Monday, September 27, 2010

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson




Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Published: May 4, 2010 by Simon & Schuster
Received: Purchased from Amazon
Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself. [goodreads]

If you've been recommended this book through Amazon, goodreads, or a fellow book-lover friend.. GO PICK IT UP NOW!  I absolutely adore this book!  It kept popping up in my book suggestions on Amazon, but for whatever reason I always skipped over it.  After seeing it on my fellow book blogger friend's IMM post (Jess hearts books) I took it as a sign & ordered it for myself.

The story follows Amy, a teenage girl who just lost her father in a tragic car accident, which she feels responsible for since she was the one behind the wheel.  She feels as though she is being punished for this because both her mother & brother have isolated themselves from her by literally moving across the country.  Amy has finished high school & now she must make the trek across the great States to join her mother on the East Coast. There is only one problem, Amy refuses to drive.  So what is the solution?  In walks Roger (a family friend from long ago)... and so their journey begins!

I loved all the little tid-bits that the author has incorporated from state to state.  Amy keeps a travel journey as they make the road trip, jotting down state motto's, interesting facts, and even saving copies of gas station receipts & hotel stays.  Somewhere along the journey it stops being about 2 strangers making the trek together, and more about Amy rediscovering herself and over coming fears she never even knew she had.  Roger also comes to terms with an ex-girlfriend he hasn't been able to let go of.  It's an interesting story to follow and I like how the author doesn't throw Amy & Roger in to some whirl wind romance from the beginning.  It shows their relationship grow, as the miles on the road continue.  I think it shows real substance and gives us something more tangible to relate to as the reader.

The music play lists that are shown through out their journey is phenomenal.  I almost felt like Amy & Roger were listening to my iPod!  Music is essential when taking a road trip, along with plenty of snacks!  This story shows us that it's not about the final destination, but more about how we got there.  Sometimes we have to face our fears and let go a little in order to really live our lives.  I applaud Morgan Matson for writing teen-lit based on such a heavy subject matter, such as losing a parent, yet still keeping it in tune with today's youth.  This is a book we can all relate to!

3 comments:

  1. I'm dying to read this book! It looks fantastic and I've heard amazing things. Great review!

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  2. Thank you! It's a very good read, pick it up asap if you can!!

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  3. Loved this book! great recommendation!

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