Take Me with You by Catherine Ryan Hyde Summary

Take Me with You tells the story of August Shroeder, a grieving high school teacher who embarks on a summer road trip to Yellowstone National Park to scatter his deceased son's ashes. When his RV breaks down, he unexpectedly agrees to care for two young boys—12-year-old Seth and 7-year-old Henry—while their father serves a 90-day jail sentence for DUI. The unlikely trio forms a transformative bond as they travel through national parks, confronting loss, trauma, and the possibility of redemption together.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is a New York Times bestselling American novelist born in 1955 in Buffalo, New York, with over 40 published books to her name. She's best known for her breakthrough novel Pay It Forward, which was adapted into a major motion picture starring Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey. Hyde's works typically explore themes of redemption, healing, and human connection, often featuring characters overcoming adversity. Her other notable books include Becoming Chloe, Where We Belong, and When I Found You.

Take Me with You is ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally resonant contemporary fiction exploring themes of grief, healing, and unconventional family bonds. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Susan Lewis, or Diane Chamberlain will appreciate Hyde's heartwarming storytelling style. The book appeals to those interested in road trip narratives, stories about recovery from alcoholism, and explorations of how strangers can become family. It's perfect for readers seeking hopeful, character-driven stories about second chances and the transformative power of human connection.

Take Me with You received mostly positive reviews for its heartwarming exploration of grief, healing, and unlikely friendships. Readers praised the character development, vivid descriptions of national parks, and the book's emotional depth in addressing alcoholism, childhood trauma, and redemption. While some critics found it overly sentimental or unrealistic, many readers were deeply moved by the transformative relationships. The novel offers thought-provoking insights into intergenerational bonds and the idea that chosen family can be as powerful as biological ties, making it worthwhile for fans of emotional contemporary fiction.

Take Me with You explores grief and healing as August copes with his son's death while helping Seth and Henry navigate their own trauma. The novel examines alcoholism and recovery, showing August's commitment to sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous. Central themes include unconventional family structures, demonstrating how chosen bonds can replace biological ones. The book also addresses childhood trauma, particularly through Henry's selective mutism, and explores redemption through acts of kindness. Additional themes include responsibility, the transformative power of travel, and finding new purpose after devastating loss.

August Shroeder's 19-year-old son, Philip, died in a car accident when another driver ran a red light and struck the passenger side where Philip was sitting. August's ex-wife was driving and had been slightly inebriated, though she wasn't legally liable for the accident. Despite this, August secretly blames her for the tragedy, which contributes to their divorce and his decision to stop drinking completely. The planned father-son trip to Yellowstone becomes August's memorial journey to scatter Philip's ashes, serving as the catalyst for his transformative summer with Seth and Henry.

Henry, the 7-year-old younger brother, stops talking due to childhood trauma stemming from his unstable upbringing. With a mother who abandoned the family years earlier and a father repeatedly in and out of jail for DUI offenses, Henry has experienced significant emotional distress. His selective mutism represents his response to the constant uncertainty and lack of stability in his life. Throughout the novel, Henry's relationship with August and the healing journey they embark on together gradually helps him process his trauma and begin to communicate again.

The road trip to Yellowstone National Park serves as both a literal and metaphorical journey of healing in Take Me with You. For August, it represents his attempt to honor his deceased son Philip by completing their planned trip together. The journey becomes a space where all three characters—August, Seth, and Henry—can escape their painful pasts and forge new connections. The national parks provide a backdrop for transformation, symbolizing the vast possibilities for renewal. The physical movement across state borders mirrors their emotional journey toward accepting loss, building trust, and creating an unconventional family unit.

Take Me with You portrays alcoholism through multiple lenses, primarily through August's sobriety journey following his son's death and Wes's DUI conviction requiring jail time. August stopped drinking the day Philip died and regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, demonstrating commitment to recovery. The novel shows how August's sobriety is tested when he takes responsibility for Wes's children, requiring him to maintain stability for others. The book explores how alcoholism affects entire families, particularly children like Seth and Henry who face instability due to their father's repeated legal troubles and incarceration.

Some readers and critics found Take Me with You unrealistic, particularly the premise of a stranger taking two children across state borders for an entire summer with minimal legal oversight. Others felt the novel was overly sentimental or emotionally manipulative, relying too heavily on heartstring-tugging scenarios. Some reviewers noted that while the book started strong, it didn't maintain momentum throughout. The dialogue and certain plot developments were criticized as contrived. Despite these criticisms, many readers still found the emotional core compelling and appreciated Hyde's exploration of grief, healing, and chosen family.

Both Take Me with You and Pay It Forward explore Catherine Ryan Hyde's signature themes of kindness transforming lives and unlikely connections creating meaningful change. Pay It Forward focuses on a young boy's idea to change the world through cascading good deeds, while Take Me with You centers on intergenerational healing through a more intimate relationship. Pay It Forward achieved greater commercial success and cultural impact through its film adaptation, while Take Me with You offers a quieter, more personal exploration of grief and redemption. Both novels demonstrate Hyde's optimistic view of human nature and ordinary people overcoming adversity.

Take Me with You features a cross-country journey beginning in San Diego, California, where August lives as a high school science teacher. The primary destination is Yellowstone National Park, where August plans to scatter his son Philip's ashes. The road trip crosses multiple state borders, providing readers with vivid descriptions of various national parks and American landscapes. Reviewers particularly praised Hyde's evocative portrayals of these natural settings, which serve as both backdrop and metaphor for the characters' emotional journey. The national parks represent beauty, vastness, and the possibility of healing through nature.