Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781668099261)

A heartrending, transformative true story following Brad Ryan and his grandmother Joy Ryan as they embark on a seven-year journey to visit every national park in the United States.

Raised in Appalachia, Grandma Joy lived a life shaped by constraints and hardships, while Brad grappled with the weight of family rifts and unresolved pain. Together, they embarked on a quest not only to witness the majesty of America's wild landscapes but also to heal generations of struggles and misunderstandings. Over seven years, they sought to visit all sixty-three national parks in the United States. From the towering peaks of Denali to the otherworldly beauty of the Everglades, each park became a classroom, teaching them profound lessons about nature, resilience, and each other.

Grandma Joy and Me follows a seven-year adventure of intergenerational healing, wherein a grandmother and grandson find themselves released from the injustices--real and imagined--that had long held them hostage. An emotionally charged exploration of love, forgiveness, and resilience, this unique bond between a young man and his 90-year-old grandmother--the oldest person to visit every US national park--is more than just any travel tale; it is a testament to what makes us deeply human.

Author: Brad Ryan
ISBN-10: 1668099268
ISBN-13: 9781668099261
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Language: English
Published: 06/16/2026
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.98lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.67d