My Not-So-Great French Escape

by Cliff Burke

When Rylan's best friend ditches him for the cool kids, Rylan thinks a summer spent working on a French farm will be the perfect chance to reconnect. But he doesn't count on his long-lost father showing up. This funny, touching novel is perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt and John David Anderson. 

Rylan O’Hare has been drifting apart from his best friend, Wilder, for months. Wilder's family became mega-rich when his mom invented an app that reminds people to drink water, and now he barely has time for Rylan. So when Wilder invites Rylan to join him at a summer farming program in France (all expenses paid), Rylan see it as a chance to repair the friendship. Not only that, but he'll get to learn French, milk goats, and eat lots (and lots) of cheese.

But before they take off, Rylan's mom drops a bomb: His dad (whom he hasn't spoken to since he was three) lives in France, too, and he wants to meet.

Between being swarmed by bees, pooped on by pigeons, and sprayed with goat milk, Rylan's great French escape isn't quite what he thought it would be. Even worse, Wilder ditches him for some cool French kids he meets along the way. And Rylan still can't decide whether or not he should actually meet his father.

But somewhere in all the chaos, Rylan begins to find his way, and he realizes that sometimes you have to release old expectations to discover new destinations.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, France, Juvenile, Contemporary, Summer

224 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2023

About the author

Cliff Burke has taught reading and writing in China, Hong Kong, the US, and the UK. His first novel, An Occasionally Happy Family, was a 2022 Spirit of Texas Book and was selected for several state reading lists. His most recent novel, My Not-So-Great French Escape, was released in March 2023.

Visit him online at cliffburke.com

Reviews

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Not-So-Great French Escape is a funny, emotional, and adventure-filled book about changing friendships, cultivating self-worth, and learning the value of hard work. This charming story is set in France on a farm (!) and features scenes that inspire entrepreneurship. I loved the unique plot and its relatable protagonist. This is a great addition to a small line-up of emotionally resonant stories starring tween boys.

Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/my-not...

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for middle-grade readers!
Rylan has a unique opportunity this summer. He gets to travel to a working farm in France for a month and help out. He also just might get to meet with his father in Paris, a man he’s had no connection with for ten years…
Wonderful details about living and working on a French farm, including goat milking, gardening strategies, and cooking lessons. Some very good themes about friendship and family relationships are woven into the story, which is narrated by Rylan himself.
Now I want to go experience French farming!
*I received a digital copy fro Netgalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rylan has been slowly losing his best friend over the past year or two, but when they both get a chance to participate in a summer program on an organic farm in France, Rylan hopes that they'll finally have the chance to spend time together again. Unfortunately, they're split into different groups, and Rylan is immediately labeled one of the "weird kids," which isn't doing great things for his social life or for his self esteem. Meanwhile, he's finally gotten contact information for the man who walked out of his life when he was three, and Rylan has to make the decision of whether or not he wants to try to meet up with his dad while they're in the same country. He's getting kind of used to being rejected, but even if his former best friend doesn't want to spend time with him, his dad should want to, right?

This brief yet poignant tale has a lot of insight on when it's appropriate to cut someone out of your life. A relationship doesn't have to be toxic to be unhealthy, but if you're the only one putting in work, know that you deserve better. I loved the little tidbits about organic farming that sprinkle throughout this story, and watching Rylan develop friendships with the other "weird kids" made my heart happy. A thoroughly enjoyable read for a Sunday afternoon. I can't wait until the official audiobook comes out, as I'd love to hear the French pronounced correctly and the other kids' accents articulated better than a robotic voice is capable of.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disarming in the most charming ways, Funny in the smartest ways. It never talks down to the reader. This is a thinking book. It is too quiet to compete with video games so I’d wait for a captive audience moment to let it begin to unfold. By the time you reach the bees they’ll be hooked enough to keep turning pages through to the end.

Contemporary broken family story with beautiful balance and support through the tough parts. Good for kids as young as 8 but 10 is maybe ideal.

Especially perfect for road trips, read alouds and classrooms because, adults, you’ll find yourself leaning in to listen, too.

Changing friendships, parents as people, turning away from pain and toward the good wherever you find it… Loved it. Handing it to every kiddo facing a lonely moment or wanting a story full of richly drawn friends.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley and the publishers.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It was different and not your typical happy ending!

Rylan is having a hard time at his new school. His "best friend" has been spending more time with the new cool kids and left Rylan on his own. Summer breaks comes around and Rylan is invited by his friend to go to France with him for the summer for a trip to a fsrm to learn some gardening skills. Rylan goes but is skeptical of his friend. Rylan also has a chance to meet his father who he hasn't seen since he was a baby. Not only is Rylan having a difficult time adjusting and making new friends on the French farm but is struggling with deciding if he should meet his father while he is in France.

Great story about divorced families, making new friends, and keeping old ones.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rylan has an opportunity to spend the summer on a farm in France. There’s just one catch: he’ll be going with his former best friend Wilder. Just before leaving, his mom drops a bomb – Rylan’s estranged father is now living in Paris. And his father would like to reconnect! Rylan makes new friends and learns the ways of French cuisine, farming, and a little bee-keeping under the loose guidance of Pierre, a diletante farmer. Readers will want to book their own French escape after reading this book!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rylan and Wilder used to be best friends. Then Wilder’s mom made a lot of money and Wilder changed schools, to a private school with other kids whose parents have money. Rylan felt left behind. Even when Wilder’s mom paid for Rylan to go to the private school too, he felt left behind. All the other kids just seemed to fit together better, and Rylan was left wondering if Wilder really was his friend.

Then the two of them were given the opportunity to spend part of the summer in France, helping to take a rundown farm and turn it into a beautiful organic farm. Every summer, Pierre takes a handful of kids has them come to the farm to learn about farming, raising goats, keeping bees, and French culture. But before Rylan gets on this plane, his mother sits him down to talk to him.

Rylan’s father left them when he was very young, but now he’s remarried and is wanting to reconnect with Rylan. He’s living in France, so this could be Rylan’s chance to meet up with him. But she makes sure that Rylan understands it’s his choice. She gives Rylan his father’s email address and lets him make the decision to write or not, to meet or not.

So Rylan has a lot on his mind when he arrives in France. Pierre seems to notice immediately that he is more serious than his friend Wilder. But Pierre has a way of shrugging off problems. Like in deciding how the eight kids there for the summer should be divided up, he leaves it to fate. Each kid grabs a leaf and then holds it high and see where it lands. From the way the leaves fall together, Wilder is grouped with the three kids from France. Rylan is in a group with Annie from Hong Kong, Lia from Switzerland, and Martin from Germany.

While Wilder and his group seem to have an instant chemistry, Rylan has to work harder to feel a camaraderie in his group. But he is the only one that the goat will allow to milk her. He finds moments with Pierre, who teaches him to let go of some of his worries. And when they set up a competition with the other team at the end of their stay, it’s Rylan who figures out how to win the trip for the team to Paris on Bastille Day. It will the perfect time for him to connect with his dad in Paris. But as they get closer to the end, and Rylan sees Wilder and his team taking all the advantages they can, will his winning plan be enough? Or once again, will Rylan be left behind?

My Not-So-Great French Escape is a sweet story that will appeal to anyone who felt left out or left behind as a kid. Rylan’s emotions as he navigates his friendship with Wilder are powerful and sharp, but his friends and Pierre help him see that there is more for him to experience in France than a bad friendship, and he finds ways to open himself to the language, the food, and the culture of France as well as to the things the other kids have to teach him.

I enjoyed My Not-So-Great French Escape a lot. It did bring up some painful memories of my own childhood (not that I got to go to France), and I wish I had met some kids as smart and as kind as Rylan did. I loved all the tidbits of interesting information in this book, from farming to cooking to beekeeping to relationships. I grew especially fond of Pierre, who has a way of letting the kids find their own way while still watching out for them. The way he is supportive of Rylan possibly meeting up with his father was particularly sensitive, and I was really moved by how he handled everything that happened.

This is a fantastic book for kids who need to understand that while they may not fit in with the crowd, there is still a place for them, even if they have to travel halfway around the world to find it.

Egalleys for My Not-So-Great French Escape were provided by Clarion Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rylan and Wilder have been friends for a long time, even though their family's financial background is very different. Wilder's mother invented an app that reminds people to drink water, and is so wealthy now that Wilder attends a private school. She pays for Rylan's tuition so that the two can be together, and has decided to enroll them both in a summer farming program in France. The problem? Rylan and Wilder have recently had a falling out because Wilder made fun of the fact that Rylan's father left his family when Rylan was a baby. In surprising news, Rylan finds out that his father is now living in Paris, and has to decide if he wants to try to see him. Plans are in place, so despite these developments, the boys are soon in the north of France, working for Pierre de Beaulieu. The boys are separated; Rylan doesn't get to stay in a cozy cottage with his friend, but ends up in the stables with Martin, Lia, and Annie. They all have different reasons for being in France; Martin, who is from Germany, wants to run an organic farm one day and hopes to learn a lot about setting one up. There's a lot of work, and Wilder makes no attempt at all to hang out with Rylan. Rylan contacts his father, who schedule doesn't seem to align in a way that will allow a visit, but when Pierre offers the prize of a trip to Paris for Bastille Day, Rylan hopes that he can work something out with his father. He finally hears from him, and the two arrange to meet, so Rylan just needs to make sure his group raises the most money by selling produce from the farm. His group soon is harvesting cherries, milking goats, making ice cream, and trying to find a way to outsellf Wilder's group. Will Rylan be able to make peace with Wilder, reconnect with his father, and (more importantly) learn how to be happy even when people in his life disappoint him?
Strengths: This got off to a great funny start, and had lots of humorous moments along the way, which I always enjoy. Martin is a great character, and his observations about Americans are fairly accurate. Rylan has a great relationship with his mother, and he misses her; there are not a lot of books that talk about children being home sick, but it's a fairly widespread phenomenon, especially now, and it's good for readers to see that you can miss home but work through it to enjoy a new experience.
Weaknesses: I am looking forward to seein a printed copy because the ending was a bit abrupt. I had hoped to see a bit more about Wilder and Rylan coming to an understanding.
What I really think:There are a lot of books about girls' friendship difficulties, but not as many about boys. Miller's Roll, Jung's The Boys in the Back Row, Tandon's The Way I Say It, and Cisneros' Falling Short some examples of this topic, which I would like to see explored a lot more in middle grade literature.

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Clarion Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Twelve-year-old Rylan has been drifting away from his best friend Wilder. Their moms have been best friends forever but the boys’ interests have changed. When an opportunity arises to do a summer internship on a French farm, Wilder invites Rylan to join him. Rylan accepts, hoping new scenery might bring them back to being best friends. Then Rylan’s mother drops a bombshell – Rylan’s dad, who left the family right after his third birthday, is living in Paris and wants to get back in touch with his son. He sends an email to his dad and tries not to get his hopes up. Upon arriving at the farm, Rylan and Wilder are put into two different groups with very different personalities. Wilder hangs with his new French friends, pretty much ignoring Rylan, who, in turn, bonds with his more international group. When a competition starts where the winning team goes to Paris for Bastille Day, Rylan is determined to win so that he might meet up with his father.

I enjoyed the premise of this story and, hopefully, some of the things that bothered me will be fixed in the final copy. For instance, when getting his passport, Rylan is concerned that he will have his terrible photo until he’s 22. U.S. passports are only valid for 5 years if the applicant is under 16. Now the target audience probably wouldn’t even pick up on that, but a simple Google search or visit to the State department website would have given a more factual answer. There was also something quite unbelievable toward the end that I don’t want to give away, and again, I’m not the target audience. I will still recommend this title for grade 4 and up with a 3 star rating.

#MyNotSoGreatFrenchEscape #Netgalley

[Gail Gauthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sought this book out on NetGalley because of the French setting. I'm always hoping books with some connection to France will throw in some French phrases that I actually understand, which will do my ego a world of good. There is, indeed, a little of that. But the book is a very enjoyable read even for those not interested in the language.

This is another story that deals with friends drifting apart. But instead of happening in an elementary or middle school, it happens on a French organic farm that provides an opportunity for students from foreign countries to stay for a few weeks. The idea is that the students will learn about organic farming and improve their French. It provides a new spin to the friend situation that, I am told, really is a major concern for kids.

Rylan, who appears to be around 12, accompanies a newly rich friend who he isn't that tight with anymore, to France. No sooner are they there, than the friend cliques up with a group with a bit of a superiority complex, leaving Rylan to make his own connections with the kids who are left. Rylan has some believably low moments over this, but rises to the occasion.

A sub-plot involving Rylan's estranged father is resolved in an interesting way. The friends Rylan makes are far more interesting than the ones his old buddy ends up with. There is French food. And Pierre, the organic farmer, is a charmer.

There is plenty here to like.

[Andrea Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Not-So-Great French Escape 
3.5 Stars 

Rylan has high hopes of rekindling his friendship with his once BFF on a trip to France. His mother has other ideas entirely (plot twist). While these two friends were once close, they have a frenemy-type relationship now. I didn't find this book a fun, light read. The shit gets real, really fast. I'll say this book puts you through your emotional paces. But you can't stop cheering for the underdog. 

This heartbreaking book addresses the difficult topic of when to set boundaries, toxic/abusive people, and the difficulties of breaking up. It's difficult to cut someone out of your life. This book follows that grieving process. 

Rylan makes new friends by the end of the book, and it warms my heart. All of us "weird" people have to find our tribe of like-minded people. 

I can see this book as useful for those ever hopeful and caring young individuals out there that are always looking for the best in people and sometimes get hurt. Friendship/relationships should be a two-way street. If you're putting in all the work into a friendship, it might be time to reevaluate the relationship and take a big step back. 

Overall, My Not-So-Great French Escape is a good book. I found this book a little too sad for my liking and that's why I ranked it slightly lower. Everyone's reading mileage may very. 




Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, for an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anjanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rylan and Wilder have been friends and are now starting to go through some growing pains. Wilder will be spending the summer at a camp in the north side of France. Wilder and Rylan have had some differences starting with the financial background. Wilder’s mom has developed an app to start tracking your water and reminding you to continue drinking. This has helped his family to become very wealthy.
Rylan’s parents are divorced and his father left when he was a small baby. Rylan finds out that his dad is in Paris very close to where Rylan will be staying for the summer. Rylan discovers that his dad will be leaving the area on Bastille Day.
The owner of the farm, Pierre de Beaulieu, has offered a competition that will win a trip to Paris to celebrate Bastille Day. There are two teams who are trying to compete to be the best team. Rylan is the head of his team and they will raise money by picking cherries, milking goats, making ice cream, possibly cheese and trying to sell more than Wilder’s group. There is an intense competition between the teams. Will Wilder and Rylan be able to make peace with each other? Will Rylan have a chance to meet his father? Will life become easier?

I cannot wait until the finalized official audiobook is released. The kids' voices and the french words will be fun to hear, not digitized. *I received a digital copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Mary Jackson]

Rylan's friendship has been slowly slipping away over the past year or so, and he pins his hopes on a summer program in France, where he and his best friend might finally reconnect. However, their expectations are dashed when they are placed in separate groups, and Rylan finds himself labeled as one of the "weird kids," dealing a blow to both his social life and self-esteem. Adding to the emotional complexity, Rylan is faced with the opportunity to meet his estranged father, who disappeared from his life when he was just three years old. Despite the rejection he's become accustomed to, Rylan can't help but hope that his dad would want to spend time with him.

This concise yet emotionally charged tale offers valuable insights into the delicate balance of knowing when it's time to cut someone out of your life. It skillfully navigates the notion that a relationship doesn't have to be toxic to be unhealthy, and that putting in all the effort should never be a one-sided endeavor. I particularly enjoyed the tidbits of organic farming sprinkled throughout the story and witnessing Rylan's heartwarming journey as he forms bonds with the other "weird kids." It's a genuinely enjoyable read, perfect for a leisurely Sunday afternoon. I'm eagerly anticipating the official audiobook release, as hearing the correct pronunciation of French and the authentic accents of the characters would be a delightful experience compared to a robotic voice.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rylan is a completely relatable character for those of us who have never been the rich popular kid, or the kid who just knows how to fit in. What isn't so relatable is having rich friends who will just pay for you to go to France, but I guess in any story we have to suspend our own limited beliefs, even just a little.

Perhaps my favorite character though was not Rylan or any of the farm helpers, but the farm's owner Pierre. He had a laid back uncle kind of feel. And, sorry if I put images in your head, I envisioned him as a sort of Sam Elliot as Ron Dunn (Parks & Recreation) sort of character if Ron Dunn spoke French. I didn't need the whole Tarot reading thing, however brief it was, but I adored Pierre's less snooty French Character who really had a heart for his charges.

My favorite thought from this book; without giving away the who, when or where; is when one character simply says (and I am paraphrasing) - I had friends, they started being mean to me, so I just decided to stop being friends with them. It's an important idea, that you don't have to be stuck with toxic friends. You can decide.

Anyway, the publisher's synopsis gives you enough to go on, but my two cents is that the author creates an enchanted French setting with wonderful characters who feel real and true.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endearing middle grade travel adventure👍

4-4.5🌟 stars
Some really engaging characters made this a fun story that would work well for middle graders nine to early teens.

This story highlights real issues that children face and, despite some taunting, young Rylan comes out the better for his month stay on a farm in France. The boy from home who he thought was his friend is revealed as a fickle companion but Rylan forms new friendships, learns new skills and ends the summer a wiser young teen. The author included a share of stressful, emotional moments that children can relate to.

I loved Rylan's new friends, especially Martin, and the way the author addresses the issue of cliques, shifting friendships and learning to value the people who respect and value you. And he makes the farming experience seem a real adventure.

Thanks to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Jenn Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an impressive economy of language, Burke takes readers on a moving journey to the French countryside. There are so many MG novels that focus on the challenging dynamics of female friendships in middle school, but not as many that focus on what boys go through. Sometimes you need a change of setting to see what was there all along -- and moreover, to discover what you were missing -- as Rylan discovers in France when he's forced/invited to tag along with his rich friend Wilder (really, more like Mom's bff's friend's son). Just as Rylan enjoyed getting to know kids from other countries and cultures, so too did I, though the character that might linger the longest in my memory is the eccentric French beekeeper/farmer, Pierre. Young readers may be stunned by what happens towards the end of the book, but to me, it felt like Burke being gently honest, with both his readers and his protagonist.

[Emily Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Cliff Burke, and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rylan and his best friend Wilder have been drifting apart for awhile, so when Wilder invites him to come work on a farm with him in France, Rylan is eager to enjoy. What is Rylan not eager about? The bombshell that his mom dropped on him about his long lost father.
Between the craziness of the farm and the anticipation of maybe meeting his father, Rylan isn't having the French adventure he thought he would. Can Rylan learn find his way and learn to enjoy new adventures.

This was a random find on NetGalley and it did not disappoint! This was a fun middle grade read aloud that I think will be a pick of many readers. I liked Rylan because he's a character that I think many kids will be able to relate to. I look forward to buying this book for my classroom!

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY NOT-SO-GREAT FRENCH ESCAPE – by Cliff Burke – Children’s Book

‘Rylan O’Hare has been drifting apart from his best friend, Wilder, for months. Wilder's family became mega-rich when his mom invented an app that reminds people to drink water, and now he barely has time for Rylan. So when Wilder invites Rylan to join him at a summer farming program in France (all expenses paid), Rylan see it as a chance to repair the friendship. Not only that, but he'll get to learn French, milk goats, and eat lots (and lots) of cheese.’

I Love This Story So Much—My Heart!

Highly Recommend!

Reading Age: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7

Thank You, NetGalley and Clarion Books (HarperCollins Publishers), for providing me with an eBook of MY NOT-SO-GREAT FRENCH ESCAPE at the request of an honest review.

[Sam Subity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Burke's new middle grade novel about a middle schooler's sometimes painful, and sometimes painfully funny journey through life changes, like figuring out where he stands with his maybe-not-so-best-friend-anymore, and reconnecting with a father who abandoned him when he was a toddler. As with the author's first novel, An Occasionally Happy Family, a physical journey accompanies and plays a part in the internal one, and here we get to explore France and French culture along with the main character when he's invited to spend a summer on a farm there, and you feel as if you're immersed in the setting as a character in itself. At times touching and at others hilarious, I know kids will enjoy escaping into this great read.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book that accurately portrays the raw emotions of a middle school aged child. It shows that relationships are always changing.

Rylan is getting ready to go on a trip to France with his sometimes friend, Wilder. Right before they are leaving, Rylan's mom informs him that his absentee father now lives in Paris and wants to see Rylan while he's in the country.

Rylan hopes to rebuild his friendship with Wilder while on the trip, but they are put into different groups. He is also unsure if he wants to meet up with his father.

As Rylan settles into the commune's routine, he begins to make friends with his group. As far as repairing his friendship with Wilder..that's not going very well...

[Nicole Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this story is not new. A kid reluctantly is sent away for a summer program and gets a new outlook on life. A couple of things make this story unique, though. First, I thought it was a realistic portrayal of adolescent behavior and how their friendships evolve. Second, the message differed from the usual themes of second chances and forgiveness. While there was an element of that, it emphasizes that you should surround yourself with the people that will support you. This is a message I don't think young people hear enough. I did feel that the plot was a little rushed, and plot points could have been more developed in some spots. But, as a whole, it is an excellent middle grade read.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I found this story to be a little depressing and sad and it made me very angry at times, but it teaches a good lesson: to recognize when a relationship/friendship isn’t good for you and that it is ok to let those people go from your life. I loved the group of new friends Rylan made at the farm and enjoyed the details of the different aspects of farm life. I think this book would be good for the upper middle grade range (ten and up.)

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

#NetGalley #MyNotSoGreatFrenchEscape

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Not-So-Great French Escape was a very endearing middle grade read.
Rylan stole my heart and I really felt for him.
Thinking he's going to have a chance to reconnect with his best friend while also enjoying a summer abroad, he soon comes to the realization that maybe he's better off moving on. It stinks when you're more invested in keeping a friendship alive than the other person is, and it's sometimes hard to move on, even when you know it's for the best.
I liked seeing Rylan finally let go of his expectations for the summer and embrace his time in France. It gave him a chance to grow and learn, and really start to come into his own.

[Lisa Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about a boy that wanted to become closer with one of his friends, but also meet up with his father who he hasn’t seen in many years. He ends up learning that people you think may be friends or family, really aren’t what you believe them to be.
Along the way he also learned gardening skills, entrepreneurial skills and that you have have a friendship with someone even if they are on the other side of the world.
I think this would be a great book for a guidance counselor. I did enjoy the book, just not for my job.

[Lonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent choice for middle school readers!

Rylan and his best friend Wilder have been drifting apart for the past year. Wilder invites Rylan to spend a month in France at an organic farm project. Meanwhile, Rylan hears from his Dad who has not been in Rylan's life for the past 10 years, who coincidentally lives in Paris and wants to meet.

While events may not end up the way Rylan might have chosen, he learns a lot about friends, friendship, and love during his summer in France. He learns that sometimes, change is good, and that new friends can be just as influential and important as old friends were.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice friendship story with some laugh-out-loud moments and an interesting setting, but definitely for those looking for a faster-paced reading experience that doesn't necessarily linger on emotions or go super in-depth in terms of relationships and characters. The ending in particular came on very quickly and felt like it needed at least some additional resolution.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Pat Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rylan has the chance to go to France for a month in the summer. He's going with his friend Wilder and hopes he can reestablish his friendship with Wilder. They live and work on a French farm where Rylan learns about bees, how to make cheese, how to milk a goat and many other things. There is a chance that while in France he can reconnect with his father who lives there. The book is beautifully written and has lots of French atmosphere.

[Kim Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Cliff Burke has a thing for fireworks. In An Occasionally Happy Family, the family celebrates July Fourth with fireworks and in French Escape, they celebrate Bastille Day with fireworks.

I loved this, and I'm not sure why it's entitled No-So-Great. Overall, I think Rylan did well in France. He made great friends, realized he wasn't great friends with someone and found a great French mentor in Pierre. I wish I could work on a French farm for a summer!

[Haylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story. Rylan is a likeable character that I feel many kids can relate to. It is great to watch the ways in which Rylan grows and blossoms while on the farm. He is a more nervous and shy kid at the beginning, who wants to belong to the cool crowd, and by the end he has come out of his shell and knows what true friendship looks like.

[Vona Karns · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a solid story. Interesting to see Rylan make new friends and learn to navigate friendship. It's realistic in showing how you can grow apart as you grow older, not for any particular reason. It's a solid story, but I felt like the ending was abrupt. I guess I wanted to see him get home, have a convo with his mom, etc.