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The Vacation
From the author of the Newbery Honor Book Everything on a Waffle
When his mother decides on a whim to be a missionary in Africa and drags his unwilling father with her, Henry is left in the care of his Aunts Magnolia and Pigg. Henry's sure they dislike him and he's trying to keep his distance, but that becomes more difficult when Mag decides they should take a destination-less road trip. Mag, convalescing from an illness that makes her look like death, is downright crabby. Pigg, tense from driving, is becoming more assertive and less willing to submit to Mag's whims. And while they poke each other - literally - Henry is finding it hard to keep his resolution.
They go to Virginia Beach (it's too hot); try camping in the Everglades (Henry accidentally spends four days floating in a swamp); visit their daddy, Henry's granddaddy (Henry's never met him!); and lose Pigg to love in Oklahoma (what would the radio psychologist Daly Kramer say?) before they finally receive word that Henry's parents are coming back and will meet them in Tulsa to finish the trip with Mag and Henry. But his parents are bickering and Henry is in despair - until he surrenders to the road and decides to let whatever happens happen, but to be there in it all.
Complete with her signature cast of eccentric characters, absurd situations, and heartfelt moments, Polly Horvath writes an on-the-road epic like no other!
When his mother decides on a whim to be a missionary in Africa and drags his unwilling father with her, Henry is left in the care of his Aunts Magnolia and Pigg. Henry's sure they dislike him and he's trying to keep his distance, but that becomes more difficult when Mag decides they should take a destination-less road trip. Mag, convalescing from an illness that makes her look like death, is downright crabby. Pigg, tense from driving, is becoming more assertive and less willing to submit to Mag's whims. And while they poke each other - literally - Henry is finding it hard to keep his resolution.
They go to Virginia Beach (it's too hot); try camping in the Everglades (Henry accidentally spends four days floating in a swamp); visit their daddy, Henry's granddaddy (Henry's never met him!); and lose Pigg to love in Oklahoma (what would the radio psychologist Daly Kramer say?) before they finally receive word that Henry's parents are coming back and will meet them in Tulsa to finish the trip with Mag and Henry. But his parents are bickering and Henry is in despair - until he surrenders to the road and decides to let whatever happens happen, but to be there in it all.
Complete with her signature cast of eccentric characters, absurd situations, and heartfelt moments, Polly Horvath writes an on-the-road epic like no other!
197 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
7 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Polly Horvath
45 books300 followersPolly Horvath is the author of many books for young people, including Everything on a Waffle, The Pepins and Their Problems, The Canning Season and The Trolls. Her numerous awards include the Newbery Honor, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature, the Mr. Christie Award, the international White Raven, and the Young Adult Canadian Book of the Year. Horvath grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She attended the Canadian College of Dance in Toronto and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City. She has taught ballet, waitressed, done temporary typing, and tended babies, but while doing these things she has always also written. Now that her children are in school, she spends the whole day writing, unless she sneaks out to buy groceries, lured away from her desk by the thought of fresh Cheez Whiz. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and two daughters.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/pollyh...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/pollyh...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 17, 2014
This was a great read-aloud. I so enjoy when Polly Horvath puts her effort into drawing the characters in all their humanity even if it paints her into some strange plot corners. I don't know if I even remember what really happened for most of the book, but I do remember laughing out loud over and over at the way Henry and his aunts said things. When Henry realized that he preferred his 'unpleasant' people to the milquetoast folks they met near the end, it felt good to agree. This is one of the great things about experiencing unpleasantness in books--I can agree with Henry in principle, but then be glad I'm not actually in the family in the book. Unpleasant people and situations are also so much more interesting and tolerable when the writing is funny!
April 2, 2017
This book concerns a young man name Henry that's 12 years old and his parents go to Africa on a missionary trip and left him in the care of his mom's sisters, Aunt Pig & Aunt Magnolia. They decide to redecorate Henry's family home to include painting all the rooms in the house. Their next adventure includes driving across the country on a family vacation. There are so many hilarious and crazy issues during this trip that it will provide a clear view of this family's disposition.
The book is from Henry's point of view and so it's from the young mind of an adolescent. The aunts are not the best people to leave a child to care for. They're more into themselves than worrying about what's in the best interest for Henry.
The book is from Henry's point of view and so it's from the young mind of an adolescent. The aunts are not the best people to leave a child to care for. They're more into themselves than worrying about what's in the best interest for Henry.
August 20, 2018
just as valid as on the road; in fact more so because instead of being with all your pretentious friends who you do hard drugs with, you’re hanging out with your aunts and they’re pressuring you to eat deep fried clams
July 18, 2020
Other reviews are much better. This is indeed 'quirky' - but that's an understatement. Not quite my cup of tea, but I can def. see why some love it and some think it useless. The extremely abrupt ending means that I'm still thinking about it, though I'm almost done with my next book (also weird, with "unpleasant" characters) and it's the next day.... No idea who to recommend it to... maybe ppl with similarly almost dysfunctional families who like black comedy? Maybe not. I dunno.
March 15, 2015
First of all, I love Polly Horvath. I really do. And maybe I would be saying this about another book instead of this one, had I read them in a different order, but still it must be asked: how many books is she gonna write about bizarro aunts!? Woman's got the chops, let's explore some new territory.
That said, this is a fun summer read, and I LOVED the beginning of the book in particular. I was amused from page one. The middle was so-so. Enjoyable enough, but I felt like I was reading aimlessly while they traveled (mostly) aimlessly. And I kept getting Pigg and Mag mixed up. They were different people, but only in largely superficial ways. Pigg eats salad, Mag got sick and is really lazy. I just had to keep reviewing those two facts to keep them straight but in the end they sounded the same. Mostly acted the same. They were the same, and it was a little tiring constantly trying to recall who was who when it didn't really matter anyway. Then the end, when Pigg/Peg left and Henry's parents came back, things started to get truly interesting. Tense, but good. When Henry's father said that he "never wanted to speak to" his wife again I was surprised. Like, wow, they're gonna handle this like real people who really get pissed off. Not like in some kids book. And that was great. But then the ending. Just ended. I didn't need resolution, but I needed to at least know that there was gonna be more conflict, but instead she seemed to pick some pretty line she probably had stockpiled. "I don't know. I don't know. How can you not love it all? And then we drove endlessly, endlessly over the gentle crests. A sign said: Welcome to Iowa".
...what does that MEAN? He doesn't know what? Love what? I mean, I get that you're tired and happy after the baseball game, after finally spending some time with your family without everyone constantly complaining, but... are we to assume things were somehow okay after that? Frustrating.
But OVERALL, an enjoyable story. Henry makes some great insights (and taught me a couple new words), and of course, of course, of course there were funny, uncomfortable moments. I like that Horvath isn't afraid to let her characters be cranky and real. But I don't know that I'm in any hurry to read The Corps of the Bare Boned Plane now. I just don't think I can do another off-beat book about off-beat aunts for a while.
That said, this is a fun summer read, and I LOVED the beginning of the book in particular. I was amused from page one. The middle was so-so. Enjoyable enough, but I felt like I was reading aimlessly while they traveled (mostly) aimlessly. And I kept getting Pigg and Mag mixed up. They were different people, but only in largely superficial ways. Pigg eats salad, Mag got sick and is really lazy. I just had to keep reviewing those two facts to keep them straight but in the end they sounded the same. Mostly acted the same. They were the same, and it was a little tiring constantly trying to recall who was who when it didn't really matter anyway. Then the end, when Pigg/Peg left and Henry's parents came back, things started to get truly interesting. Tense, but good. When Henry's father said that he "never wanted to speak to" his wife again I was surprised. Like, wow, they're gonna handle this like real people who really get pissed off. Not like in some kids book. And that was great. But then the ending. Just ended. I didn't need resolution, but I needed to at least know that there was gonna be more conflict, but instead she seemed to pick some pretty line she probably had stockpiled. "I don't know. I don't know. How can you not love it all? And then we drove endlessly, endlessly over the gentle crests. A sign said: Welcome to Iowa".
...what does that MEAN? He doesn't know what? Love what? I mean, I get that you're tired and happy after the baseball game, after finally spending some time with your family without everyone constantly complaining, but... are we to assume things were somehow okay after that? Frustrating.
But OVERALL, an enjoyable story. Henry makes some great insights (and taught me a couple new words), and of course, of course, of course there were funny, uncomfortable moments. I like that Horvath isn't afraid to let her characters be cranky and real. But I don't know that I'm in any hurry to read The Corps of the Bare Boned Plane now. I just don't think I can do another off-beat book about off-beat aunts for a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2016
This book is a very extended bout of silly, with a strong Roald Dahl vibe of cynicism. There’s a bit of plot and message here too. Any book with a chapter titled “Cat-Squishing Day” has to have its serious side. That’s good enough for me, but the average middle grader might find it all a bit too strange and rambling.
Henry is 12 years old, and his parents have abandoned him for the summer. His Mom wants to help people in Africa, somehow. She tries to convert to Mormonism, because they sponsor lots of missionaries, but the Mormons reject her. So she figures she’ll tell people she’s a Mormon anyway and see how far that gets her. Dad agrees to join her on the trip because, well… that one’s harder to figure. He seems to want to see for himself how misguided and flighty his wife is, and then get the chance to say “I told you so.”
It’s a near impossible premise, but it fits with the ridiculous nature of so much else in this book. Henry has two aunts who agree to take care of him. But that doesn’t mean they have to care about him. “Please go away, little boy.” That’s Aunt Magnolia’s reaction when Henry offers to make her some tea. The same sentence could serve as Mag’s universal response to Henry’s existence. And yes, that quote still makes me smile when I read it now.
I have another favorite scene when Aunt Mag finally figures out what has been making her sick, and her sister, Aunt Pigg, attempts to sympathize.
“At least you can eat again,” said Aunt Pigg. “You can have some lovely chocolate birthday cake.”
“Don’t want any,” said Aunt Magnolia, lying on the bed. “I’m just going to lie here and bleed.”
“Well, almost anything would improve the color of those slipcovers,” said Aunt Pigg.
Just like the best of Roald Dahl, the adults are hopelessly crusty and/or clueless. And it’s up to Henry to set the moral tone. I’m OK with that too. But even I got impatient with the listless progress.
And I wish Henry didn’t identify himself as an elementary student. That sets the bar even lower for target reader ages. It’s hard to imagine many pre-teens and tweeners with the determination to reach the end of this road. But if you can make it far enough, it might be worth knowing that I laughed a lot on cat-squishing day. Strange strange strange.
Henry is 12 years old, and his parents have abandoned him for the summer. His Mom wants to help people in Africa, somehow. She tries to convert to Mormonism, because they sponsor lots of missionaries, but the Mormons reject her. So she figures she’ll tell people she’s a Mormon anyway and see how far that gets her. Dad agrees to join her on the trip because, well… that one’s harder to figure. He seems to want to see for himself how misguided and flighty his wife is, and then get the chance to say “I told you so.”
It’s a near impossible premise, but it fits with the ridiculous nature of so much else in this book. Henry has two aunts who agree to take care of him. But that doesn’t mean they have to care about him. “Please go away, little boy.” That’s Aunt Magnolia’s reaction when Henry offers to make her some tea. The same sentence could serve as Mag’s universal response to Henry’s existence. And yes, that quote still makes me smile when I read it now.
I have another favorite scene when Aunt Mag finally figures out what has been making her sick, and her sister, Aunt Pigg, attempts to sympathize.
“At least you can eat again,” said Aunt Pigg. “You can have some lovely chocolate birthday cake.”
“Don’t want any,” said Aunt Magnolia, lying on the bed. “I’m just going to lie here and bleed.”
“Well, almost anything would improve the color of those slipcovers,” said Aunt Pigg.
Just like the best of Roald Dahl, the adults are hopelessly crusty and/or clueless. And it’s up to Henry to set the moral tone. I’m OK with that too. But even I got impatient with the listless progress.
And I wish Henry didn’t identify himself as an elementary student. That sets the bar even lower for target reader ages. It’s hard to imagine many pre-teens and tweeners with the determination to reach the end of this road. But if you can make it far enough, it might be worth knowing that I laughed a lot on cat-squishing day. Strange strange strange.
October 12, 2007
Grade 6-9– Horvath spins another delightfully offbeat yarn, complete with her signature cast of eccentric characters, wacky situations, poignant moments, and snappy dialogue. Twelve-year-old Henry's mother decides on a whim to be a missionary in Africa and drags his father along, leaving Henry in the care of his aunts, Magnolia and Pigg, for several months. Mag, turning 40 and recovering from an obscure disease, decides that they need a vacation. They embark on a destination-less car trip that feels more like a kidnapping to the boy. The aunts bicker and are nasty. Virginia Beach is too hot. In the Everglades, Henry accidentally spends four days floating in a swamp with an autistic boy. Pigg falls in love with a cowboy in Oklahoma and stays there. During the trip, they receive word that Henry's mother followed a chimp into the bush and got lost. She's finally found, but Henry's father contracts malaria. Eventually, word comes that the parents will meet Mag and Henry in Tulsa to finish the trip. Unfortunately, Henry's parents are either fighting or not speaking. Although at first he works hard to get them to see one another as he sees them, he finally realizes that he is not responsible for their happiness or their problems. Horvath again introduces a young person who is parentless for some reason and who is put in the care of distant, idiosyncratic relatives who change the child's perception of life. This latest book, like its predecessors, bounces from the hilarious to the heartrending. Funny, but not my favorite book.
June 8, 2010
[Wonderful as per usual. If you want to laugh, pick up a book by Horvath (except The Canning Season):]
When Henry's mom unexpectedly decides to become a missionary, his parents travel to Africa leaving him in the care of his aunts Magnolia and Pigg. The aunts don't like children so they spend a large part of their time ignoring Henry. This is fine with him. He endures their stay from the comfort of his closet until the aunts decide to redecorate the house. Even his closet isn't safe from their design schemes. After Magnolia's illness, the three set off on a vacation.And what a vacation it is. With no destination in mind, they simply go where they want when they want. In the meantime, Henry's mom gets lost in Africa ans his dad contracts malaria. To say the very least, it is an eventful summer.
What I Thought: Horvath does not disappoint. I expected to be amused and I was. I liked this book because it was from Henry's point-of-view. All Horvath's other books either revolve around a female protagonist or a family. The Vacation was a pleasant change. I was also glad to see whatever the aunts' faults, they did keep Henry in books.
When Henry's mom unexpectedly decides to become a missionary, his parents travel to Africa leaving him in the care of his aunts Magnolia and Pigg. The aunts don't like children so they spend a large part of their time ignoring Henry. This is fine with him. He endures their stay from the comfort of his closet until the aunts decide to redecorate the house. Even his closet isn't safe from their design schemes. After Magnolia's illness, the three set off on a vacation.And what a vacation it is. With no destination in mind, they simply go where they want when they want. In the meantime, Henry's mom gets lost in Africa ans his dad contracts malaria. To say the very least, it is an eventful summer.
What I Thought: Horvath does not disappoint. I expected to be amused and I was. I liked this book because it was from Henry's point-of-view. All Horvath's other books either revolve around a female protagonist or a family. The Vacation was a pleasant change. I was also glad to see whatever the aunts' faults, they did keep Henry in books.
June 17, 2017
Odd but satisfying read. Even though the events of the story are a bit out there as far as realism goes the feelings and themes about family dysfunction and road trips were quite relatable. Heads up for mentions of disordered eating.
August 1, 2017
Great book! I listened to it on tape and thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 28, 2019
The book " The Vacation" is a non-fiction book by Polly Horvath. In the story there is a boy named Henry. Henry has to live with his aunt's for a little while and he is sure that they dislike him.
When Henry's mother decides to be a missionary in Africa, she drags her unwilling husband with her. While Henry's parents are fone, he is left in the hands of his Aunt Pigg and Aunt Magnolia. And he is sure enough that they don't like him.
Henry was trying to keep his space from his aunt's. But then they started rearranging his house and painting the walls. Once he found out that his Aunt Magnolia was very sick, he wanted to keep his distance from them even farther.
But then he had no choice to get away from them because they said they were going on a vacation and bringing him. They went to the Virginia Beach but they left because it was too hot. Then they went camping in the Everglades but they stayed there even longer than expected because Henry got lost in the swamp and went missing for 4 days. Then they went to go visit their daddy( Henry's grampa).
Henry found out that his grampa had a farm and his name was Chet. He just found this out because this is his first time meeting his grandfather because Chet and Henry's mom didn't have a very good relationship.
Then they left and went to a hotel after an hour of getting lost. Then Magnolia started to get picky and asked for a hotel with a pool. After a while of them fighting Henry and his aunt's got to a hotel with a pool.
Henry felt bad for is aunt Pigg because she drove the whole entire trip because Henry's aunt Magnolia felt better but then she hurt her ankle so she couldn't drive.
Then Henry, Pigg , and Magnolia traveled to Oklahoma. But then they found out that Henry's mom wanted to Meet them in Tulsa but Pigg didn't want to leave because she wanted to marry a guy she's only known for 2 days.
So Henry and Mag went to Tulsa while Pigg stayed in Oklahoma. Henry's mom wanted to meet them in Tulsa so they could finish the trip with us.
Then they traveled to Iawa with everybody exept Pigg.
When Henry's mother decides to be a missionary in Africa, she drags her unwilling husband with her. While Henry's parents are fone, he is left in the hands of his Aunt Pigg and Aunt Magnolia. And he is sure enough that they don't like him.
Henry was trying to keep his space from his aunt's. But then they started rearranging his house and painting the walls. Once he found out that his Aunt Magnolia was very sick, he wanted to keep his distance from them even farther.
But then he had no choice to get away from them because they said they were going on a vacation and bringing him. They went to the Virginia Beach but they left because it was too hot. Then they went camping in the Everglades but they stayed there even longer than expected because Henry got lost in the swamp and went missing for 4 days. Then they went to go visit their daddy( Henry's grampa).
Henry found out that his grampa had a farm and his name was Chet. He just found this out because this is his first time meeting his grandfather because Chet and Henry's mom didn't have a very good relationship.
Then they left and went to a hotel after an hour of getting lost. Then Magnolia started to get picky and asked for a hotel with a pool. After a while of them fighting Henry and his aunt's got to a hotel with a pool.
Henry felt bad for is aunt Pigg because she drove the whole entire trip because Henry's aunt Magnolia felt better but then she hurt her ankle so she couldn't drive.
Then Henry, Pigg , and Magnolia traveled to Oklahoma. But then they found out that Henry's mom wanted to Meet them in Tulsa but Pigg didn't want to leave because she wanted to marry a guy she's only known for 2 days.
So Henry and Mag went to Tulsa while Pigg stayed in Oklahoma. Henry's mom wanted to meet them in Tulsa so they could finish the trip with us.
Then they traveled to Iawa with everybody exept Pigg.
November 4, 2018
Well, this was an interesting book. Not necessarily one of Polly Horvath's best, but certainly not bad. A bit quirky and whimsical, but that is to be expected with this wonderful author. And the way in which it peaks into a little slice of "ordinary, ever day life," so to speak, while yet describing a series of unusual and extraordinary events, is also typical of her books. She has a real knack for seeing and understanding things from a child's perspective, while not shying away from the hard and harsher side of life in the world. She lets the tensions be what they are, and she teases them to the surface, while also providing perspective on those challenges. In this case, the story commends the wise art of being fully present in the moment, wherever you may be at the time. And yet, it also suggests that each individual person is likely to engage and interact with the world and with others quite differently. There is no cookie cutter version of what a person is to be or to be like. But I did appreciate the way in which the ending underscored the importance of personal integrity, and not depending on others for one's own contentment, happiness, attitude, and outlook. Worthwhile reading.
February 17, 2022
Recuerdo empezarlo a leer por primera vez cuando era joven y terminarlo un año después porque era muy chiquito y estaba iniciando en la lectura, lo he leído al menos unas seis veces y me sigue gustando, es un libro que uno de adulto lo lee fácil pero si eres del target al que va dirigido te vas a demorar un poco o si como yo, lo lees a una edad menor al target dirigido, te va a costar leerlo. Pero sigue siendo interesante las dinámicas de las tías con el niño y en general es un buen libro infantil.
December 16, 2025
I enjoy this author & the way she can inhabit a teen's mind & heart. Henry is placed in a very strange situation. He is on a road trip with his two aunts while his parents are in Africa under odd circumstances. He isn't sure how to react to any of the bizarre things that happen, but as he travels the country during the summer, he learns how to react to his own emotions & grows up a little, understanding more about people & the world. Very good story.
May 31, 2017
Leí una traducción en español. La edición tenía algunos dibujos, pero créalo o no, el ilustrador omitió el tan relevante mapa de los Estados Unidos, sin tener en cuenta que la serie en la que este libro fue publicado está dirigida a niños de habla hispana.
Por otro lado, los niños no hablan como Henry lo hace. Es una voz madura, ni en broma tiene doce, y petulante.
Por otro lado, los niños no hablan como Henry lo hace. Es una voz madura, ni en broma tiene doce, y petulante.
February 27, 2022
Such a weird book. The story of a boy who ends up on a road trip with his two single aunts once his mother decides to randomly go to Africa one day. A bunch more random things happen including a trip to Florida and an expedition on the Everglades. I really don't know what I read but it certainly was entertaining.
February 25, 2019
C. fiction, children's fiction, grade 5, disjointed
June 11, 2021
Well, first of all, it's perfect, but second of all, why and how wasn't there another 300 pages of it.
November 27, 2021
I couldn’t get into it. Did not read all of it.
August 25, 2022
2.5 stars.
Funny. The only one I disliked in the whole book was Henry.
Funny. The only one I disliked in the whole book was Henry.
February 6, 2021
When his parents run off to become missionaries in Africa during the summer, Henry is left behind under the care of his eccentric aunts, Magnolia and Pigg. Mag and Pigg have always lived and worked together, but when Mag becomes ill and they decide to go on a spontaneous road trip across the USA with Henry, tensions rise, and the three of them have to figure out how they are going to live together throughout the summer vacation.
The book has the signature Polly Horvath quirky characters and crazy situations that she's so fond of writing. I liked how the family dynamics were presented in a realistic way. Henry's relatives are not easy personalities to get along with, and there is a lot of tension between them. The difficult personalities don't end up learning a lesson or changing who they are either, and not everything works out to be perfect in the end. A bit part of Henry's journey is just being able to accept that people are not going to act in ways that are convenient to him, or even act reasonable, and that sometimes all he can do is accept the way things are, and try to make the most of it.
It's a book best read on lazy, summer afternoons, when you don't have much to do. It is also one of my favorite of Horvath's novels. I've re-read it often, especially when I'm feeling a little melancholy.
The book has the signature Polly Horvath quirky characters and crazy situations that she's so fond of writing. I liked how the family dynamics were presented in a realistic way. Henry's relatives are not easy personalities to get along with, and there is a lot of tension between them. The difficult personalities don't end up learning a lesson or changing who they are either, and not everything works out to be perfect in the end. A bit part of Henry's journey is just being able to accept that people are not going to act in ways that are convenient to him, or even act reasonable, and that sometimes all he can do is accept the way things are, and try to make the most of it.
It's a book best read on lazy, summer afternoons, when you don't have much to do. It is also one of my favorite of Horvath's novels. I've re-read it often, especially when I'm feeling a little melancholy.
April 21, 2016
The vacation is a story where Henry one of the main characters in this story. Henry's parents want to go to Africa where Henry's dad gets malaria. His aunts visit Peg and Mag they go on a road trip first stop they visit Virginia beach, Next was Florida, Kansas, Mount Rushmore, then Colorado Lastly Iowa. Henry gets lost in Florida in a swamp. Then Henry gets to meet up with his parents again. Sadly they are crossed with Mag and Pegg. Then they are on their way to South Dakota mount Rushmore this is when the characters change there attitude jurassicly. Next when they go to Iowa Henry's dad runs over a cat named Benny. Then they meet other people because they spend the night with them. Then the neighbor feeds that family's horse spagetti which pretty soon spoiler alert the horse dies. The family is heart broken. One reason to why I loved this book was because it was sort of sad and funny at the same time there was part that were upsetting than funny parts too. Sometimes I was left on Irony I wanted to know what was going to happen. This was really good I recommend reading it! Plus it was worth about 7.0 AR points.
March 14, 2014
Henry is left in the caretaking of two his two aunts: Aunt Mag, and Aunt Pigg when his mother decides to travel to Africa to pose as a missionary, and his father feels it would be best to follow. Henry and his aunts went on a road trip and tried to accomplish to travel across the United States to live their life. I did not find the plot of this book very interesting or eccentric at all to catch the reader you want to try to catch (6th-9th graders) , and then it all went downhill from there. The whole book keeps kids bored out of their minds because the same things are happening in the different states. Not that more interesting as you keep reading due to the conclusion being messed up and confusing for even me! (an 8th grader) I would not recommend this book to anyone as it was a very disappointing book! The whole book just needs a little more structure to make it better, I have not read any of her books before but I hope to soon to find out if the rest of the books are god, or bad. Im sorry for such a bad reading but I am very unsatisfied
July 5, 2011
Henry is left in the care of two aunts (Mag and Pigg) when his mother decides to travel to Africa posing as a missionary and his father feels obligated to follow. The eccentric aunts and Henry spend several weeks trying to coexist while ignoring each other. After redecorating the entire house and Aunt Mag surviving a dire illness, the aunts decide to embark on their long-held dream of taking a road trip, with Henry in tow. Despite my description, which implies interesting things happen in this book, it really felt like nothing happened at all. I guess I just didn't get this one. I found the plot meandering and boring and didn't feel much connection or affection for any of the characters. Twelve-year-old Henry seems much too mature for his age, and the lack of a real conclusion was disappointing. I think both of these factors might make it difficult for most middle-graders to stick with the book.
June 14, 2012
Unfortunately, I did not find the characters in this book likable nor the plot very interesting. Near the end, the narrator Henry gets fed up and yells, "How did I end up with all you unpleasant people?". Then he thinks, "It did seem as if every last person I loved was simply unbearably unpleasant and that I really should have been born into a nicer family.". Yep. That about summed it up...they weren't evil or dastardly or real villains, but they were unpleasant and fairly selfish. And the book consists of him taking a long vacation with his aunts while hi s parents are in Africa so his mom can pretend to be a Mormon missionary (despite the fact that she is neither Mormon nor a missionary of any kind), a fact that is supposed to be funny but that fell rather flat for me. And the vacation is mostly them driving and eating and staying in motels. Other than the adventure in the swamp (which I still felt was underdeveloped) nothing much happens.
August 11, 2008
Polly Horvath is one of my favorite authors...however this was not my favorite book of hers and hey, that's okay, we can't be at high levels of perfection all the time, now can we? Nope. All in all, I feel that very little happened in this book that would hold the attention of a 12-year old. I found my mind wandering many times and I'm 28. The protagonist, a 12-year old boy himself, came across as unrealistic and way too adult. I think Horvath does better with female protagonists. Even though nothing much happened in the course of the story, even less happened at the end, leaving far too many loose ends for a middle-grades novel...that is my humble opinion.
March 9, 2010
Summary: The Vacation is about a boy, Henry and his aunts and their road trip while his parents are in Africa.
Passage: "There's a right way and a wrong way to do everything. Of course, you're going to have to learn your own right and wrong to hold to, because that will be your moral compass, son. And with a moral compass you need never get lost, and believe me, we're all afraid of getting lost."
I picked this as my passage because being lost is a motif in the story. Henry's mom was lost in Africa, his aunt was lost in love, his dad was lost in hate, his other aunt was lost in worries, and Henry was lost in the middle of everything. In the end, he finds a way to solve the problems.
Passage: "There's a right way and a wrong way to do everything. Of course, you're going to have to learn your own right and wrong to hold to, because that will be your moral compass, son. And with a moral compass you need never get lost, and believe me, we're all afraid of getting lost."
I picked this as my passage because being lost is a motif in the story. Henry's mom was lost in Africa, his aunt was lost in love, his dad was lost in hate, his other aunt was lost in worries, and Henry was lost in the middle of everything. In the end, he finds a way to solve the problems.
July 1, 2012
I picked this because Polly Horvath has always made me laugh and i was ready for a laugh after "Some Sing Some Cry which was so dang depressing". Well, I was in for disappointment. It starts out with two crotchety aunts (that are not mean enough to be funny, just rude) and some irresponsible parents. The book grew on me however, as did the characters. It wasn't lighthearted, and dealt with some serious topics, but Horvath always finds some interesting things about human nature to communicate through everyday incidents in her books, and this story was no exception.
December 15, 2014
Quite a sharp bite of sarcasm and that Dahl dark quality to this Horvath story. I DO love seeing people connect who at first seem incompatible. I just dislike parents who do stupid things like take off for Africa with out explanation, leaving children to cope. Granted, Henry is 12, and he eventually lands on his feet. I will always compare her books to Everything on a Waffle which hit that sweet spot of dark humor balanced with warmth and hope. The Vacation tried, but didn't quite get the balance right.
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