The Middle of Somewhere by J.B. Cheaney

by J.B. Cheaney

VERONICA SPARKS IS hitting the road and she is going to shake the dust of her little town off her shoes and see the world!Well, someday. For now, she’s hitting the road in an RV with her cantankerous grandfather and her hyperactive little brother. Ronnie’s grandfather is a wind prospector, and they are heading across Kansas in search of a good stiff breeze. Okay, so it’s not the trip of her dreams. But with her newly affirmatized attitude, Ronnie figures that traveling somewhere is better than traveling nowhere. That is, until her little brother manages to disappear into thin air.On one weird, windy, wild ride across the prairie, Ronnie discovers that there are some things you just can’t plan for or seize control of—but that sometimes a little chaos is just what a girl needs.

Genres: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Middle Grade

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

J. B. Cheaney’s The Playmaker was named one of Booklist’s Top Ten First Novels for Teens. She and her husband live in the Ozarks of Missouri.

Reviews

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book in my classroom library for a couple of years but it never looked interesting enough for me to pick up and read, that is until one of my students asked me about the cover. I took the book home that night and started to read it and am glad I finally did.

While the story seemed to drag on in some places, what else would you expect from an RV road trip through Kansas with two kids and a 'Pop', there were enough lessons intertwined within their adventure to keep the book in my class library and for me to explain why there was a person flying through the air on the cover.

[Jennifer Ritchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read about two thirds of this book, but had to stop because it was stressing me out. A twelve year old girl trying to manage her seven year old brother with ADHD on an RV trip through Kansas—it was too much like my real life and too stressful!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read aloud, after studying our state at the end of our school year. Now we have many destinations to add to our list to visit! Also enjoyed the relatable family dynamic and even though they were very flawed, they loved each other deeply.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's lit. Ronnie gets to have an adventure, but she has to look after her ADHD brother.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I’d written a review for this one, but apparently I forgot. The beginning was great, but overall it was a huge disappointment. The believability off the plot was just not there.

[Bernadette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book where the parental figures (mom and grandfather) are both irresponsible, leaving a young girl to take care of her special need brother(adhd). The whole book is about how much of a hand full he is and how she never feels truly "seen". It is a whole spoiled brat, woe is me story, but also not her fault, because she is not really being "raised" at all.

[Maria . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maria's Thoughts: So, I just got finished reading this today, tried to find it on Goodreads. Looked up "the middle of somewhere", didn't show this book. Looked up the name of what i thought as the author, just to figure out that was the name of the publisher. Desperate, I typed in the ISBN...... and viola! Bingo! There it is! Whew. I'm glad I found it on Goodreads. I dislike not getting to review a book! It drives me nuts! Anyone agree?

Review: This was a good book. I liked for several different reasons, which I will tell you later in this review. So, this was a good book!
Plot: Veronica (called Ronnie the whole book) Sparks has a difficult life. Her 7-year-old brother Gee has ADHD and her dad is dead. But Ronnie powers through! When her grandad (called Pop whole the book) stops by in Partly, Missouri (A real town? I don't know, even though I LIVE in Missouri! :D) Ronnie, Gee, and their mom scheme to have Gee and Ronnie go on a trip in Pop's new camper with Pop.... and that takes some serious doing, since Pop is very stubborn and Gee has so much energy, well, he could explode! But, they convince Pop to let the go on a trip with him! Where? Kansas. The book is about the adventures of Gee and Ronnie and the things they learn.
Positive content: Nothing I didn't like about this book, which is good. It's funny, it has good lessons, it lets you into the life of someone living with someone who has ADHD, and it has a good plot. I can't really ask for much more.
Negative content: A unneeded icky mention when Pop drinks some weird concoction and tells the kids to stay out of the camper, since the results out of his back end aren't going to be pretty.
Conclusion: A good book!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't help compare this book to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key which I read not too long ago--both books prominently feature a boy with ADHD (although he's a secondary character in this book while Joey is the title character in the other). Anyway, I enjoyed this book MUCH more than Joey Pigza. I think both books take a good honest look at ADHD, but this one does it from the perspective of the older sister. I love the underlying theme of getting along with family, learning to understand them, and learning how to love them despite--or because of--their quirks.

Characterization: top notch (in fact, two of my cousins could totally be Ronnie and her younger brother)

Plot/Pacing: good, but a touch slow in places

Setting: perfect--I've driven through Kansas before and camped in campgrounds and those descriptions were dead on.

Voice: very nice. And I loved Ronnie's little quotations at the top of each chapter--how they morph from inspirational sayings from her favorite "take charge of your life book" to wry observations of her own

I think this book would appeal most to older middle school girls who identify with Ronnie's organizing bent; that being said, I think the book has broader appeal than just that demographic. And it's funny!

[Kristin Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I borrowed this book from my friend, and it was very entertaining. If you don't want spoilers then don't read this. This is the story of a girl who has an ADHD brother (her name is ronnie BTW). Ronnie has always wanted to go on an RV trip. Then her mom gets hurt and then all of a sudden her grandpa shows up just in time. Then her mom asks Pop(grandpa) to take the kids on a trip, in his new RV. It takes him a while, but he finally decides to take them with him. Ronnie was so excited, but she was also worried about how it may turn out with her ADHD brother tagging along too. This book is very good, and I am not going to give away any more of the book. If you want to know, you just have to read it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Texas Bluebonnet book for 2008. I picked it up hoping my daughter would enjoy it. Instead, I started reading it, and couldn't put it down. I loved the family relationships - two of the characters are flawed, but the members of the family grow in love and understanding and patience with one another through the book.

Even though this book is classified as juvenile fiction, I'm not sure it would appeal to most children. I might have enjoyed it as a young teen. I think it would take some maturity to appreciate how difficult it can be to love certain people, and how rewarding it is to persevere.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Texas Bluebonnet for next year. Ronnie takes off on a summer adventure when her grandfather agrees to allow her and her brother, Gee, to accompany him in his work (a wind prospector). Having never been an active part of the family before, Ronnie's grandfather is in for a huge surprise when he realizes that Gee is ADHD and always stirring up mischief. This book was too slow for me to really enjoy, but it was interesting to read about Gee...I learned a lot about what it would be like to have a hyperactive sibling.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronnie and her hyperactive brother are pawned off on their grandfather while their mother recuperates from an injury incurred from chasing a squirrel. Their grandfather, Pop, is off on an adventure in a camper, seeking a way to get rich using the wind. Ronnie’s brother, Gee, is a handful and Ronnie spends most of her time keeping him from killing himself or destroying the world. Just when Pop is ready to turn around and return the two kids to their mother, Gee disappears and the search for Gee helps Pop and Ronnie become friends.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veronica is a smart, spunky and responsible girl who spends the bulk of her time keeping her little brother Gee out of trouble. While on an RV trip through Kansas with her estranged grandfather and Gee, she encounters adventure, mishaps, and friendship. The challenges she faces lead to personal growth that extends beyond the philosophy in her favorite self-help book, yet the book maintains a lighthearted tone throughout. This entertaining novel has great humour and keeps a fast pace with Gee’s endless shenanigans.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was privileged to hear J.B. Cheaney present a workshop using this book before I had gotten very far into it. She was working with children in grades 4 through 12 and she brought newspaper clippings and slides to explain how she collected the ideas that were woven together in this story of a road trip across Kansas. Having heard the author read the section where the children are banished to a tent during a wind storm really brought the book to life for me. This book is a lot of fun and I can't wait to hear my son's reaction when he reads it.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ronnie Sparks, 12, is organized and responsible for her younger brother Gee, most of the time. Gee's ADHD makes her life chaotic. Her chance to 'get away' comes when her grandfather agrees to take Ronnie and Gee in his RV, while prospecting for wind in Kansas. Bluebonnet nominee 08-09.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because in it this boy and this girl have to travel with their very weird grandpa. Why is their grandpa weird? Where do they have to go? What will they do? Read this book and find out!!! :)

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

SSYRA book for 2009-2010 for Elementary....good book for the "other" child that has an ADHD sibling..It's told from the perspective of the organized sister with the younger brother with ADHD and how difficult it can be...good story....a bit farfetched for the ending, but Hey! It's a kids book!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I would enjoy or appreciate this book when the author obviously was clueless about where Big Brutus is in comparison to Pittsburg. But the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. Kansas is a wide open space ready to be discovered. More people should.

[Maira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters..characters..characters. A good story has many that people can identify with, and this one has just that!

[Zonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this realistic fiction travel adventure.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and liked the ending, but found it to be slow in some places. It will be interesting to see how the bluebonnet readers feel about this one.

[Jacqueline Higginbotham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book about a girl that has to deal with having an ADHD brother. A lot of kids will be able to relate to the characters.

[Karen Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

2008-09 Bluebonnet
Would make a great read aloud
Strong boy and girl characters
Boy has ADHD and it is handled realistically.

[Ines · Rating 1 out of 5]

Getting a bit more interesting...

[Twila]

well no idea how this book jumped off the shelf and into my bag to read but i did enjoy it

it is meant for teens but all could read and enjoy

[Flyp 2011 Tweens]

Sunshine State pick 2009-2010

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good young adult book. I liked the story line about families and that we are never to old or too young to learn about life and relationships.

[Marina1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

its the best of all

[Shanthi]

Love Love DH Lawrence

[Hiba Siddiqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good!! It was a short, quick read that left me wanting more. I would give this book four and a half stars.