A Field Guide to Getting Lost

by Joy McCullough

Overview

A girl with a passion for science and a boy who dreams of writing fantasy novels must figure out how to get along now that their parents are dating in this lively, endearing novel.

Sutton is having robot problems. Her mini-bot is supposed to be able to get through a maze in under a minute, but she must have gotten something wrong in the coding. Which is frustrating for a science-minded girl like Sutton—almost as frustrating as the fact that her mother probably won’t be home in time for Sutton’s tenth birthday.

Luis spends his days writing thrilling stories about brave kids, but there’s only so much inspiration you can find when you’re stuck inside all day. He’s allergic to bees, afraid of dogs, and has an overprotective mom to boot. So Luis can only dream of daring adventures in the wild.

Sutton and Luis couldn’t be more different from each other. Except now that their parents are dating, these two have to find some common ground. Will they be able to navigate their way down a path they never planned on exploring?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534438491
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/14/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	952,527
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 18 Years

About the Author

Joy McCullough is not outdoorsy and she has a terrible sense of direction. She did climb a Guatemalan volcano one time, and she has hiked through Discovery Park. But she much prefers to stay inside, writing books and plays from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two children. Her debut novel Blood Water Paint was longlisted for the National Book Award and was a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist. Visit her at JoyMcCullough.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/10/2020

Ambitious nine-year-old coder Sutton, who is white, prefers life to be predictable. She worries about being left alone when her mother, who is researching emperor penguins, must miss Sutton’s birthday and her father gets serious about the woman he’s dating, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s son, 10-year-old biracial (half Latinx, half white) Luis, practices “Mad-Eye Moody levels of constant vigilance” due to food allergies and longs for an adventure outside the fantasy story he’s writing. Luis is glad that his mom is dating—his dad died when Luis was young—but when the kids first meet, they seem to have little in common. Separated from their parents on a hike, the Seattle-area twosome must chart a new course, en route learning things about themselves and each other. In alternating first-person narratives, McCullough (Blood Water Paint) realistically portrays Sutton’s need for order alongside the frustration that both feel when things go awry. Sweet communal details, such as food prepared by Sutton’s ethnically diverse neighbors and the gluten-free French toast that Elizabeth makes, bring this warm tale to life. Ages 8–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Offers a realistic snapshot of modern families and the challenges that arise when trying to blend them. . . . The likable cast and relatable premise will resonate with readers grappling with the uncertainty of change.

Booklist

Offers a realistic snapshot of modern families and the challenges that arise when trying to blend them. . . . The likable cast and relatable premise will resonate with readers grappling with the uncertainty of change.

Booklist

03/01/2020

Gr 3–6—McCullough's (Blood Water Paint) fantastic middle grade debut centers on two kids who could not be more different—or so they think. Sutton's mom is off studying penguins, and she's gotten used to her quiet homeschooled life with her dad. Luis longs for adventure, but his allergies often leave him stuck inside with his mom. Once their parents start dating, however, both of them have to adjust. When a hiking mishap leaves the kids by themselves, they must work together to push each other out of their comfort zones and get home safely. This title reads like the younger sibling of Susin Nielsen's We Are All Made of Molecules. What further sets this title apart from others is that we see the kids meeting for the first time, and going on outings together. This is unlike similar titles that begin with kids being forced to become stepsiblings. The secondary plots (of Sutton being a computer programmer and Luis being allergic to just about everything) help to keep things interesting but do not take away from the main plot. VERDICT McCullough is off to a strong start for middle grade readers. This title is enjoyable and covers topics many children will relate to. Recommended first purchase for all libraries serving children.—Elizabeth Portillo, Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY

School Library Journal

2019-12-18
McCullough, who was a Morris YA Debut Award finalist for Blood Water Paint (2018), draws inspiration from her hometown of Seattle in her middle-grade debut.

On the surface, Sutton and Luis could not be more different. Sutton is a logic-ruled robot coder with a passion for hard science while Luis is a fantasy writer who uses his pen to go on adventures that his allergies prevent him from undertaking in real life. Both are from single-parent homes, and when their parents' nascent romance grows serious, they are thrust together. Their first encounter is a bit of a bust as Sutton and Luis struggle to build rapport, but determined to give one another a second chance, the families decide on a hike. When the children are accidentally separated from the adults, they must learn to work together despite their differences in order to make it to their rendezvous point safely, in the process learning to confront problems and think with empathy and creativity. With chapters switching narrative focus between the two protagonists, their inner turmoil is handled with sensitivity, creating a character-driven tale that doesn't skimp on plot. While Luis' issues with severe allergies are explicit, Sutton's struggles with emotional expression and sensory overload are never given a name, though they are likely to resonate with readers on the autism spectrum. Luis is mixed-race Latinx and white, Sutton is white, and the supporting cast includes Asian and LGBTQ friends and neighbors. The notable representation of female characters in diverse STEM fields is heartening.

Minor perils and likable characters make for a cozy and enjoyable read. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

Read More