Ready for the World: Driver’s Education

Learning to drive is easy—finding your place in the world is the real test.

Ready for the World: Driver’s Education drops you into the summer of 1986, where fifteen-year-old Brandon Delacruz is gearing up for two milestones: new school and a brand-new driver’s permit. Raised in a close-knit Filipino-American family, Brandon thinks he’s prepared for anything—until high school roars to life with tougher teachers, stricter parents, and a whirlwind of emotions he never saw coming.

Between late-night mixtapes, hallway showdowns, and driver’s-ed road trips, Brandon leans on his best friends Josh and Ally—especially Ally, whose smile suddenly means more than it ever did in middle school. But first love has no instruction manual, and neither do the curveballs headed his way: family expectations, changing friendships, and the heartbreak no teenager can truly dodge.

Why you’ll love this book:

• A fresh Filipino-American voice that celebrates culture, family, and resilience
• Relatable high-school drama packed with humor, heart, and 1980s nostalgia—perfect for Gen X readers who grew up with cassette tapes and pay phones, and for today’s teens discovering that era for the first time.
• A tender coming-of-age journey for fans of John Green, Randy Ribay, and Jenny Han

Family, friendship, first love—sometimes the road to adulthood has them all at the same intersection. Buckle up with Brandon Delacruz and rediscover how messy, magical, and unforgettable the ride can be.

©2020 Charmeljun Gallardo (P)2026 Charmeljun Gallardo