Hit the Ground Running

July 31, 2017
Dee, 16, and her younger brother, Eddie, have about $500 to their name (and no driver’s license) when they hit the road. After their mother died, their father moved them to a remote Arizona town: “The waves of her mom’s death had washed them up here in Santacino, in the middle of the desert, at the end of the world.” For six weeks, Dee and Eddie have been cocooned in their small world; their father left on his latest antiques-finding excursion and hasn’t returned. With rent due and a social worker on their case, Dee makes the desperate decision to drive to their aunt and uncle’s home in Alberta. What ensues is a heart-wrenching road trip through the wild western landscape. Hughes (Lost in the Backyard) creates a visceral sense of the territory the siblings pass through, and readers will be pulling hard for both Dee, who is shouldering adult responsibilities, and Eddie, whose stress manifests in quirky behavior. Hughes deals gently with the siblings’ emotions in a story about embracing the present when the past and future are too heavy to bear. Ages 12–up.

June 15, 2017
Dee and Eddie's father has been gone for six weeks. The money is running out. And child protective services has questions. Whether it is the unexpected drive from their home in Alberta, Canada, to Arizona or the ice cream run that turns into a three-day road trip, 16-year-old Dee is accustomed to her father's impulsivity. But this is the longest their father has left her and her 7-year-old brother, Eddie, alone. When a social worker begins asking questions, Dee knows it is time to go, but with an 18-year-old Toyota, less than $500, and passports that are set to expire soon, options are limited. Dee points their ancient car north in hopes of finding a way across the border to the safety of her aunt and uncle. But with a little brother who lives for routine and frequently shuts down entirely when stressed, Dee is overwhelmed. Once they get on the road, this is a beautiful, if heart-wrenching story of two children left adrift due to the death of their mother and their father's mental illness. Whether it is a side trip to the Grand Canyon or mistaking someone's front yard for a camping spot, the siblings' humor and loyalty are real. The exaggerated accents of a kindly Eastern European immigrant couple and a too-perfect ending are the story's only missteps. Nail-biting yet endearing. (Fiction. 10-14)

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August 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-Dee Donnelly is left in charge of her little brother Eddie when her father goes missing for six weeks after her mother passes away. When a neighbor reports their situation to child services, social workers come knocking. With the looming fear of separation from her sibling, Dee takes charge, planning a road trip to visit relatives in Canada, where she and Eddie were born. With $498, a bag of food, a beat-up car, and soon-to-expire Canadian passports, Dee and Eddie set off on their adventure. Along the way, they make memorable stops until they are halted at the border. The characters are one-dimensional, but Dee and Eddie are likable protagonists. There are few supporting characters, but those who do make an appearance, will leave a lasting impression on readers. The lack of adults is concerning, yet it enriches the engaging story line. This is a quick read with an abrupt ending that leaves some unanswered questions. Teens will be wishing for more details about the story's conclusion, the journey, and the romance between Dee and Jake, a relative of Dee's uncle. VERDICT Fans of realistic fiction will enjoy this heartwarming story of a road trip and overcoming family adversity. Purchase where titles for reluctant readers are needed.-Morgan O'Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY

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