Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I actually found this one pretty hard – it felt like I had so few books with any vehicles on the cover or in the title, or that focused on transport, maybe I need to read more? I went for the books I’ve enjoyed that either feature travel/transport/a vehicle heavily, or that at least have a significant scene on some sort of vehicle. I also kept this at eight, partly because I struggled so much to find them!
The full prompt is:
Planes, Trains & Automobiles/Books Featuring Travel (books whose plots involve travel or feature modes of transportation on the cover/title)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
(submitted by Cathy @ What Cathy Read Next)
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
Genre: Horror
Age: Adult
Format: Paperback
Published: July 16th, 2024
Transport: Plane
Review
This book is great – Tingle has proven himself an excellent horror writer, with works that are quite frankly delightful (in a horror way) to read. There’s a really creepy sense threaded throughout this book, but I include it here because there’s a significant, terrifying scene set on a plane.
These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs
Genre: Sci-Fi
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: October 17th, 2023
Transport: Space Travel
Review
Yes I’m including space travel on this list because why not? The characters travel a lot in this book that takes us across the stars. I really loved this one, and it’s a memorable novel that sees characters clash together and contains an epic adventure. Honestly, if you like excellent sci-fi worldbuilding and queer novels, give this a chance.
As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper
Genre: Contemporary
Age: Young Adult
Format: ebook
Published: February 9th, 2021
Transport: Plane
Review
Marty travels from Kentucky to London, ready to start a new life. This heartfelt, sweet book tackles some heavier topics, and honestly, that’s the kind of thing we need in YA – characters who experience the very real issues teenagers regularly face, and who come out the other side, letting readers see that they, too, can get through it. It’s handled by Stamper in an excellent way, and it all starts with one flight. A beautiful book.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Genre: Fantasy
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: February 28th, 2023
Transport: Boat
Review
I really enjoyed this adventure on the high seas – more middle aged women as protagonists, please! Amina was such a fascinating character, and I absolutely loved following her quest.
Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: May 2nd, 2023
Transport: Various
Review
Okay, forgive me – I can’t quite remember the modes of transport in this book, but there’s a lot of travelling! The book is focused around Eden’s tour, when she’s joined by Anna to boost Eden’s profile. What I really loved about this is the younger character Anna is sure and confident in her sexuality, whereas Eden is really just discovering herself – it’s really lovely to see an older character ‘coming out’, guided by the younger.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Genre: Contemporary – Poetry
Age: Young Adult
Format: Audiobook
Published: May 5th, 2020
Transport: Plane
Review
This beautiful novel-in-verse is a story of forgiveness and loss, in which two girls – one in the Dominican Republic, one in New York – lose their father but discover each other. Papi’s secrets emerge after the plane he’s travelling on to visit Camino Rios crashes, and the story this novel tells is one that remains remarkable and memorable long after finishing the book.
Becoming Human by Holly Gray
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: September 21st, 2020
Transport: Road Trip
Review
I will never stop talking about this book. This is a beautiful, sapphic Paranormal Romance with a grumpy/sunshine pairing that works so brilliantly. Jack agrees to guard Marin across the country, and slowly softens to the strange, magical woman in her charge. It’s been a long time since I read it, but it’s one I often think of, and very fondly.
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples
Genre: Sci-Fi
Age: Adult
Format: Paperbacks
Published: Various
Transport: Spaceship
Yes, this is technically 9 books, but it wasn’t like I could fill up the whole of Top Ten Tuesday with just Saga, and their spaceship home plays a role in almost all the books (if not all?). Volume 9 was the last one I read, and I absolutely love this little family’s method of travel – they live and travel inside a spaceship that’s a tree. Or a tree that’s a spaceship? Either way, it makes for a gorgeous, different type of space setting, and some very interesting plot moments!
So have any of these encouraged you to take a journey with one of these particular books? When you think about travel or different modes of transport, which books come to mind? As always, I love hearing recommendations so do let me know your top transport books in the comments!
Unwrapping Words 