Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour
Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Release Date: May 4th, 2010
Pages: 352
Rating: 5 stars
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.
This was a simply amazing novel. I loved every page of it. Road trip books are always fun, and road trip books even more fun! Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour bypassed all expections I had set for it by leaps and bounds. It was an amazing story of self-growth and moving on in life.
The characters were wonderful. Amy was a complex character, who had been through so much. While I have never experienced anything close to the tragedy Amy had suffered, Matson made it very easy to relate with Amy. Roger was another character that Matson made very easy to relate to. I fell for him the moment he walked onto the page. I was I loved how the characters growth was in time with the road trip. Each step Amy and Roger made across the country, the more they grew as characters.
The story was wonderful. The dialogue between Amy and Roger was always a joy to read. There was always a great balance in the dialogue between the two. I loved the extra things – like receipts, postcards, and post-it notes – that were added into the chapters. I thought they really added to the book, and gave us a bit more insight as to who Amy and Roger really were. My favorite extra in the book was the playlists. I loved seeing the music they were listening to in each state.
This is a book I would suggest you pick up without a second thought. It’s a sweet story of two teens and their story as they cross the U.S. of A. I was swept up in the story with page one, and wasn’t let go until the last page. It’s a stunning debut.
About the Author
Morgan Matson received her MFA in Writing for Children from the New School. A road-trip veteran, she has driven cross-country three times…so far. She currently lives in Venice, California. Follow Morgan on Twitter at @morgan_m.
Read the first chapter!
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Source: Big Honcho Media
I seriously loved this book! I cannot wait to see what Morgan writes next!
This looks really interesting. I especially like the use of report cards, notes on napkins, etc. Something different.
This book looks great! I really adore the cover. Thanks for sharing your review :)
this is getting so many rave reviews, I'm definitely gonna have to pick up a copy.
thanks for posting the first chapter!
I want to read this book so bad! It seems like a book I could really get into. I loved your review for it. :)
I absolutely love the sound of this book! I LOVE road trips! Thanks for a wonderful review.
This looks like a great book! I also love road trip books! Have you read "Wherever Nina Lies"? That's a great road trip type book! Thanks for the review!
OOOH! I've been hearing so much about this book! So far, not a single person has disliked this book! I love books about road trips so this is something I know I'll love! Great review!
This book is *SOOOOO* great!! SERIOUSLY. I cannot tell you how great it is. You will have to find out for yourself… I never re-read books really but I want to re-read it and I just read it like last week. SOO good. Morgan has instantly become one of my favorite top 5 authors. I can't wait to see what she releases next :D
I can't wait to get a copy of this. It sounds simply amazing! I love taking road-trips, so add a little romance, and that's my kind of novel! :)
This sounds like an awesome book. I have put on my wish list and added Morgan Matson as new author.
Thanks for this great review.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
A road trip is bound to promise adventure, and romance is even better! If you like it, then I might too!
Thanks for posting :D
I have heard amazing things about this book. I don't think I've seen a single bad review. I love this cover and the whole thing with the extra stuff like notes and postcards and other things. I am really excited to read this. Great Review!
Also, I love this cover!
Wow, this sounds really good. I want it…really BADLY.
5 stars! Sounds interesting. I actually recently read an ARC of A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner, which is also a road trip story. I really enjoyed it and hope to enjoy this one too!
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