Around the World in 100 Days by Gary L. Blackwood

Each initially leaves by boat, struggles between visibility and invisibility, copes with repeated obstacles and heart-wrenching loss, and gains resilience in the process. Each traverses a landscape ruled by a dictator and must balance freedom, family, and responsibility. Yet these three refugee odysseys have so much in common.

Three countries, three time periods, three brave protagonists. In the midst of political turmoil, how do you escape the only country that you’ve ever known and navigate a new life? Parallel stories of three different middle school–aged refugees-Josef from Nazi Germany in 1938, Isabel from 1994 Cuba, and Mahmoud from 2015 Aleppo-eventually intertwine for maximum impact. The synthesis makes for a thrilling, thoroughly road-worthy joy ride. Blackwood retains what’s best from Around the World in 80 Days, by that forefather of steampunk, Jules Verne-the lighthearted humor, race against time, loyal friends and devious foes-while dropping the Eurocentrism Harry’s mixed-race heritage and adventures in a world on the cusp of social upheaval provide a subtle contemporary subtext. Like his father, he’ll face daunting challenges both technical and human, including the presence of a saboteur. Accompanied by Johnny, friend and automotive genius, Charles, whose father is betting against Harry, and Elizabeth, journalist and proto-feminist, Harry sets off in his state-of-the-art, steam-powered car. When Harry lands in more hot water-wagering at his club that he can circle the globe by automobile in 100 days-Phileas finances the trip on the proviso that if Harry loses he will give up tinkering with cars. His father, Phileas Fogg, and mother, Aouda, long for Harry to settle down and adopt a gentlemanly profession. It’s 1891, and young Harry Fogg’s obsession with automobiles has landed him in jail.

Around the World in 100 Days by Gary L. Blackwood