Amy & Roger's Epic Detour in Mock Printz 2026

Jun 12, 2013 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, friendship, vacations, weather, facing-fears, families, road-trip, self-esteem, death

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Not surprisingly, things fall apart in the life of Amy Curry after her father dies unexpectedly. Her mother finds a job in Connecticut, her brother heads to rehab, and Amy sits alone in the family's California house while a realtor brings in prospective buyers. Since Amy refuses to drive, her mother arranges to have Roger, a boy she knew when she was much younger, drive her car and Amy to Connecticut. She's planned out their exact route and even made reservations at motels along the way. But as ...more

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Sep 28, 2013 Kate (kateexplainslit) rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, own-read, read-in-2016

4-4.5 stars. I'm so glad I read this. It was such a beautiful story. I always feel comforted by Matson's words, like she is enveloping me in a hug. Such a great summer read! Review to come soon. ...more

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May 09, 2011 Samantha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow! What a book! The setting(s) play almost as big a role as the main characters in this story. The author does an excellent job of giving the reader the feel of a road trip. All the little details are perfect, right down to the scrapbook pages that have receipts from gas, food, and lodging. This book is all about the journey or quest(s) that Amy and Roger embark on. Interpersonal relationships are a big focus of this story and the characters undergo considerable growth by novel's end. This wou ...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Ricki rated it it was amazing

Amy's life takes a dramatic turn when her father dies in an accident. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut, and Amy has to drive their car across the country and meet her there. The problem is that Amy no longer drives because of the accident, so her mother's friend's son, Roger, is assigned to drive with her across the country.

I loved this book. The cover screams chick lit, but it would appeal to all types of kids. It reminded me of one of my favorite short stories, "Keep Smi ...more

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Oct 08, 2011 Tracy rated it it was amazing

Original blog review: http://bcplreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Young Adult/Teen
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Still reeling from her father's death, 17-year-old Amy Curry and Roger, a 19-year-old college student with troubles of his own, set out on a cross-country road trip from California to Connecticut. Along the way, they veer away from their tightly scheduled travel plan, taking detours that force Amy to face her own grief and fears.

Tracy's Thoughts:
Family dysfunc Original blog review: http://bcplreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Young Adult/Teen
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Still reeling from her father's death, 17-year-old Amy Curry and Roger, a 19-year-old college student with troubles of his own, set out on a cross-country road trip from California to Connecticut. Along the way, they veer away from their tightly scheduled travel plan, taking detours that force Amy to face her own grief and fears.

Tracy's Thoughts:
Family dysfunction, drama, romance, adventure, laugh-out-loud humor, and some awesome playlists make Morgan Matson's debut novel an epic read indeed. This is a fast-paced book, but the characters' friendship builds slowly and believably. Being stuck in a car with a virtual stranger for hours on end could easily go very wrong very quickly, but Amy and Roger manage to build a special rapport, developing in-jokes, travel rituals, and shared experiences. Amy is struggling with her guilt over her father's death and feeling isolated from her mother and twin brother; Roger is still hung up on his ex and baffled by the sudden break-up. Tension builds as readers wonder where Amy and Roger will go next, how they will cope with their respective problems, and when/if they will confide in each other. Their conversations are fresh and real, and I quickly became invested in the characters because they felt so genuine and likeable. But that all sounds so serious! The magic of Amy and Roger is that it tackles the characters' true-to-life problems in a way that is fun, uplifting, and often very, very funny.

Also, there are whimsical cartoons, receipts from real hotels and diners (including Louisville's Brown Hotel!), and other items of interest interspersed throughout the book to document their journey―and enhance the story itself. And the playlists Amy and Roger (mostly Roger) create along the way, as I said, are awesome. They perfectly represent the characters and their journey, with selections ranging from Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, and Billy Joel to lesser-known indie acts like Alexi Murdoch, Damien Rice, and Owl City. I've made it a personal mission to track down music from "hip" unfamiliar bands like Jack's Mannequin and the Lucksmiths.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to teens (and the young at heart!), especially those who love a good road trip novel. What begins as a simple road trip from Point A (California) to Point B (Connecticut) becomes an adventure-filled, heartwarming journey as Amy and Roger embark on separate missions that somehow become intertwined. The travel details are authentic and seamlessly integrated into the story, and each of Amy and Roger's detours is important on its own while serving as an integral part of their journey as a whole. ...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Sarah BT rated it it was amazing

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I love a good road trip novel and this one is pretty much perfect! I love Amy and Roger, their individual storylines and issues to work through as well as how their storylines connect and weave together. I loved how they ended up needing each other, and an epic detour road trip, to work through life, fears, and emotions. And of course, the romance is wonderful-I want them to stay together forever. They totally will, right?:)

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Apr 21, 2011 Kat Drennan-Scace rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed, ya, 2011, standalone

This is what I'm always hoping roadtrip books will be like - scraps of memorabilia between the pages, playlists and learning about the places they visit. It doesn't hurt that Amy and Roger are fantastic characters with real hopes, fears and the like. A really enjoyable read.
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