Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Gr 9 Up—Amy has been left behind in California to finish the end of her junior year in high school when her mother takes a new job and moves to Connecticut following the death of her father in a car accident in this novel by Morgan Matson (S & S, 2010). Then, Amy must get the family car from California to the East Coast. She refuses to drive the family car from California to the East Coast, so her mother arranges for 19-year-old Roger, a family friend, to drive them cross-country. Roger is still reeling from getting dumped by his college girlfriend. He and Amy are getting reacquainted when they detour from her mother's strict itinerary to head to Yosemite which is filled with family memories for her. When Amy's mother finds out they are not following her route, she freaks. Amy finally makes her needs known to her mother and, for once, Amy is in charge—at least of the trip. Amy and Roger each have their own agenda that fuels the detours. The beauty of the road and long stints in the car together leads to emotional changes for both of them. Flashbacks to Amy's life before the death of her father are woven perfectly into the story. Suzy Jackson is entirely believable as a high school student who is barely coping with the loss of her father. As the relationship between Amy and Roger moves beyond mere friendship, everything about it is believable. Teen girls will absolutely love this well-produced audiobook.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA