Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts ✩✩✩✩

This quirky story is about four loosely related children who live in a car on a beautiful tropical island. You will learn as you read about the Fitzgerald-Trout kids that they have learned early in life to take care of themselves as their oddball parents and caregivers are pretty much a bunch of good-for-nothings.

Kim is in sixth grade and is the leader of the bunch, and she is the one that has learned how to drive. She also makes sure that the children attend school. But Kim is worried that her family is outgrowing the car, and she decides that they need to find a house for them to live in. First, the children attempt to live at one of the children's mother's home when she is arrested and put in jail. This does not work out so well, and Kim decides to try out a new plan.

The text is printed in blue in an appealing font (one of the children has a thing for fonts), and there are whimsical illustrations by Sydney Smith that add to the endearing nature of this book. Esta Spalding's middle grade debut is a unique, funny story that celebrates the resilience, cheerfulness and inventiveness of children. If your reader liked Lois Lowry's humorous The Willougbys, they will enjoy the light humor of this book.