Next Stop

I got Next Stop by Debbie Fong from the library for my daughter, but it caught my eye and my interest, so I decided to read it too. The book description says, "Pia is a soft-spoken middle schooler whose life is turned upside down after the loss of her younger brother, followed by her parents’ decision to move to a new town. In an effort to get her mind off of the troubles at home, Pia goes on a bus tour with a family friend, stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. The final destination: a mysterious underground lake. The locals say it has magical powers; Pia won’t admit she believes in it, but she’s holding on to hope that the waters may hold the answer to mending her broken family."

This was a quick and engaging read. The flashback style of the book (telling the current story but frequently flashing back to past events) kept me engaged and interested in seeing Pia's full backstory. The book definitely had some sad and heavy things in it, but the author kept the book light enough that it's a good read for 8-12. The story was fun and unique with some entertaining characters. Good read.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)