Courage

by James Preller

Eleven-year-old William Meriwether Miller's summer plans are abruptly pushed aside when his typically not-there father announces that they are going on a road trip to retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark. It's scheduled for fall 2016; Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for North American rights.

Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Survival, Young Adult

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

James Preller (born 1961) is the children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in 1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced (through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986. Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with his wife Lisa and their three children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesp...

Reviews

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I don't know if I've ever heard so much silence in my life. It almost feels wrong to speak. As if... we are trespassers or something... visiting a world where we really don't belong...."

✏️ Review ✏️

The opening chapters of The Courage Test captured my attention with a welcome dose of humor and a promising plot. The plot, however, did seem to fall into a lull after that because it branches out into seemingly unimportant directions; so I kinda lost interest in the story until near the ending.

While I wouldn't consider them amazing, the characters and writing style are pretty good. I especially found the facts and history of the Lewis and Clark expedition to be smoothly presented. And as the story's focus, the father-son dynamic really pushes the narrative along. Some aspects of the relationship between the MMC and his dad weren't resolved, which I felt to be a disappointment. Overall, though, The Courage Test makes for an pretty enjoyable road-trip themed middle grade adventure.

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The occasional sprinkling of humor throughout the story.
• The facts and history of the Lewis and Clark expedition that are incorporated in the narrative.
• The road-trip themed adventure (as someone who read this book on a 10+ hour road trip, I can say that The Courage Test really does help to enhance road trip vibes 🚙 and overall being-stuck-in-the-car moods 😉).

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Many portions of the middle part of the plot — seemed disconnected from the main narrative.
• The lack of resolvement between the MMC and his father in some aspects.

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❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓

— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*

— To whom? To those who enjoy road-trip themed middle grade adventures that explore father-son dynamics and the effects of terminal illness on the family unit.

*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)

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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 2.5/5 [rounded down to 2 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 2.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👥 Characters: 2/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 1/5

• One use of "h*ll."

— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5

— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5

• A situation that implies inappropriate sexual relations (see Random Comments for explanation).

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📣 Random Comments 📣

• Content notes: (1) There is one rather detailed discussion about Native American spiritual beliefs (a few other mentions of this in other parts of the story as well); (2) a teenage female side character is pregnant; inappropriate sexual relations are implied with this situation but not specifically stated; (3) the MMC's parents are divorced and the father now has a "girlfriend" (broken homes is a thematic element across the entire story); (4) dealing with cancer/terminal illness is a trigger warning to be aware of; (5) a crude gesture is mentioned.

• The MMC's dad comes across as quite hypocritical many times. Here he is trying to care for and nurture his son because of a family crisis, yet he left his family for another woman and still wants to leave his family for this other woman by the end of the story???? 🫤 Definitely couldn't feel very much sympathy for the dad at all. This thematic element would be something to keep in mind when considering this book for younger readers.

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

• "America isn't a place you find... it's a place we continually make anew — every single day — by how we treat each other." (p. 105)

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just OK for me. I picked it up because I enjoy reading books about road trips. That part of the book, I enjoyed. I liked reading the historical facts about the Lewis & Clark Expedition, many of which I was not familiar with. But aside from the that, the story fell flat. Unfortunately, I felt there were too many "adventures," like getting tossed from the raft while white water rafting, meeting a bear after dropping the can of bear spray, and picking up a pregnant illegal immigrant and her extremely large dog and locating her cousin. I felt the scenarios were forced and I found I wasn't interested in them.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although books about journeys that test characters and prepare them for other tests in life abound, this one is a nice addition to those sorts of books. Will Miller--full name William Meriwether Miller because of his father's obsession with Lewis and Clark--leaves Minneapolis with his father to follow in the footsteps of that great expedition that led to the expansion and settling of the United States and the West. Will is still stinging from what he considers to be his father's desertion after his parents' divorce. His anger is palpable, and he doesn't trust his father. Nor does he want to be on this trip. When he impulsively and foolishly tosses his phone out of the car in the wilderness, he has no choice but to listen to his father and pay attention to the scenery. Along the way, he sees lovely terrain, faces a bear or two, and meets two individuals who force him to think about his own actions. As he starts seeing his father in a different light, he learns that his suspicions about the trip's purpose are right. There is more to the trip than meets the eye, but once he learns what's actually happening, he is thrown for a loop. At its heart this story is about love, forgiveness and second chances. While Will may find his father completely annoying and his stories about the Lewis and Clark Expedition uninteresting, others do not. Putting oneself in a different setting or using a fresh perspective almost always leads to enhanced self-awareness and great personal growth. Only after wounds have healed and understanding has been reached can someone look forward and embrace life. I don't know how likely it would have been that Will and his father would have befriended a hitchhiking girl with a large dog named Paco, but I'm glad they did. Many middle graders will be able to relate to Will and his feelings, and reading this book might persuade them to give those who have let them down a chance to make up for their failings. Fans of travelogues might enjoy this one since the author offers some lovely descriptions of the areas through which the Millers pass. Although I knew it was coming, I could have done without the white water rafting almost-drowning incident, though.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Meriwether Miller's plans for a baseball summer with the All-Stars are nixed by his mother who makes him accompany his dad/ her ex-husband on a trip following the Lewis and Clark Trail. Will's dad is a history professor and Will believes this trip is a father/son bonding and educational trip to experience what the explorers learned.

Will does learn what it's like to ride the rapids, camp out, and encounter a bear. He also meets a modern Nez Perce Native American who works in Manhattan and a pregnant Latina teen named Maria traveling with her large dog as she searches for her cousin.

On the "vacation", Will learns more about the journey he and his parents will undergo that will require much courage.

I enjoyed the references to Lewis and Clark and could see the parallel of Maria and Sacajawea. I wish the author had used updated information to inform Will about the encounters Lewis and Clark had with various Native nations, especially since Will's father was a history professor, specializing in Lewis and Clark. Instead, the reader receives the same tropes of a vision quest and magical realism that are often associated with stories that portray Native Americans.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book because of its cover: it was clearly trying to be Newbery material.

And the first 45% or so didn't disappoint. A little light, a little thin on the page (large fonts, wide margins and line spacing), but a fantastic set up for this coming-of-age adventure.

And then we meet the "illegal girl" and the book never seems to recover. I'll think about it some more, but I don't think it adds much to the story. (In real life, that 15-year old's pregnancy would be considered statutory rape and the situation would have necessarily taken a very different turn.)

The dad is real as is his friend. The son is a good representation of boys that age and, while the situation with the mom progresses quickly, things seem real there, too.

I think the book's narrative would have been better served with them staying out on the trail more, exploring their relationship, looking back and working on the future.

[Chance Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

In The Courage Test a road trip/wilderness adventure brings a dad and son closer together. I'm assuming. I didn't finish it. This is a fine book. The writing is engaging. It weaves in the history of Lewis & Clark's expedition and emphasizes that they were the first white people to explore the land -- although I'm unsure it digs any deeper than that. The main character being named William Meriwether Clark is a little too twee for me, and the story's lack of depth and nuance failed to hold my interest, but I would recommend this book to a young reader interested in exploration or father-son relationships.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story depicts the experiences of a father and son on an adventure to follow along part of the trail of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The two are estranged and the son is an unwilling participant in the journey, but they both learn more about each other along the way.

Overall, I found it to be an engaging and fast read and I really enjoyed it. We discussed this book at the children's book club that I facilitate at our local library, but my group did not enjoy it quite as much as I did.

interesting quotes:

"My father leans back, stares at the ceiling for long minutes. He's a college professor, so he's used to thinking that everything he says is a huge, big deal." (p. 21)

"I don't feel like absorbing a life lesson right now. So I imagine that I have a shield made of vibranium like Captain America's - anything of educational value that my father says bounces right off." (p. 28)

"Without the words, it would almost have been useless." (p. 29)

"'Tell me, Will, do you know the difference between a violin and a fiddle?'
I have no idea.
Ollie smiles. 'If you can imagine somebody spilling beer on it, then it's a fiddle.'" (p. 69)

"That's another lesson from old Meriwether. He's come a long way. He's not turning back now, no way, no how. Courage keeps walking." (p. 125)

"I know what my father is doing. He wants me to 'experience the hardship' of the original expedition. He thinks I have it too easy. That I'm not tough enough. Well, great, I get it; the original expedition wasn't easy. Now let's get back in the car and eat cookies." (pp. 137-138)

"When it comes to finding a way to get my dad to light up, books are the best conductors." (p. 195)

"We don't mess around when it comes to winter here in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We're all in. Winter is the houseguest that settles in like a big dog in front of a crackling fire." (p. 203)

"" (p. )

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting coming-of-age/how to get along with your estranged father type of story. It features a lot of history about the Lewis and Clark Expedition which I enjoyed. Overall, the story was good though it felt as if the dialogue between son and father was contrived.

Grades 6 and up.

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition sprinkled throughout the story.

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me at hello: a boy named after Lewis and Clark sets off on a wilderness adventure with his father to explore the route his namesake took so long ago to explore uncharted America. As he ditches his phone (literally!) for more natural distractions, he learns about the world around him, explores a different kind of relationship with his father and even forms a new kind of friendship and understanding. The lessons he learns in the wilderness impact his life in ways he didn’t know he needed. I loved this book.

[Liz Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story: Will's dad whisks him away to follow Lewis and Clark's 200-year-old trail--what's up with that? Along the way, Will figures out that his did isn't as bad as he thought...right at the same time that they help an illegal immigrant, shoot the rapids, adopt a dog, and turn blue in the Pacific Ocean. Just like Lewis and Clark! Right!?!?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (parental illness, parent-child friction, divorce) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Two thumbs up for this one by James Preller (of Jigsaw Jones fame--who would have guessed?). Will is a funny, honest narrator, and although he grows as a character while his understanding of life's complications increases, it's never heavy-handed or preachy. Good stuff.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a twisted trail through the life of William, with his relationship with his dad. At the beginning he doesn't really like his dad but throughout the story he learns more about him when they go on a trip through the whole trail of Lewis and Clark (William was named after Lewis). It is a nice historical story of Lewis and Clark but also the growth of a character.

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

Earlier this summer I drove with my family across the US to Oregon on a month long road trip. I wanted to find a read aloud about a character who was taking a similar road trip to share with my family in the car.

My research lead me to The Courage Test, the story of a boy taking a trip with his dad to the Oregon Coast. Will, the main character, does not want to go on this trip at first. He has to leave his mom for the summer and not be apart of his baseball team, all to take a road trip with his father who left the family a year earlier. It's not an easy journey, there are a lot of fights and tears along the way, but Will comes to learn some important truths about his family and at the same time learns a heck of a lot about the Lewis and Clark expedition during the early 1800's.

While I felt this book could have used a bit more editing, I was pleasantly surprised at how much my family enjoyed following Will and his Dad's retracing the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition. As we read about their journey, we were driving on the same roads and seeing many of the same things as they did.

In fact, at one point in the book, Will and his dad make it to Seaside, Oregon and stand in front of the Lewis and Clark statue right at the beach. We were able to stand under the same statue and jump into (well, my husband and kids anyway!) the freezing coastal waters in the same beach where Lewis, Clark and his Corp of Discovery members did, too.

This is a fun and educational book, especially if you are able to visit some of the same sights as the characters in the story. I'd recommend this as a good story for middle grade readers wanting to learn more about Lewis and Clark.

[Holli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be forewarned that this isn't a book about the Lewis and Clark trail. It is used as a metaphor. The author, himself, admits that he knew very little about the trail before starting the book but wanted it to take place there. So I was disappointed about that.
I also have to say that it is peppered with comments about what happened after the wild west was conquered. These comments were sometimes made by a blood member of a particular tribe involved in the trail's history.
This often disrupted the voyage of discovery and sort of ruined it for me. I think we should have been taken step by step as each event unfolded.
When these facts are discussed it is often heavy-handed against "white man". This often obscures such pesky things as the big picture. Or the fact that tribes were nations. Just as people do they had slaves, created war, were affected by emotions such as pride, fear, love, etc.
Sometimes I think the writer had good intentions but I think they may have backfired. A good deal was made about (Sacaqweia?? I have no idea of the spelling.) being a slave. When the travellers come upon a statute in honor of the explorers much ado is made about the fact that her slavery status wasn't indicated on the monument. Time has erased every motive for every action. I believe the book stated brave woman was chisled instead. Perhaps not mentioning this was an attempt to pay her honor? Who knows. Why wasn't much ado made about the fact that she was kidnapped by another tribe and sold into slavery to a man who was half-french and half-tribal?? (I think that is how the book stated it. It's been a minute since I read it.).
Along the way we meet an illegal alien teenager who is with child lost and on her own. Its funny to me how stories always elude to kindnesses received by natives and then the subsequent massacres and removal of natives. No one sees any irony in this??
I did appreciate how it was mentioned that the U.S. govt bought the land before the expedition that it was a matter of perspective as to who had the rights to it. I think real history is far more complicated than is acknowledged today. It's too bad because we are missing out on the beating heart of a true story.
I would have loved to discover how the explorers navigated their way esp since everyone has a gps these days.
Ah well, take the story as it is and remember that the marker for right and wrong is constantly fluctuating with time and depends on who is telling it.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will is upset with his dad for making him miss his All-Star baseball practices to take him on a trip to explore the footsteps of Lewis and Clark's journey. He is also upset because of his parents' divorce last year. His attitude and voice are realistic for a middle school student going through these things.

The story has a little bit of history, wilderness survival, and discovery about one's self and family. I think some kids will be disappointed there isn't more survival and wilderness and might lose interest where the text gets history-heavy or uses too many different formats. All-in-all though, it is an enjoyable story for 4th-6th grade students.

It made me want to explore the path of Lewis and Clark and go on a road trip complete with camping and a river trip. (Well, at least until I stop and think about the non-stop hours in the car and all the things one must prepare for when going on a journey like that in the wilderness.)

[Judi Paradis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will is not happy that he is missing an important baseball tournament to travel the Lewis and Clark trail with his Dad. His Dad, who divorced his mom, and has lots of weird habits, and cannot throw a baseball to save his life. Like lots of kids, Will alternates frustration with his Dad with moments when he really gets him. As they travel across the West and encounter a Native American banker, a homeless Mexican teenager, and a bear, we learn more about why Will's Dad initiated this journey, and see that he's going to be okay despite some really bad news. There's lots here that kids will find compelling--great choice for kids in grades 4 and up.

[Reagan Fenicle]

The book I read was the Courage Test by James Preller and its about how Will has to go on a trip with his dad but doesn't want to. Will's parents got divorced and now he lives with him mom, and they are like best friends. Then when will is forced to go on this trip with his dad he is not very happy.

I like how the book was kind of educational while it was still fun and entertaining. I wish that the book would talk a little bit more about his mom, but overall it was a pretty good book.

I would recommend this book to people who like to learn while reading and to people who like adventures.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. My son read this for school and recommended because he knows I like to hike and explore. All in all it's a fun travel adventure of a father and son following the Lewis and Clark expedition across the United States through the lens of a testy teen.

Well written. Poignant considering my kid's ages (10 and 11). All in all just an inspiring, creative, adventurous read. Not much bad to say. It's not going to make my top 10 of 2018, but it's enjoyable - especially if you have a tween and you like to hike and explore.

That's about it.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th book of the #30booksummer challenge. “I remember how it began. That day she pushed me out the door into my father’s arms, as if she needed us to be together. He’s the only father you’ve got, she said. So out we went, headed west. To close our wounds, to open our hearts, to prepare for the courage test ahead.” A good read about a young boy who’s parents have just divorced. I think a lot of kids, boys and girls, will be able to relate to Will and his confusing feelings of a lot of anger mixed in with confusion with a move towards acceptance of what the new normal is. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will and his dad are heading out on a summer road trip, much to Will's dismay - he'd rather be home with his mom and playing baseball with his friends. Will's dad is a Lewis & Clark historian and they are headed to retrace the historic trip. Their current day trip starts to mirror the one of the explorers, with some modern twists.

If I could, I'd give this 2.5 stars, it was not like I thought it would be. The internal journey that mirrors Will's road trip added to the story, and I liked learning more about the Lewis & Clark expedition. I guess there was just something missing for me.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary

William Meriwether Miller—named after Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame—is not happy about embarking on a wilderness adventure with the father who walked out on him and his mother. It's not what he had in mind for his summer (he's missing the chance to play on the All-Stars baseball team), but his mother insists. So he and his father,( a history professor working on a book about the famous explorers), set off from Minnesota to North Dakota, driving, camping, rafting, and hiking along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Along the journey, Will meets other fascinating travelers and experiences new thrills, including climbing mountain cliffs, canoeing down whitewater rapids, and a heart-hammering encounter with a bear. As he and his father work together to overcome obstacles and help a pregnant 15-year-old runaway, Will slowly gains a better understanding of his father. When he finally learns the reason behind the trip—his mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is starting treatment—he comes to appreciate his family as they are and not as he wishes they could be. The story is interspersed with Will's entries for a school writing assignment, which contain lots of facts about the original journey, as well as postcards to his mother.

My Comments

I picked this book up as a lark, not knowing anything about the author or reading any reviews. I chose it strictly because of the look of the cover and what was written on the book’s jacket. I was quickly sucked into the story and had a hard time putting the book down.

Two of my favorite genres are historical fiction and realistic adventure. This book is a combination of both, so it was a perfect fit for me. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was the ultimate road trip of all times, minus the road. The fact that Will and his dad are recreating that journey wherever and however possible is cool. I want to do that too!

There is also a mysterious element in the book – why must Will go on this trip whether he likes it or not? There are small clues that something else is going on behind the scenes, but it wasn't what I thought! The mystery involves Will’s mom – not Will’s dad, and that caught me totally by surprise.

I loved the letter writing and the journaling that Will is doing along the trip - just like Lewis and Clark. It seems that the author is really intent on molding his story to that of Lewis and Clark’s, even bringing in a “Sacajawea” element - a young Mexican runaway named Maria Rosa. Like Sacajawea was when she started the trip, Maria Rosa is pregnant. I think Preller took a big risk in including her in his story and unfortunately it worked against him. Maria Rosa does not seem to have a purpose or fit in with the flow of things, and I disliked the way that her ending with her cousin Alejandro was so neatly tied up. She is, after all, an illegal immigrant.

Not surprisingly, Maria Rosa also has a huge black dog, reminiscent of Seaman, the Newfoundland dog on the Louis and Clark expedition.

At 206 pages it is a quick short read that would be best for middle school kids, mostly boys. The fact that it deals with a teenage pregnancy means that it will probably be eliminated from a class read aloud, or recommended book list.

[Sarina Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is written by my parents' friend which enticed me to read this. It is about a middle school-aged boy. He goes on a camping trip/road trip with his dad. It starts out rough and along the way they encounter some interesting situations. But in the end, they've bonded and became much closer. I would recommend this book if you enjoy realistic fiction mixed with some history and facts.

[Evelyn Bickley · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA fiction. Read in conjunction with fear/courage speech. Very easy, charming read about a boy, William Merriweather Lewis, who very reluctantly goes with his dad on a trip re-tracing the Lewis & Clark expedition. Parents are divorced; boy would rather be home playing in the all star Base ball team. Unknown to the boy, mom needed time alone to deal with a cancer diagnosis. He matures a lot thru this summer lessons.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy middle grade read of a father-son trip from Minnesota to Seaside, Oregon, loosely following the trail of Lewis and Clark. Will grudgingly goes on this trip, hating it to begin with, but faces trials with his dad and learns a lot along the way. My 10 yr old son is reading this at the same time as me and enjoying it!

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can tell the author is just as fascinated by the Lewis and Clark expedition as I am, but that wasn't enough to make this a good book. Will's dad drags him unwillingly along on a trip that follows the course of the expedition. They have some adventures, but it is pretty predictable and just didn't engage me.

[Howard Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, easier read for both older and younger readers. I enjoyed Preller's story, and how with an adventure for a high schooler can bring them home. We can read, learn, and experience how the modern people have lost touch with the real, living world around us. May give a great idea for a themed Vacation for some. For most this would be a weekend read.

[Piper Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5

This is a good middle-grade novel. I really loved the father-son relationship which is not typically a super popular dynamic in books. The book weaves together details about Lewis & Clark’s expedition with the present-day trip of Will and his father in a way that is informative and engaging. This would be a great starting point for discussion about the expedition and early America.

[Sara-Zoe Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. Not great, not the worst. I found the promises foretold in the beginning of the book fell through - and I just kept waiting for something that never happened. A pretty easy read though. 4th, 5th

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was good but was for a younger age. I thought it was boring at times because I felt like I had read it before but I was just reading a book that was like every other adventure book. I thought it was cute how the boy and dad became friend again but it was in a very fake way.

[Rachel Ramey-Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engaging read aloud for middle grades! There are some parts that may need a little teacher-censorship on the fly (depending on the age/maturity level of your students) but no more than other books at this reading level.