Riding Out the Storm

Gr 6–9—Eighth-grader Zach and his grandpa are traveling by bus through a snowstorm from Maine to New Jersey to visit Zach's older brother Derek, who has been institutionalized as a ward of the state since the family's health insurance ran out. En route, Zach observes a cast of quirky bus riders and meets and bonds with a girl with purple hair and "earrings everywhere." While Zach's interaction with her is fairly realistic, the characters and relationships are just stereotypical enough to not be fully credible. Much of the novel consists of Zach's introspection and reflection on his brother's illness, which is eventually revealed to be bipolar disorder. The heavy use of colloquial language, cursing, and slang ("Whadaya think?," "dipwad") might distract some readers. Likewise, the author's commentary about the health-care system feels didactic at times. While the novel ends on an upbeat note, with Zach feeling happy for the first time in months, readers may feel slightly dissatisfied with this uneven journey.—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library