When I Hit the Road

Samantha is not thrilled to be going to Florida for the summer with her mom.  It's not like she doesn't want to spend time with her mom and grandmother, but it's a spy mission in an old people's neighborhood.  Then when her mom is called away on work it becomes worse.  Because now Samantha has to make sure her grandmother doesn't get sick and doesn't get into trouble.  Easier said than done because they are about to embark on a road trip across Florida with a neighbor and her cute grandson in order to enter a Karaoke contest.  But one thing after another happens... will this be a trip to remember or one they'll never forget?

The story itself was good.  I really wasn't a fan of the format.  I get the point and how it fit in the story but I just kept thinking - won't Samantha's future self remember all or most of this?

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates

After the death of his grandmother Freddie learns what his real dad's name is.  He is a bit freaked out - his mom died, his grandmother died, and the person he calls dad isn't his real dad and he could die anytime (not in any danger but you never know).  So Freddie decides to go looking for his dad with his two friends using information they found on the internet.  Of course. things do not go as planned and they find themselves hunted by a thief, the subject of numerous false news reports, and on an adventure they will never forget.

Putting aside the theme of running off that kids seem to be doing a lot in books I have read lately this was a fun adventure - madcap and unrealistic but fun.

The Space Between Lost and Found

Cassie's mom is suffering from early onset Alzheimers.  It has affected Cassie's schoolwork, friendships, artwork.  She just wants her mom to go back to the way she was.  She just wants her mom to remember her name.

One of the things Cassie's mom loves is swimming in the ocean and she once had an opportunity to swim with dolphins.  Cassie hopes that if she can find a way for her mom to do that again maybe she will have a new memory, maybe she will remember her.

A sad story - the inevitable decline of Alzheimers happening to a mom with a younger child.  Cassie was trying so hard.  The book is a sold middle grade book.  I felt there were things that could have been developed more fully - more with her art perhaps or more with her friend.  It didn't seem fully realized to me.

Ways to Make Sunshine

Ryan's family is going through a lot of changes.  Because of her dad's job change and lower pay they move to a much smaller house.  Her mom is also expecting a new baby.  Ryan is also dealing with friend issues and self love.  
And that's it...  there were some really cute scenes and messages.  There were things that had potential but didn't go far enough.  This wasn't bad for a beginning chapter book reader but not enough meat for my typical audience of middle schoolers.

Foreverland

Margaret is done.  She is so done that she decides to run away to one of the last places her whole family was happy - Foreverland.  She has her backpack, some money, and a bit of a plan. Things are going well until she starts seeing a boy pop up all over the place.  Then he saves her from choking and she sees him more than ever. Who is he and why is he following her? She soon discovers that Jaimie is like her - a runaway to Foreverland.  But how long can they keep it up before they get caught?

This was a fun read.  It was a bit light and highly improbable - I wish there had been a bit more back story and a more satisfying conclusion.

Beast: Face-to-Face with the Florida Bigfoot

People say it was probably a large animal in the road that caused the car crash.  But Adam knows what he saw.  Now his parents have disappeared and Adam wants answers because no one believes him.  After doing some research online Adam finds another person who claims to have seen a Bigfoot in their area.  So Adam runs away in search of him, and then after hearing his story, in search of Bigfoot.

Adam's experiences over the next two months are harrowing - alligators, losing his boat and supplies, near starving.  But...he does see them and learns way more than he thought he would.  What does he do with the knowledge now?

I liked it.  Moderately short, action, survival... a good read.

The List of Things That Will Not Change

When Bea’s mom and dad got divorced she started a list of things that wouldn’t change - primary being that they all still loved each other and would always be a family.  What has changed it that her dad started dating Jesse and was planning on getting married. While Bea was excited about having 2 dads she was nervous about meeting her new sister.  She was also carrying a secret about something she did in anger. Can Bea learn to forgive and be forgiven and learn to be part of a new family?

Not gonna lie - the ending didn't work for me. I know there was a tie in back to the beginning of the book but the thread wasn't strong enough for me...

This was a solid middle grade fiction book.