As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins
Reviewed by ChrisRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
SEXUAL CONTENT
ADULT THEMES
Author: Lynne Rae Perkins
Synopsis
Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle of a Montana plain with nothing but a cell phone, a dying battery, and some waving grass? As Ry, our 14-year-old protagonist, can tell you, it might lead to all sorts of crazy adventures. Ry is a no-angst teen from a functional family. He starts out heading to an archeo-dig summer camp, and instead, ends up winding across nearly the entire United States by foot, train, car, plane, and boat trying to find out what on earth has happened to his grandfather and his parents, none of whom answer the phone or return his messages. He is befriended by a imperturbable and amazingly handy man named Del, who is perfectly willing to jump in the car and give Ry a ride home (to Wisconsin), right after dinner. There is a gently undulating plot, a cast of off-beat characters, a wry humor at the edge of every scene, and simple but essential truths learned throughout the journey that will make you smile.
Considering the straight-line plot and plain-vanilla main character, this was an amazingly interesting book. Throughout his travels, Ry’s worries aren’t from people with ill-intent but people with good intent who take risks he is not used to. It’s a different kind of story, and warmly recommended.