Last Updated on June 2, 2021 by Natalie

Traveling is not always easy to do and there are sometimes circumstances that limit travel. In early 2020, that’s the (nearly) worldwide quarantine. What’s a traveler to do? READ. The following YA travel books changed my life and I credit it with my decision to move abroad. It wasn’t the only factor, but it was a strong one all the same. Though I never imagined I’d be living in Mexico (since 2017), here I am and this incredible book series played a huge part in my decision.

Table of Contents

The YA Travel Books that Changed My Life

I started the Notebook series by Laura Resau when my children were babies. Even though they are considered young adult literature, I think the average adult will thoroughly enjoy the mysteries throughout. Each book is set in a different country with descriptions of land, food, and people that will ignite your wanderlust. These are wonderful travel inspiration books for both kids (ages 10 and up) and adults.

If you’re looking for travel books for young adults or books that inspire interest in other countries, these excellent stories will encourage that wanderlust.

Here are more ideas for things to do when you can’t travel!

Disclaimer

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The Notebook Series by Laura Resau

The Indigo Notebook

15 year old Zeeta hasn’t had a normal childhood. Every year, her mother Layla, picks another country to live in. Zeeta is determined to convince her free-spirited mom to finally settle down. This year, the small family is living in Ecuador, where Zeeta meets Wendell. Wendell was born in Ecuador and adopted by Americans. He is searching for his birth parents. As Zeeta and Wendell delve into the mystery, they discover that Wendell’s father is involved in something very dangerous.

This book grabbed my attention first because of the incredible writing and storytelling. Second, it made me dream that traveling and living abroad with kids is possible. Though Zeeta is more of the mom than Layla, Zeeta also speaks several languages. Immediately, I dreamed of that for my children. But Zeeta, a fictional character, goes deeper. She’s a young woman, trying to figure out life even while being uprooted every year. She embraces new countries and languages the way I embrace finding a new, exotic chocolate or coffee to taste.

Though Zeeta is a fictional teenager, her life and adventures made me ache for us to have our own. To experience and embrace other cultures and languages. I highly recommend this book to those who want to travel, to those who like the idea of traveling but don’t do it, and to those who love a wonderful, well written story with a mystery.

This book is recommended for ages 10 and up.

The Ruby Notebook

The Ruby Notebook finds Zeeta and her mom, Layla, settling in Aix-en-Provence, France. Soon after arriving, Zeeta begins receiving mysterious notes and gifts from someone. She dubs her admirer as her “fantôme.” She brushes off that mystery, as she is expecting Wendell to arrive for a summer program in Aix. But have Layla’s feelings changed? Though she tries to distance herself from Wendell, circumstances force them together and soon they are teaming up to find a secret underground spring.

Zeeta continues to be a character who seems older than her 16 years. She is aware of the world around her, always able to meet people under her ever changing circumstances and languages. Wendell is supposed to stay with her and Layla for two months during his internship in France. Though shortly before arriving, Wendell tells her via phone that he will instead be staying with a host family.

“Everytime I’m happy, something happens to end it,” Zeeta laments to her mother, Layla. Her mom, as usual, responds with a cryptic Rumi quote. However, after that disappointing call with Wendell, Zeeta discovers a CD in her bag that appeared out of thin air. The first gift from her “fantôme.”

Zeeta continues her tradition of picking a new notebook for her new country, settling on a ruby notebook. We delve right into her thoughts and worries, certainly those of a teenager and also those that are well beyond her years.

This book is recommended for ages 11 and up.

The Jade Notebook

In the third and final book of the notebook series, we find Zeeta and Layla in Mazunte, Mexico. Wendell also has an internship here- he’ll be photographing rare sea turtles. Zeeta is finally in paradise and ants Mazunte to be her home – forever this time. But as Zeeta and Wendell search for more clues to her elusive father’s past, she discovers that it may not be paradise after all.

The Jade Notebook might be my favorite of the trilogy. It’s so well-written that I sobbed at the end. I can very well imagine that this book is the reason why I said YES unequivocally when my husband asked if I would move to Mexico. That was way back when Mexico was “what if?” instead of the country I’ve called home since 2017.

This book is recommended for ages 11 and up.

The Notebook Trilogy Final Thoughts

These YA travel books are best read in order. It’s likely that you’ll find yourself falling in love with each country and add them and the cities featured to your own travel bucket list. Maybe you’ll wanderlust will turn into dreaming of becoming an expat. I do recommend Mexico!

Do you have feedback on the Notebook Trilogy or other YA travel books? The best feedback comes from readers! Please leave a comment with your thoughts and suggestions.