Worse Than Weird: A Hopeful Middle Grade Adventure About a Summer Scavenger Hunt for Children

by Jody J. Little

Readers who love Leslie Connor and Ann M. Martin will adore this story of a citywide scavenger hunt and a girl who learns that family—and weirdness—is relative.

Summer Coding Camp

Incoming 7th graders only

Eight-week session begins June 28

This is it, my summer plan.

Hoping to ditch two months of chicken coops, kale, and her parents’ antiscreen rules, Mac MacLeod sets out to win a citywide food cart scavenger hunt and the money she needs for the summer coding camp of her dreams.

But Mac discovers more than just clues during her cross-city sprint—like how her weird parents might not be the worst thing compared to the circumstances of those around her.

With the same humor and hope of her debut novel, Mostly the Honest Truth, Jody J. Little gives readers another spunky, unforgettable character to root for.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Family, Friendship, Contemporary, Summer

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 10, 2020

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A food cart treasure hunt provides the structure for this new middle grade novel from Jody J. Little. Mac (Hippie Girl) wants to earn money for coding camp and when stumbles upon her first clue, she is hooked! Her two best friends want to support her and help in the search, but their lives have added complications making them unavailable. When Mac realizes "Phantom Boy" Joey is also on the hunt, she decides they need to team up. Spending time with Joey exposes her to the realities of the homeless population in Portland. Mac and Joey's experiences will be new and enlightening for many middle graders with Mac's parents on the hippie/organic/anti-technology side and Joey having a mom who is homeless due to mental illness. The cover is also inviting which will attract readers.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute fun kids book. would put in my future classroom.

[Kristin Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sharing an ARC with Collabookation.
Worse Than Weird is the story of an adolescent who finds her life put into perspective as she searches for food cart clues with friends old and new. Mac is mortified by her parents: self-sustaining, drumming naked bikers. While they eschew all things technological, Mac finds order in her life by using code. Mac yearns to attend a summer camp for coders, but knows the cost and the screen time will both be factors in her parents saying no. When she stumbles upon a food cart competition for a whopping $2,000 grand prize, she's determined to win.
I loved this story for lots of reasons: the food carts (not an upstate NY staple), the sustainable living (I'm definitely more Hank & Coral than Mac), and the tried and true friendships. I love that lots of topics important to society today are addressed: divorce, parental pressure, homelessness, poverty, and mental illness. But most of all, I love the whole premise behind the title. Yes, Mac's parents are different than most, but this story reinforces that even though we all have a little bit of strange in our families, love and support are what matters most. By the end, Mac realizes that her family is strong, loving, and all hers. There are so many things worse than being a little bit 'weird'.

[Laurie]

WORSE THAN WEIRD is such a fun, relatable novel. I remember so clearly how hard it was to feel "weird" and visible in middle school, and Little really nails those feelings with protagonist Mac, who can't possibly stay under the radar because her parents--who love kale, goat yoga, bongo drums, and naked bike rides--attract so much attention and mockery from her classmates. And if that weren't hard enough, her parents' no-screen-time rules also make it impossible for Mac to pursue her passion for coding. That's why she's determined to win a secret food cart scavenger hunt so she can pay for a special coding camp during the summer before seventh grade. WORSE THAN WEIRD is full adventure, humor, and heart. I love the realistic and multilayered friendships, the scavenger hunt riddles, and the way Little portrays her quirky characters in such a compassionate way.

[Mikayla Tewksbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

All Mac wants is to learn to be a super coder, however, her parents' views are anti-screen and rooted in a commune lifestyle. Her dreams are in reach when she sees that a summer coding camp is approaching, but there's an obstacle in her way: a $500 cost. Soon, she discovers a citywide scavenger hunt where there's a winning prize of $2000. This leads to an adventure of friends, family, and understanding that weird isn't always a bad thing.

I thought this book was really sweet. It touches upon some hard topics, such as divorce, homelessness, and mental illness in an organic way that isn't the entire focus of the story. I will say, my one issue with the story was with Mac's parents. I totally understand that often characters need to be a bit exaggerated in middle grade stories to make them silly and fun, but at times I did feel as though Mac's parents were a little bit too over the top.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Mac, this is the summer that she will get to go to computer coding camp, but standing in her way are her parents who make Mac call them by their first names, conduct goat yoga classes, and ride bicycles naked to protest oil mining. They believe that screen time will warp Mac's values, and she knows they will never give her $500 for camp. When she stumbles on a clue to a summer food truck contest, Mac thinks she may have come up with at way to pay for the camp herself. She teams with her best friends, who are both dealing with problems of their own and meets a boy that seems to suddenly appear and disappear at will.

Although this story is not great literature, it is a very enjoyable middle grade story. Several themes such as the importance of self acceptance and the value of helping others are clearly presented as part of the book. The characters in the story are very likable, even though they sometimes make poor choices, but they learn from them. Overall, this is a quick and fun MG story with characters that learn valuable life lessons.

[Mrs. Mazzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac thinks her parents are weird. Their aversion to technology and penchant for naked bike rides embarrass her constantly. So when the opportunity comes up to win a secret food truck scavenger hunt that will give her the prize money she needs to go Summer Coding Camp escaping her family and doing something she loves, she jumps at the opportunity. Along the way, she makes new friends, figures out what is really important, and learns that there are worse things than being a little weird.

Fun, quick middle grade read that touches on tough topics like homelessness and mental illness, while still maintaining levity. And a food truck scavenger hunt just sounds super fun. Will definitely be adding to the collection.

[Shyla Colt]

I was incredibly impressed with the deep issues she manages to address in this book while keeping things fun and packed with adventure. The characters and the settings were so unique. A scavenger hunt with food trucks was genius, and who doesnt' know what it's like to feel like you can't belong or be the odd man out for things beyond your control ie. your parents.

I felt for Mac who was raised by self-professed hippies with drum circles, chickens, and free spirits. Technology minded, and logical, her embarrassment was a living thing. The lessons she learns from others and about herself through this story were timeless. It's a wonderful way to expand younger children's world and teach about tolerance.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Yeah, well, I don't think any life is perfect... Everyone's life is a little bit broken."

Mac learns that life is definitely not perfect. Her parents are hippies, other parents are over-bearing. Some parents get divorced, and others have illnesses, mental illnesses that lead to homelessness in this case. Worse than Weird would make a great classroom read aloud or lit circle. There is opportunity to discuss friendship and family and there's the fun of food carts.

It's a great coming of age read that is fun but also has depth. Heavy in some areas, but it is all things that kids do experience and go through. That is where a book is powerful; entertaining but relatable and inspiring.

Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 12 and up, fans of realistic/contemporary fiction.
# of Pages: 265
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Read Aloud: Yes. It could make a great and valuable read aloud for 5th grade and up.

Some favorite quotes:
"When I write computer code, I can block out the weirdness of their world." pg 15

"They live in their own infinite loop of weirdness." pg 76

"They say goats enhance your yoga experience." pg 101 Haha- not true, they just make it fun! I know from experience.

"Sugar deliciousness goes a long way to lift spirits- the live ones and the dead ones." pg121

"Yeah, well, I don't think any life is perfect... Everyone's life is a little bit broken." pg 182

"It's like I'm seeing him for the first time, paying attention for a change, noticing the broken pieces of him." pg 183

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have extra love for books where the setting is so detailed/important it's almost as if it's another character in the book. And that is definitely the case in Worse Than Weird with the race around Portland.

Mac thinks her parents are weird. But over the course of a food cart scavenger hunt she discovers that there just might be things worse than weird. While coming to that realization Mac also learn a few things about homelessness, friendship, and family along the way.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved WORSE THAN WEIRD! This story is about Mac, a girl who is trying to find her place in the world. She loves coding and has her heart set on going to a coding camp this summer. Unfortunately, it's expensive ($500!) and she is sure her chicken-raising, kale-eating, naked-bike-riding parents won't support her passion because of all the screen time it requires. Mac stumbles across a clue for a food truck (and food cart) scavenger hunt with a $2000 prize -- enough to solve all her problems.

This story is equal parts fun and heart. Mac is so relatable and I love her parents and friends. Highly recommended!

[Penni · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful YA book. It has girls coding, friendship, homelessness, mental problem awareness and nearly naked bike riding. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and I am planning on saving it for when my granddaughter is old enough to read this. It has a group of friends with different kinds of families, from hippy to strict. The struggles of growing up and the strength of the younger generation to handle their own personal struggles.

[Shauna Holyoak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MG book with a girl-coder trying to solve food-truck puzzles to win the tuition for a coding camp? YES, YES, and YES! I loved this story with its quirky characters and heart-warming friendships. MacKenna MacLoed’s path to appreciating her family and friends may be weird, but it’s completely satisfying!

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an ARC with our #bookexpedition group!

A great middle grade story about a girl trying to find balance with her place in the world.

Summer vacation is beginning, and Mac wants nothing more than to spend it away from her parents at a coding camp. Two obstacles stand in her way: the $500 cost, and her anti-screen parents, who Mac feels are worse than weird. For example, who else has a mom who participates in naked bike rides, or a dad whose answer to everything is a drum circle? Not Mac’s friends, that’s for sure.

Luckily Mac learns about a scavenger hunt (with a $2000 prize!) that runs within the food trucks scattered throughout the city. With the help of her friends, Mac realizes that her dream is within reach if they can all work together to solve the clues and earn the money!

But, of course, nothing goes as planned. Her friends have their own problems happening at home, and Mac feels helpless as she can’t fix them. And then there’s new kid, Joey, who’s popping up everywhere Mac goes, and she can’t figure out why.

I loved how the story worked in hard topics (such as divorce, homelessness, & kids not connecting with parental lifestyles) while keeping the focus on Mac’s growth as a character.

Pre-order now! Publishes March 10, 2020 and highly recommend for middle grade classrooms!

[Dottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good book, a fun summer read. But I have to admit that Mac rubbed me the wrong way, she seemed petty and selfish. Yes, her parents are unconventional, but they love her, care about her, and care FOR HER. I find her parents unconventionalism charming. Mac seems extra petty in light of the very serious situations/problems her friends are going through at the exact same time she whines and moans about her good and kind parents. I loved it when Joey yells, “Get over yourself!” I was yelling that the entire book, thanks Joey for vocalizing it. Mac was somewhat redeemed at the end, but man, she grated on my nerves the majority of the book. Even still, it’s great storytelling and a good book.

This is a side note, SPOILER AHEAD...but, if they were the first to turn in clues, why didn’t they get the full $2000? Why was it split between them and the guys that came in second? To me, it seemed like a deliberate ploy in the plot to get Mac to donate her half to Joey since he didn’t get the full $1000 he needed.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to author Jody J. Little for providing #collabookation with an ARC of Worse than Weird.

Who among us, even as "grown ups," doesn't have that feeling of wanting to belong? This story gets at the heart of wanting to do things "like everyone else."

Mac's the only child of Coral and Hank, some truly unconventional parents. She manages to thrive at coding despite the fact that she's not allowed to have her own phone or laptop.

As her 6th grade year ends, she's wrapped up in trying to get herself to a summer coding camp, so wrapped up that she's missing what's happening to her long-time friends and a newly-arrived "phantom boy," Joey. It's not until she starts to think of others as having to deal with their own weird stuff does she recognize that weird is pretty typical for everyone.

Great messages about teamwork, friendship, belonging, and seeing the unseen members of society.

On sale 03/2020.

[Karen Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super funny - almost a parody on "Keep Portland Weird." Through friendship and a quest, the kids in this story learn the importance of being true to themselves, being honest and accepting of others, and to look below the surface because things aren't always as they seem. It's unusual, which I like.
"I'm learning that he does things I've never imagined doing, because I've never needed to, or wanted to, or cared to." (page 213)
Incidentally, the kid has two moms--matter-of-factly, and one of them has mental illness--incidentally revealed. I really appreciated when those kinds of challenges, which are such a real part of life, are treated as if they are not noteworthy, if that makes sense.
There is so much to like about this book that I highly recommend it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worse Than Weird is a compelling middle grade novel. The main character, Mac, wants a life that is different from her parents hippie lifestyle. She is quite consumed with having to deal with the awkwardness of having a weird family. Throughout the novel, she gains some perspective. The storytelling was a little stilted at times. For instance, her two best friends come across as plot devices more than developed characters. But I don't think that most middle grade students would pick up on that. There is a puzzle-solving contest that is integral to the plot, but I think the growth of the main character is the real gem of the book.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Everyone’s life is a little bit broken.” Mac has two millennial -hippy type parents who have strict rules about screen time. But Mac loves coding and computers. She desperately wants to go to coding camp, but the 500$ fee and her parents, are standing in the way of her dreams. If she can win a citywide food cart scavenger hunt she might be able to go to camp. I think my students are going to enjoy the quest of the contest. I liked the interesting friend she meets along the way. Mac learns there is more to a person than meets the eye and in the process learns a something about herself. Weird is an okay way to be. I kinda like weird.

[Cassie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worse Than Weird is all about figuring out your own identity; especially in a position where everyone around you is so...different. I love this new theme of parents not fully understanding or accepting of who their children are as individuals, but growing to love and understand and appreciate who their kids are.
I love the fun scavenger hunt and adventure side that’s brought to the story. Overall, I highly recommend for #middlegrade classrooms as it touches on topics such as divorce, homelessness, teamwork, empathy, and belonging.

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. We all think our family is “weird” and it just takes a little perspective, the chance to look outside ourselves, to realize they are no more or less weird than other families. The characters in this book display a lot of empathy and it’s enjoyable to read about. A favorite quote: “Joey Marino is like an X-ray I haven’t asked for, but that maybe I’ve really needed.”

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

What it’s about: Middle schooler MacKenna MackKensie MacLeod likes life to be like a computer program, which means she dislikes unnecessary repetition, so she just goes by Mac. Her name is just one of the things her parents have done that is weird. They're hippies. They keep chickens in their garage. They do naked bike rides. Mac wants none of it. And yet, at school, she's known as the "weird kid," thanks to her parents' oddness.

When her teacher tells Mac about a summer coding camp, Mac is ecstatic - until she sees that it costs $500.

As Mac scrambles to come up with a plan, she and her friends accidentally stumble on a scavenger hunt contest gong on with the food carts in their home city of Portland, Oregon. If they can decipher 10 clues, they could win $2000!

Mac is overjoyed - here's her chance to stop being "Goat Girl" or "Hippie Chick" at school, and do the thing she loves.

But as Mac and her friends dive into the hunt, life throws them some curves. One of those curves is one of their strange classmates, Joey. He seems to be able to appear and disappear at will. And he seems to be on the trail of the big prize as well.

As Mac deals with parent issues, friend issues, and money issues, she starts to learn that there are worse things to be than weird.

What I thought: This was an enjoyable story with lots of great lessons for readers. One friend is being pushed by her parents to be a competitive swimmer, but she doesn't want to be. Even after she gets hurt, her parents are pushing her to get physical therapy so she can keep competing. Another friend finds her "perfect" family breaking up. And Mac learns that Joey's mother left him when he was six and has been living homeless due to mental health issues.

As all of this goes on, Mac is trying to avoid interacting with her parents as much as possible. The one adult she thought she could rely on shows up with a complete different outlook on life, which leaves Mac reeling. And as each issue unfolds before Mac, she finds herself wondering if she's a bad person.

These are realistic situations that more than a few middle grades readers will relate to. Mac's struggles to distance herself from her family will ring true to many readers. Mac's slowly dawning realization that she is not the center of the universe, and that what she thinks of as a terrible home life is actually a dream for others, is paced in a way that feels believable.

I will say that some of the clues Mac and friends get as they try to win the scavenger hunt are SO HARD - there were a few I was like, "Oh, yeah, that's gotta be this", and there were a few that, even after Mac and friends found a solution, I was like, "Wait, how is that connected to the clue?" But puzzlers and mystery readers might enjoy trying to decipher the clues.

One thing I am of two minds about: At about the half way point of the book, Mac finds herself with only 4 out of 10 clues, and not enough time or money to get the rest without some heroic or unsavory acts. She teams up with Joey, who has managed to get his hands on a bunch of clues.

So, on the one hand, this feels like a shortcut or cheat to me. Joey doesn't get the clues by solving puzzles; he has other methods that aren't immoral but also aren't in the spirit of the game. So Mac gets to skip over a bunch of stuff.

On the other hand, this story is just about the right length; if Mac had to find and solve all 10 clues, this book would be at least 50% longer, which would be too long. So while I appreciate this was done for pacing purposes, it also feels like a little bit of a cheat.

I really appreciated how this book approaches homelessness, and reminds readers repeatedly that homeless people are, in fact, people, and that they deserve to be treated with humanity and dignity. It's not a message that is flogged to death, but it's nicely included several times through the actions of the characters, with Mac serving as a stand-in for readers who might not consider how they interact with the homeless.

I also liked how Mac finds herself examining her own relationships and reactions as the book approaches the climax. I think lots of middle grades readers would benefit from this type of introspection. Perhaps her journey will help inspire readers to consider their own perspectives.

Why I chose those shelves: dark - a main character's mother has mental health issues that lead to her being homeless; diverse - One character is of Asian descent; female - 3 of the 4 main characters are girls; fff - friendship is an important theme & topic throughout the book; issue - Homelessness, mental health; lgbtq - side character's parents are low-key indicated to be a gay couple; marginalized - homeless ppl throughout the story who are often not acknowledged by protag; mystery - MCs have to solve clues to win the contest; sci/tech - protag is very into computer coding; trigger - divorce, homelessness, mental health issues

Why I rated it like I did: I'd give this 3.5 stars. There are a few moments that felt like shortcuts, but overall, I was engaged and immersed in this story. I also liked the lessons being learned by each of the characters - they all grew over the course of the story, in ways that would be good windows and mirrors for MG readers, without being preachy.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

WORSE THAN WEIRD by Jody Little is one part treasure hunt, one part friendship story, and a whole lot of growing up. Readers will relate to Mac as she learns that there's a lot more going on in the world than her "weird" life. I enjoyed seeing how spending time with Joey helped Mac grow. This book is funny, warm, and thought provoking.

[Jessie Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's based in Portland, OR, and Food Carts are a big part of the story. Those two are enough to make me love it, but the main character, Mac, is delightful! Her family is fun, a little embarrassing, but they love each other so much! The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars, is I wanted it to be longer.
Go Jody!!

[Jessica Woodring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t really “feeling” this book at first, but as I continued reading, I loved the food cart scavenger hunt challenge that reminded me so much of my middle school mall-searching days. More than that, I loved the lessons that the main character, Mac, learns and many of the messages found in this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a girl trying to find her place in the world while remaining true to herself. It explores family, friendship, and some important topics such as divorce and homelessness. There's a fun scavenger hunt, too.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scavenger hunt through food trucks in Portland, grappling with weird parents (caricatures, but so funny), friendship. Loved this - especially great for middle-graders.


Thanks to Harper Collins Children for the free copy and goodreads for hosting the giveaway.

[Bonnie Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely children’s book, perfect for boys and girls ages 10-14. With a treasure hunt, a mysterious boy, food carts, goat yoga, vicious chickens, new age hippie parents, and a lot of heart, it’s sure to entertain and inspire.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Portland setting and food cart "scavenger hunt" were fun, and Mac and Joey were interesting characters, and the story is warm-hearted. The biggest weakness for me was that Mac's hippie parents and cousin seemed to be more caricatures than characters.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A J-fiction clue-finding food cart adventure that teaches the protagonist a number of lessons about her community, her friends and her own weird family. A quality title for middle-grade readers set in Portland Oregon and centered around delicious food carts!