Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.
Ms. Kiplinger's Opinion: As I've mentioned before, I am a huge Jennifer Brown fan (and I get to see her this weekend at the YA Lit Symposium--yay!), so I was all set to love this book...and I did! OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as a disease has always somewhat fascinated me. So many people suffer from this ailment, many in only minor ways, and it was interesting to get a glimpse into what it would be like to live with someone who has it severely. The story is more about the relationship between these two siblings though, and how it evolves throughout the road trip that the two take. Kendra is running from a problem at school while thinking she can also cure her brother, Grayson, by exposing him to the things that set him off. Along the way, they pick up a "hitchhiker" with a small baby and learn that they have both felt overshadowed by one another growing up. This revelation is a defining moment for the brother and sister, as they try to figure out how they are going to get back home with only $46 in their pockets. This story kept me interested the whole time and I was able to read it fairly quickly. Even if you don't have a brother or sister with a mental illness, you can still relate to the sibling rivalry relationship that everyone deals with at some point or another. For those who do have a sibling with a mental illness or physical impairment, it will be nice to read about someone you can sympathize with and relate to.
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