Book Review: As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

Ry is taking a long train ride to summer camp. The train stops in Montana due to some sort of mechanical problem, and Ry takes the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs. Before he knows it, the train takes off without him, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere. He is left with nothing except the clothes on his back, a few dollars in his wallet, and a cell phone with a dying battery.

So begins Ry's strange but somehow exhilarating journey back home to Wisconsin, and beyond. Assisting him is Del, a man who can't help fixing things, and an assortment of Del's friends spread around the country and even into the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Ry's parents, his grandfather, and even his dogs have their own series of misfortunes and strange journeys. Lynne Rae Perkins adds a nice touch by telling the dogs' adventures through a series of comic panels.

This story is packed with more than a few chuckles. And, as Ry comes to understand, "maybe, the more people you put in your family, the better."

Kifflie (Next up: Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick)