an anthology of ten contemporary realistic short stories, edited by Donald R. Gallo, featuring a variety of well-known YA authors. Each story centers on a teenage protagonist undertaking a journey that takes an unexpected turn. These journeys range from literal road trips and family vacations to more metaphorical passages like starting a new school or navigating a changing friendship. The central theme is that the most important discoveries happen when plans go awry, forcing characters to adapt, grow, and see themselves in a new light.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
In "The Un-Naturals" by Alex Flinn, Jason feels pressure to be someone else on vacation. Why do you think he felt that way? What did he learn about himself by the end of the trip?
2
The title of the collection is "Destination Unexpected." Which character's final "destination" (emotional or physical) surprised you the most, and why?
3
In several stories, like "My Soon-to-Be-Ex-Best-Friend," a physical journey mirrors an emotional one. Pick a story and discuss how the trip changed the characters' relationship or their view of themselves.
4
Many characters start out with a plan that gets completely disrupted. Do you think the characters were better off because their original plans failed? Why or why not?
