A Song for the Road

*94% of people ages 13 to 22 cite music as "important" or "very important" to their lives. Most say the music they listen to impacts their mood. *31% of US children between the ages 5 and 17 play an instrument.*Less than half of US kids under 18 are living in a home with two married heterosexual parents in their first marriage, and 34% of children today are living with an unmarried parent.*Despite a strong economy, about 40% of American families struggled to meet at least one of their basic needs in 2017. *Tornadoes and other severe thunderstorms likely caused at least $10 billion in damages in the United States in 2015. AUDIENCE:*Young people with rock-star fantasies*Young people who have parents living in different states, who have stepparents, or who have an estranged parent*Young people who are taking music lessons*Young people who are having difficulty fitting in at school or are "loners"*Young people who are interested in rock and roll, songwriting, the blues, etc.*Young people in families that are struggling economically*Young people who are engaged in music therapy *Young people who are very independent or who are from a single-child family*Teachers who are presenting curriculum on desert biomes, rock formations, history of the Southwest, etc.*Librarians, teachers, parents, and Christian educators seeking adventure stories without profanity, violence, or sexual themes*Fans of live music, music festivals, guitars, motorcycles