McCullough, author of Blood Water Paint (2018), shows she is unafraid to forge new paths in her middle-grade debut. Nine-year-old Sutton is a fan of coding, where rules and logic govern an action's outcome, unlike in life. Case in point: her father is getting serious about his girlfriend, Liz, and pushing joint family outings with Liz and her allergic-to-everything son, Luis. This is how Sutton, a proud indoor kid, has ended up on a group hike. When Sutton and Luis get separated from their parents, they work together to make their way to the meeting point, learning that they have a lot in common in the process. McCullough's contemporary novel offers a realistic snapshot of modern families and the challenges that arise when trying to blend them. The motif of programming a robot through a maze (Sutton's project) is a touchstone throughout, as Sutton learns to adapt, collaborate, and allow for alternate routes in all aspects of her life. The likable cast and relatable premise will resonate with readers grappling with the uncertainty of change.

Sutton prefers programming robots to being with people, but she's still disappointed when she learns that her mother, off researching penguins in Antarctica, won't return in time for her tenth birthday. Luis writes fantasy-adventure stories, but severe allergies limit his own potential for adventure. Sutton's dad (divorced) and Luis's mom (widowed) are dating, but as far as their children go, opposites do not attract, with the gap between science and science fiction bigger than anyone had expected. When Sutton and Luis get lost together during a family hike, however, they discover how to bring out the best in each other and make solid moves toward independence and maturity. The characters' evolution over the course of the novel is authentic, with the traits that set them apart serving as challenges to be addressed, not problems to be fixed. The book is full of allusions that are clever without being overdone (Sutton's parents in the roles of emperor penguins, Luis's hero's journey as he walks to the store by himself). A strong cast of secondary characters adds depth to the story, and the book's Seattle setting is richly detailed. The younger-tween experiences of defining identity and establishing independence are authentic and treated with respect in this emotionally satisfying story.

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)

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.)

Gr 3-6 McCullough's (Blood Water Paint) fantastic middle grade debut centers on two kids who could not be more differentor 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