MMGM: Wrong Way Summer

I was so excited to receive Wrong Way Summer in a giveaway by the wonderful Rosi Hollinbeck. When I read her review, it sounded like a lovely book about a family and an interesting road trip. But, wow! It was so much better than that.

Maybe you had similar experiences to Claire, the main character in the book. I have. I’ll never forget coming home one day from high school to find my dad in tears. He’d lost his job, and little did I know then that it would be a year before he’d find another. And it’s probably a testament to my dad’s ability to always look on the bright side, that I remember that year as one of the best years ever—not only was he around more, but he learned how to make the best homemade granola!

If you like realistic middle grade fiction with a lot of heart, you will love this book!

Synopsis (from Amazon):

A moving summer road-trip story for fans of Crenshaw and The Someday Birds

Claire used to love her dad’s fantastical stories, especially tales about her absent mom—who could be off with the circus or stolen by the troll king, depending on the day. But now that she’s 12, Claire thinks she’s old enough to know the truth. When her dad sells the house and moves her and her brother into a converted van, she’s tired of the tall tales and refuses to pretend it’s all some grand adventure, despite how enthusiastically her little brother embraces this newest fantasy. Claire is faced with a choice: Will she play along with the stories her dad is spinning for her little brother, or will she force her family to face reality once and for all? Equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, Wrong Way Summer is a road-trip journey and coming-of-age story about one girl’s struggle to understand when a lie is really a lie and when it’s something more: hope.
 
What I loved:

1.   This book is a realistic portrayal of what it’s like to struggle financially. I thought Claire's description of the unevenness of her friendships and  being aware of what things cost really rang true to me. Unemployment and poverty is isolating, especially if you are surrounded by others who are doing better, and Lang captured this well.

2.    The Dad! His ability to weave stories to keep his kids’ hopes high reminded me of the dad who tells his son stories to keep his hope up in a concentration camp in the Italian movie Life is Beautiful. I don’t know if I’ve every experienced such a larger than life parent in middle grade fiction.

3.   Well drawn characters: Each character in this novel was memorable and true to life. I think I will be studying this book for its character descriptions. Even minor characters, like random dog walkers, stood out and were well-drawn.

4.    Middle School Crushes: Usually I’m not a huge fan of how middle school crushes are handled in kidlit, but this one was so realistic with the sister spilling the beans, and the awkwardness that ensued. I also loved how Claire’s other crush was handled—and what the author showed so well: always trust the awkward boy over Mr. Slick.

5.    A heartfelt message: This book exuded hope, which every good middle grade should. I really liked Claire’s character arc, and how she came to understand her dad by the end. The stories we tell ourselves matter.

6.    Extra stories: I loved how the author wove the stories that Claire and her dad told into the book. These tales added a richness and depth to the novel—and were hilarious!

If you like road trips, realistic middle grade, and larger-than-life characters, treat yourself to Wrong Way Summer. It’s a wonderful summer read.

Have you read any good summery books lately?

*I may be late in returning comments, because my husband's birthday is on Monday. But be assured, I read each and every comment, and will make return visits as soon as I can.