Grandma Joy and Me

Raised in Appalachia, Grandma Joy lived a life shaped by constraints and hardships, while her grandson 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 US National Parks. From the towering peaks of Denali to the otherworldly beauty of the Everglades, each park became a classroom, teaching them profound lessons about nature and about each other.

Grandma Joy and Me follows an adventure of intergenerational healing. An emotionally charged exploration of love, forgiveness, and resilience, it describes a unique bond between a young man and his ninety-three-year-old grandmother—the oldest person to visit every US National Park.

More than just any travel tale, Grandma Joy and Me is a testament to what makes us human.