Adventure Awaits

Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell's Adventure Awaits is a family story for 8 year olds about two sisters who feel VERY differently about science camp.

What happens

It's the fourth book about the five Baxter children, who've moved from Michigan to Bloomington, Indiana. On Monday morning Ashley falls asleep at her desk. In fairness, she was up late watching a meteor shower. (She tells the class it was a power nap.)

Then Mr Garrett hands out the packets. Science camp! A bus ride to the woods, nights in cabins and experiments all day.

Ashley is thrilled. She's hoping for gloopy experiments, a real volcano and possibly making friends with a wild bear. Her big sister Kari is horrified. Muddy shoes, buzzing bugs and actual bears? No thank you. Then Kari's teacher hands out exactly the same packet.

Meanwhile the family down the street are back from a Caribbean cruise, full of stories about water slides and all-you-can-eat pizza. Suddenly everyone else in the house would very much like a cruise too.

Ashley is the star of it. She mixes words up all the time (Elliot's Birthday Bonanza becomes a Birthday Banana). She tips cinnamon and vanilla into the spaghetti because Mum once said they make everything taste better. The cinna-noodles turn out to taste like pancakes with tomato sauce, and somehow nobody minds.

Kari's chapters are quieter. She's dreading the new basketball unit at school, and she pours her worries into her journal. It's nice having both, the sister who charges in and the sister who hangs back.

Faith is part of everyday life in this family. Dad prays before dinner, and Ashley reminds a nervous friend that God is with her. It's all very American too, with fifth graders, Band-Aids and peanut butter sandwiches, which some readers will find half the fun.

Have you got an Ashley at home? Or a Kari? Either way, they'll spot themselves in here.

What to read next

If you'd like to meet the family before the big move, back in Michigan, try Best Family Ever.