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