The Horn Book Guide

INTERMEDIATE FICTION

Spalding, Esta

Knock About with the Fitzgerald-Trouts

304 pp. | Little | May, 2017 | Trade ISBN 978-0-316-29860-5 $16.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-0-316-29861-2

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Sydney Smith. Things are a little tense between the Fitzgerald-Trout siblings (Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts), once again living in their car. There's no letup to the action that punctuates their revived quest for accommodation, this time focusing on a boat. The animated-cartoon quality of the narrative goes hand in hand with the depiction of a child-run family with nonstop play. It's goofy, sweet, and buoyant with good will.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017