AN OCCASIONALLY HAPPY FAMILY

Nothing sounds exciting about this first family vacation since Mom died. And they can’t even bring the cat.

Thirteen-year-old Theo Ripley feels powerless about this trip and steels himself for the eight-hour drive. Deftly capturing the childhood torture of family road trips, Burke nails the hilarious dialogue between Theo; his 16-year-old sister, Laura; and their science teacher dad. They are headed to Texas’ Big Bend National Park in the middle of July—to camp. Theo prefers to appreciate nature from indoors. He also prefers drawing to dialogue and stares aimlessly out the window as Dad and Laura argue endlessly. Once at the barren and boulder-filled park, the family bounces from one disastrous mishap to the next, encountering a riotous cast of eye-opening characters who surprisingly unite them. Each short chapter provides a glimpse of the humor and pain caused by the lack of communication and unaddressed grief that burdens each family member. When a surprise visitor joins their vacation, the bottled-up grief spills over. With memorable characters and voices, realistic emotions, and an extra helping of humor, this title rocks. The Ripley family reads as White; names cue some diversity in the supporting cast.

A masterful look at loss and mourning wrapped up in a hilariously painful family vacation.