O’Shaughnessy, Kate. Wrong Way Home, The. Knopf, 04/24. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $24.50. 978-0-593-65073-8. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.
Fern is happy living on an isolated, environmentally sustainable ranch run by Dr. Ben, a cult leader who demands strict adherence to his worldview: “As long as you live up to his ideals, life is beautiful. It all makes sense.” When Fern’s frightened mom tricks her into escaping, the angry twelve-year-old is determined to return to the ranch, even as evidence mounts that all was not as idyllic as she supposed. While the topic is weighty, the tone is appropriate for middle grade students, who will relate to the likable protagonist as she navigates her new life in a small California coastal community—making friends, struggling to catch up at school, and trying to stay true to her beliefs. With a strong first person voice, this well-paced, nuanced story builds to a suspenseful and satisfying conclusion. Both Fern and her mother present as white. Includes California-specific content.
Jenny Andrus—Independent