Roger and Amy’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Roger and Amy’s Epic Detour

By Morgan Matson

Published by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2010

343 pages (paperback)

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. (from barnesandnoble.com)

This book is just fun. Yeah, there is some not-so-fun stuff, like when Amy is thinking about her Dad who died, but this book is also about having an adventure. Between the random facts about the states Roger & Amy drive through, pictures and other mementos from the road trip, and the ‘will they or won’t they become more than friends’ vibe, this book was an enjoyable and quick read.

Amy & Roger initially set out on a trip to get Amy and her vehicle to her new home in Connecticut. However, instead of following Amy’s Mom’s course, the two take one detour after another that makes the whole experience a life changing journey. The author also did a good job of letting the characters grow-up in a believable way during their road trip and really got into the minds of two teenagers on their own with a credit card and an entire country before them.

I kind of want to go on a long, random road trip now!