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Publication Date: May 2016  |
SYNOPSIS: Meet the Fitzgerald-Trouts, a band of four loosely related children living together in a lush tropical island. They take care of themselves. They sleep in their car, bathe in the ocean, eat fish they catch and fruit they pick, and can drive anywhere they need to go--to the school, the laundromat, or the drive-in. If they put their minds to it, the Fitzgerald-Trouts can do anything. Even, they hope, find a real home.
THOUGHTS: A really fun story about a family of kids, ranging in age from 5-11, who are living on their own because their parents are either missing or "terribly busy". (These parents belong in a Roald Dahl story.) A lot of the story is told tongue-in-cheek, such as my favorite line: "[she] took to driving with ease - as most children would if their parents would ever let them try." Each of the characters' personalities is relatable, and I definitely know kids who fit the mold of each of the four siblings. It's one of those books where the kids know better than the adults, and I think many children will enjoy it. Font size and content lend themselves to reluctant readers. The artwork inside the book (it was an arc) was not ready yet, but if the cover is any indication, they will certainly add a considerable amount to the story, as this is a story that begs to be illustrated. And they got a great one in Sydney Smith, well known for Sidewalk Flowers. Also it is a good read aloud, for sure.
CARTWHEEL BOOK NOMINEE?: It's not a definite, but a definite consideration.
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