Far from Fair

by Elana K. Arnold

Odette has a list: Things That Aren’t Fair. At the top of the list is her parents’ decision to take the family on the road in an ugly RV they’ve nicknamed the Coach. There’s nothing fair about leaving California and living in the Coach with her par­ents and exasperating brother. And there’s definitely nothing fair about Grandma Sissy’s failing health, and the painful realities and difficult decisions that come with it. Most days it seems as if everything in Odette’s life is far from fair but does it have to be?

With warmth and sensitivity Elana Arnold makes difficult topics such as terminal illness and the right to die accessible to young readers and apt for discussion.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Young Adult, Family, Road Trip

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2016

About the author

ELANA K. ARNOLD writes books for and about children and teens. She holds a master’s degree in Creative Writing/Fiction from the University of California, Davis where she has taught Creative Writing and Adolescent Literature. Her most recent YA novel, DAMSEL, is a Printz Honor book, Her 2017 novel, WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF, was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her middle grade novel, A BOY CALLED BAT, is a Junior Library Guild Selection. A parent and educator living in Huntington Beach, California, Elana is a frequent speaker at schools, libraries, and writers’ conferences. Currently, Elana is the caretaker of seven pets, only three of which have fur. Sign up for her newsletter here: https://elanakarnold.us10.list-manage...

Reviews

[Short Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

11 year old Odette spends this entire book bitching and moaning about how her annoying as hell family is moving from the lovely home in California to live on an RV, where her and her brother are now going to 'RV-schooled', instead of going to a regular school like they used to back in Cali.

To be fair though, I'd go nuts if I had to home school on a bus, let alone LIVE on one, so I'll give the poor child some sympathy for that.

Her parents just never seem to understand her feelings! They cancelled her cell-phone plan, and decided that since they were now living on an RV, the whole family only needed one phone. Loll. When I was 11, I definitely did not have a cell, so I thought whatevvvs, girl, you'll live.

Her brother (who has autism) drove her nuts! Frankly, he drove me batty too. His parents barely disciplined him, but after reading him go through one of his tantrums, I'd give him what he wanted too - just to keep him quiet!

Anyway, poor little Odette hated her life! Her life SUCKED guys!

Yep, that went on for more than half the novel. The boo-hoo, woe-is-me shit got old really quickly though, and just as I found myself wondering 'wtf IS the point of this novel?' it started to pick up a little.

The RV goes from California all the way until some Island (can't remember where they stopped tbh), where Odette's grandmother lives.

Her granny is dying and Odette and her family is now living with her, helping her around the shop she owns (a bakery).

After the sad moment happens (see spoiler), Odette and her family decide to sell the RV, and stay to run their grandmother's bakery. The end.

The writing style wasn't bad or anything, but there wasn't much of a story.
Family travels on a bus across America to see granny and then end up running her bakery.
Of course, they do meet two random people we never hear from ever again throughout the book, but it was still a slightly tedious read.

[natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick and easy read, finished it in a couple of hours. Such a sweet, heartwarming story with a great perspective on life. It helped me realize how fortunate I am. I also think it was a very interesting prompt, something that would’ve been fun to write. Highly recommend.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first impression of this book...

I loved the cover and somehow I just knew this book was going to be a sweet memorable story! Odette and her parents and her autistic brother are traveling sort of cross country to see her very sick grandmother. Her father gave up his job, they have sold many of their possessions as well as their house and are traveling together in a motor home. Odette is miserable...she hates everything and everyone including the dog her father gave her to help her forget how unhappy she is.


What was going through my head as I read this book...

I was impressed with this sweet story about life and death and all of the various emotions that connect the two.

My most memorable characters/situations...

Odette was trying her best to be hateful to everyone...even her little dog...at first. In her head everything was wrong and she just wanted her old house and her old friends and her old life back. She blamed her parents, her brother and practically everyone else in her life for her misery.


My thoughts for potential readers of this book...

This book was really special. It was entertaining while still factoring in character growth. It dealt with real life issues. Middle grade readers will identify with Odette and her issues. I would add this book to any classroom library.

[Libby May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hi.

For once I did not like a book. Let me clarify why. If Ms. Arnold had killed her own charie (Grandma Sissy) I would have had an incline to think differently. But she made the charie kill herself! Sure Grandma Sissy had cancer, but I mean this encourages

First, when Grandma Sissy says "It reminds me of me. Except instead of sewing my shadow on, I'm pulling the threads that hold my soul to my body."
To which Rex replies, "Well, it's your soul, after all. Why shouldn't you untie it, if it's ready to go free?"

Two things, first, what in the world. This 100% encouraged suicide, and besides that it's a kids book. What?!
And second, our souls are not our own. We did not "Tie [the] threads that hold [the] soul to the body" therefore we have no right to untie them!

Again "[Grandma Sissy] said that she would stay as long as she could, 'until the pain was greater than the pleasure of living.'"
I'm just shocked right now. What is that communicating to kids going through a hard time? What is that telling them? To "loosen" their "souls." Where are they loosening them to? Hell? How can you be more comfortable with loosing yourself from the present pain without knowing what happens after that? Everyone, deep down, knows that death is not the end. After suicide, life is worse! Don't believe the lies. And don't read this book.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! In 229 pages, Elana K Arnold seamlessly weaves many of today's realities into the story of a family facing the loss of a beloved grandmother. Odette's dad has been laid off and work, her parent's marriage is on the rocks, so they decide to sell their house, live in an RV, and drive it to visit Grandma Sissy who is sick. Arnold manages to integrate topics such as autism, Fair isn't Equal, and the Death with Dignity Act into the story smoothly and beautifully. This is great read for ages 11 and up.

[Jen Petro-Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite lovely and poignant.

[RJ McGill]

Far from Fair is a young readers book - the target audience 10-12 year olds (5th-7th graders). Elana Arnold has captured the essence of the saying "growing up is hard to do." The story is told through warm, delicate third person narrative and gives the reader a masterfully drawn picture of the emotional overload this young girl is trying to handle. The short, independently titled chapters are perfect for younger readers. I really enjoyed the unique titles that set the tone for each chapter. The font is easy to read and the oversized, bold print first letter is a classy touch.

Far from Fair is a good book that has a lot going on. Sometimes I couldn't help but think - Oh my something else... There's so many things going on in this child's life - and sadly, it's that way for children everywhere, from all walks of life. The difficulties begin when Odette is told the family (including her brother Rex and his ferret and the new dog, Georgie) will be packing what's left over from the moving sale, into the RV, which they call "The Coach" and moving from California to Washington to help care for Grandma Sissy. Odette is devastated she has to leave her best friend Meiko and even more upset that her cell phone has been disconnected. The family of four will share a single cell phone. Odette is shocked, scared, angry, lonely, frustrated, and emotionally overloaded. It is within this tornado of emotions Grandma Sissy's favorite sayings begin to ring true.

There are truly moving moments throughout the story. Some are small and seem insignificant at the time - but, upon reflection those are moments of real growth and understanding. For example, one of the scenes that really touched me was when Odette went to take a bath, her Grandmother had reminded her to use the purple bath salts because they smell like violets. She goes in, starts the water in the old fashioned, claw foot bath tub, with the separate faucets and turns to the cabinet. It too is old fashioned, three shelves and very organized. She discovers that one shelf contains prescriptions....Odette had just been told that Grandma Sissy had been given a prescription from her doctor - that when the pain from her cancer became too much, she could take those pills and die. Odette thought about taking all the pills and flushing them down the toilet. Then thought better of it. But, she began to process what all this really meant. She remembered a friend's cat, hit by a car, the vet said it would never walk again and would suffer tremendously....so, because they didn't want the cat to suffer, they "put it to sleep." But then she thinks, Grandma is a Mom, Friend, baker, and Grandma - she's not a cat...
You see her mind processing this information and bringing it to life within her own family - slowly, using examples of things she's already seen, done and felt. The journey of her understanding and accepting all the things she felt were so unfair is powerful. When you see her change the number one thing on her list to "Cancer," you know it's not just the list that has changed....Odette has changed.

It's a lovely journey that I enjoyed taking. It's one of those stories that you think about long after the book has been returned to the shelf. It leaves an impression on your heart.

Happy Reading,

RJ

[Jen (Pop! Goes The Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you find this review helpful? Find more of my reviews at Pop! Goes The Reader!

It was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. Obnoxiously ugly. Embarrassingly ugly. Epically ugly. And it was sitting in her family’s driveway.
Actually, no. It was sitting in the Waldmans’ driveway – or, at least, what would shortly become the Waldmans’ driveway when escrow closed in a few days and the house Odette Zyskowski grew up in wouldn’t be her home anymore. That thing would be her home. That run-down, beat-up brown and brown RV that Mom and Dad had just pulled up in, honking what was intended to be a cheerful beep, but instead sounded like the mournful death cry of a desperate whale.

If there’s one thing that Odette Zyskowski knows for sure, it’s that life isn’t fair. Forced to leave behind her school, her friends, and the only home she has ever known after her father unexpectedly quits his job, sells their house and moves the family into a brown, run-down RV nicknamed the “Coach”, with no space, no privacy, and only one cell phone to share amongst the entire family, Odette’s future seems more like a life sentence than the exciting adventure her parents promise her and her younger brother, Rex. The Zyskowski family leave their old life in California behind with the intention of stopping in Orcas Island, Washington to check in on Odette’s ailing grandmother before continuing on to parts unknown. These plans are soon derailed, however, when it is revealed that Grandma Sissy’s health has been declining at a far more rapid and serious rate than initially believed. As the family come to terms with her terminal diagnosis and all that this entails, Odette will also have to contend with old friends, new crushes, and the uncertainty of the future, in a whirlwind of events that inspire her to question if what she wants is truly what she needs.

Dad promised it would be okay. He promised. As if he had that kind of authority. That kind of pull with the universe. Odette knew a lie when she heard one. How on earth could everything be okay? To Odette, it was clear as a glass of water that things were not okay. Not by a mile.

Far From Fair is the first novel I’ve read by author Elana K. Arnold but I can promise it will not be the last. A gentle but no less powerful meditation on the complexities of grief, the nature of friendship, the bonds of family, and the meaning of home, Arnold’s latest publication is the sort of novel that nestles deep beneath a reader’s skin and takes up permanent residence in their heart. Mature, thoughtful and challenging, Far From Fair is a novel that could stand proudly amongst the very best of its peers and is a compelling reminder of why I continue to read middle grade literature well into adulthood.

And it was nice, in that moment, with the neighbours and Mieko, and Mom honking and Rex all excited across from her. But then they turned the corner at the end of the street, toward the highway, and of course Mieko couldn’t follow, and the neighbours’ cheers faded away, and even Rex and the rat dog settled down, and then it was quiet except for the engine, and there was nothing but the impossibly long road still to come.

In Far From Fair, Elana K. Arnold makes a number of daring authorial choices, not the least of which can be found in the characterization of the novel’s protagonist, twelve-year-old Odette Zyskowski. A young girl struggling to find stability in the wake of immense physical and emotional upheaval, Odette is sullen, rancorous, frustrated, and angry, and she has every right to be. Powerless to escape or change her family’s new nomadic existence and resentful of her younger brother, Rex, whose unpredictable ‘furies’ monopolize a great deal of her parent’s time and attention, Odette rebels against the many forces outside of her control and attempts to make herself as unlovable as she feels unloved. The author’s accurate and accessible portrayal of Odette’s maelstrom of emotion, as well as the character’s own insight into her behaviour, create a vulnerable and thoroughly sympathetic character. Far From Fair's exploration of this is fearless and unvarnished, delving deeply into the darker and less palatable aspects of human nature with which we are all familiar, but which are rarely illustrated in children’s literature with such unflinching honesty and eloquence.

“This is the summit!” Mom sounded happy. Relieved, maybe, that the Coach had made it to the top of the Grapevine.
“It’s all downhill from here,” Dad said.
Quietly, to herself, Odette whispered, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Far From Fair is unafraid to touch upon difficult issues that will no doubt prove relevant to young readers, including (but not limited to) financial instability, marital and familial discord, mental illness, grief, and physician-assisted suicide. Seen through the eyes of the perceptive and vulnerable Odette, each are explored with care and sensitivity, and while there are a great many valuable lessons to be drawn from Odette’s story, Far From Fair never appears sanctimonious or proselytizing. Much of the novel’s most universal messages are expressed through the kind and comforting voice of Grandma Sissy, whose homespun wisdom never fails to put a positive, hopeful spin on even the most dark and discouraging of situations. From surviving adversity ("The best way out is always through.") to the importance of taking chances and seizing the moment (“In my experience, it’s better to feel foolish now than to feel sorry later."), Arnold trusts young readers to deconstruct these issues and draw their own conclusions. Despite the weight, solemnity and importance of the subject matter being discussed, however, the issues raised within Far From Fair never feel oppressive or insurmountable. Ultimately, Arnold’s narrative is hopeful and heartening, emphasizing the possibility and promise of tomorrow and the power of new beginnings.

“Grandma Sissy liked to say that fair didn’t mean even. Fair means everyone getting what they need, not everyone getting the same thing.
Odette didn’t have anything to say to this, so she shrugged.
Then Mom said, “What do you need, Detters?”

From phenomenally talented middle grade and young adult author Elana K. Arnold comes a new novel about the anxieties of adolescence and the unfair universal truths with which we must all contend. Whether she’s exploring the loss of one’s home or a beloved family member, Arnold’s incisive eye and fearless storytelling are sure to resonate with readers who can draw comfort and hope from the book’s underlying, optimistic conclusions. Authentic in voice and profound in message, Far From Fair is a novel I would not hesitate to press into the hands of readers of all ages.

Please note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book, about the importance of family and being grateful for what you have. However it is not that detailed, but it is a great book!!!

[D. George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this little gem of a book. Odette (or "Detters" as her mom calls her) is living a nightmare - her dad lost his job, her parents sold their house and bought an RV for them to live in ("the Coach", they call it), her little brother has "furies" (he's autistic), she's leaving her best friend behind, her parents made her sell most of her things, they have to share one cell phone... and to top it all off, when Odette's dad gets her a dog, which she's been asking for forever, it isn't the dog of her dreams. It's a mutt. A tiny, ugly mutt.

To make matters worse, they are driving to Washington State to be with Odette's grandmother, who is very sick. And things don't get better once they get there.

The story is sad and, yes, unfair. And yes, after while you do get tired of Odette's whining about everything, but then again, she has every right to the way she feels.

The book is written in her point of view, but 3rd person, and I thought the author handled "rebuking" Odette for her attitude very skillfully. (For instance, in one case, Odette is speaking on the phone with her best friend, who tells her she should be enjoying her "adventure". Which is true - not many kids get to have such an amazing journey.)

The book has a LOT going on, for such a slim volume. Not to say that it's a bad thing; just a note.

I agree that the book is a bit uneven on who it's for; it has some heavy topics for age 9, but may be a bit pedestrian for age 12.

I personally loved it because it's a beautifully told story, and not the same old thing you see every day. The descriptions and ideas are well crafted and enjoyable to read.

Highly recommended!

Note: I received a free copy from the Amazon Vine program for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elana K. Arnold's Far from Fair suffers from an excess of subtlety but a lack of finesse. Arnold's book brings up a lot of difficult topics but never really addresses them in a book that really makes readers work to pick out the nuances of Odette's life. As a main character Odette has a strong voice, but that's the best thing about the whole book. In it we find that life really isn't fair as Odette deals with parents who have made significant life decisions without really informing their children about them, a grandmother living in a Right to Die state who also happens to be dealing with cancer, a brother who is like on the Autism spectrum, among a number of other items. So much is brought up but so little is really resolved or even discussed in satisfactory detail that I felt like I never had the opportunity to connect properly or get oriented in the first place. Points to Arnold for introducing the topics, but they really needed to be handled in better detail to make the story work properly, especially for the age group who will likely find a lot more questions than answers.

Note: ARC received via Amazon Vine in exchange for review.

[Kelli Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. *

The cover alone was enough to draw me in. The title is what really caught me, however.

I suppose to some, Odette's life would appear miserable, or eternally sad. But I found the real message to be hope. The decisions Odette makes stay true to her age, which will make it easy for readers to identify with her.

Like in every book with a message (or messages), I pray the readers identify them and use this to perhaps change their views and opinions of classmates in real life.

I'm sure that there will be some who will struggle with grandmother's decision, and maybe it will spark some controversy. I thought the handling of this topic was well-done, and hope others view this, too, as one person's decision that shouldn't influence another's choice.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. To me, it represents what the title states: that life isn't fair. But how you handle the things thrown your way is more important than what the rest of the world sees and thinks.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was decent, nothing spectacular although I am quite sure I would have enjoyed as a child. I did like that the family of four travels to the beautiful orcas Island and setting descriptions include many places with which I am familiar. Though I do think the portrayal of the younger autistic brother was fairly accurate, I am beginning to tire of autistic characters. In the past I was delighted because I find autism fascinating but it seems they are becoming overdone both in books and television (Parenthood, The Middle, The Big Bang Theory.)
I am not sure who the best audience for this book will be. The reading level is quite low (large print, large indentations, wide spacing, simple text) but the novel includes the issue of right-to-die, hardly a topic appropriate for most young readers. My ARC copy indicates a target age range of 10 - 12 (grades 5 - 7) which topically is about right but the text may be too elementary. There is also a first romance, but it is so wholesome and innocent parents and teachers need not worry.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arnold, Elana K. Far From Fair, 229 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (death); Violence: G.

11-year-old Odette Zyskowski has a list of things that aren’t fair. Her Dad quit his job, her parents are having “marriage trouble”, and Grandma Sissy is gravely ill. Now they’ve sold Odette’s house, bought an RV and are driving up to Washington to help. No one asked Odette how she feels! Her little brother Rex thinks it’s all a great adventure, her parents act like it’s fun, but Odette’s life has changed and no one seems to care. It’s far from fair.

There is a lot going on in this book, but it weighs more heavily on Odette than the reader. Her brother seems to have autism (not explicit but his behavior is typical) her grandmother’s end of life choice may be upsetting to the elementary students, but it is handled with dignity and respect.

MS - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odette's world is turned upside down when her father suddenly accepts a severance package and her parents sell their house. Now they are living in "The Coach" (an RV). Other indignities include the loss of a cell phone and the purchase of a "wrong" dog. Odette desperately wanted a Labrador, instead she got a small wiry dog. The one shining moment is that they are on their way to see her Grandma Sissy, who is sick.

I loved how cranky and prickly Odette was. In my opinion, it was totally justified. I was a cranky middle schooler. I'm pretty sure I disliked a lot about myself and life, and my life was stable. My parents weren't fighting, we weren't moving from the Bay area of California to an island in Washington state, and my grandmother wasn't sick. I thought her transition into being slightly more open was realistic.

This book deals with death, and whether or not it is acceptable for it to be a choice. I thought it dealt with it lightly, but fairly.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a full review, just a couple of questions:

Do kids of that age (roughly twelve and eight) really need to know not only that their grandmother is dying but that she's decided on voluntary euthanasia? I guess I can see Odette being told, partly because she already seems pretty dialed in on what's going on in her family, but I'm sort of surprised that they didn't wait to tell Rex until he was older and could better understand.

And...does the RV seem like overkill to anyone? Just...it sort of seems like they could have packed themselves into a car and spent a few days driving to Odette's grandmother's, maybe a bit longer if they wanted to camp and the like, rather than saying 'this is our new home! Get used to few possessions and no privacy!' I think the expectation is that they'll really live in the RV, but at the end of the day the family basically takes a summer trip before they decide where to move.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be one of those books that is going to be just the book a reader needs at that particular time.
Make no mistake, this is also one of those books that while it has a cover that will appeal to young readers (8-10yos), it's also a book that covers a mature topic.
I really enjoyed this book, however, there is one small and absolutely insignificant scene that makes me unable to hand this book over to young readers.

[Ashley Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful book and it goes on my list of wonderful middle grade reads that deal with really heavy stuff in such a sensitive and amazing way. Kids need those kind of books and this one is a definite must.

[Randi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like there were two different stories packed into this book, and the different tones and themes were jarring. The themes felt underexplored, and the ones that were explored felt too dark and heavy for the target age group.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character was overly whiny. I was also disappointed with how little of the book is spent traveling in the RV. I didn’t like the assisted death aspect.
Overall I was underwhelmed and don’t plan on keeping this book in my library.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grand adventure aboard motor home. Isn't exactly how Odette wanted to live, but found out it isn't all unfair...

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things haven't been going so well for Odette. She is not happy with her parents who have decided to sell their California home, buy an RV, and travel to the Orca Islands in Washington to visit her sick grandma. On top of all this, her parents aren't getting along and Odette's brother has autism and takes up a lot of her their attention.

Okay, after I typed that up, it sounds like this is a super depressing book. While it has its sad moments, it isn't all depressing. This book has some humor and is ultimately hopeful for the future. I enjoyed this book - especially the scenes on the island with her grandma. It covers some heavy topics (ailing grandparents, the right to die, financial instability and job loss, parents fighting), but students will be able to relate to Odette in her good and not-so-great moments.

Recommended for 5th-8th grade students (although I don't quite understand why a particular scene with Odette and her parents in the RV was included when this is a book targeted for upper elementary/lower middle school students).

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story goes outside the box. The main character, Odette, is a young teen who has to deal with some unfair circumstances: losing her cell phone, losing her home, dealing with her parents possibly separating, and an ill grandmother. It all adds up and is dealt with as her parents, her younger brother , who is prone to tantrums, an illegal pet, and a tiny rat dog forced on her, drive in a RV from Southern California to Orcas Island in the state of Washington. Such forced closeness seems to act in favor of "detters" dealing with these difficult issues. This story actually has a happy ending even though Odette's grandmother chooses to overdose to end her life (legal in Washington). They end up staying on Orcas island continuing her grandmother's bakery creating a new life for the 4 of them, being thankful for the dog after all.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fairly clean, and I read it as a Tweener. It does deal with some difficult topics, such as self-discover, death, grief, and assisted suicide. It is not explicit in those scenes, and topics like sex are only alluded to. Because it does feature some more difficult concepts, I would recommend it for 12+.

This book follows the story of a girl whose father has lost his job, causing the family to move out of their house and into a camper trailer to travel the US. Along the way, they stop to visit their grandmother, who is dying of cancer. The girl laments about how life is unfair, and toward the end, her grandmother chooses to die rather than live in pain. The family mourns her death, and then discusses whether they want to keep travelling or stay and live in the house their grandmother left them. The ending is open and bittersweet.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

11-year-old Odette Zyskowski has a list of things that aren’t fair. Her Dad quit his job, her parents are having “marriage trouble”, and Grandma Sissy is gravely ill. Now they’ve sold Odette’s house, bought an RV and are driving up to Washington to help. No one asked Odette how she feels! Her little brother Rex thinks it’s all a great adventure, her parents act like it’s fun, but Odette’s life has changed and no one seems to care. It’s far from fair.

There is a lot going on in this book, but it weighs more heavily on Odette than the reader. Her brother seems to have autism (not explicit but his behavior is typical) her grandmother’s situation may be upsetting to the elementary students, but it is handled with dignity and respect.

[Arliegh Kovacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

About a young girl whose family has sold their old house and are moving across the country (in an RV) to help her grandmother who is ill. She had no say in the matter and nothing seems to be fair to her. (At least she doesn't meet any zombies!)
Topics touched:
Moving, leaving friends, being confined in a small space with your family (and the kind of dog she didn't even want, ugh), defining friendship, loss, and death.
I had asked my husband to bring home a few young adult reads (to break up my streak of mystery stories). I read this in one evening because I liked it so much. It gave me some insight into the ways my (now grown) children must have felt during the many, many moves we made while they were growing up.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure it's a 4, but it's definitely more than a 3. A lot of important topics were brought up in this story. One of the big ones was the struggle to be seen when you have a sibling with special needs or issues. I felt the resentment and anger that Odette felt seeing her family essentially pay her no attention and make everything about her younger brother Rex who gets 'the furies'. This is a mistake parents make repeatedly: forgetting the functional child. There are definitely aspects that can't be changed, but a lot of it is avoidable, if you make a strong effort; though it's not always easy. I wish this book had been longer, or fleshed things out a bit more, or even given a sequel. But I did enjoy it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, sweet read about a girl who's family is going through a hard time. Oddette's family has sold their home and bought the Coach, an RV that they are going to take up the coast to visit her mother's mom, Grandma Sissy, who is sick and possibly dying. Her father has quit his job. Her brother suffers from his "furies," moments that make him so mad he can't be reasoned with. And Oddette is just supposed to go along with it all, leaving her friends and her school behind. As Oddette struggles with her ideas of fairness, and how everything happening to her aren't FAIR, she also learns important lessons about family, working together, and finding the beauty in everyday life.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book a 5/5 because there's a lot of adventure and humor, which is exactly what my taste in books are. (It's also fiction, just saying.) Odette has to deal with moving away and living in an RV, plus dealing with her parents and her brother. She thinks that everything in the world is unfair, and she thinks her parents are all over Rex, her brother. Her grandma died, which took its toll on her, and her dad got her a scrawny but loyal dog that Odette hated in the beginning but loved in the end.

- Noah

[Ani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book maybe because of the cover. It looks like it’s going to portray some perspectives in peoples’ lives. And it’s true.

It’s a story about Odette’s family undergoing some challenges in their lives; having a precious person dying, special need child, unstable income, losing their properties, leaving behind good friends and etc.

It’s probably the reality faced by everyone.
And some may be thinking that life is far from fair.

This books reminds me to be grateful with what i have.

Recommended to be read by everyone aged above 10.