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    The Vacation
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    The Vacation
    Unavailable
    The Vacation
    Ebook169 pages2 hours

    The Vacation

    By Polly Horvath

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    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!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateJan 21, 2014
    ISBN9781466863026
    Unavailable
    The Vacation
    Author

    Polly Horvath

    Polly Horvath has written many books for children and young adults, among them Everything on a Waffle, The Canning Season, and One Year in Coal Harbour. She has won numerous awards including a National Book Award, Newbery Honor, Toronto Dominion Award, International White Raven, and Canadian Library Association's Young Adult Book of the Year. She has also been short-listed for Germany's most prestigious literature award, the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, as well as the Writer's Trust Vicky Metcalfe Award for her body of work and many others. Her books have been New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestsellers and Rosie O'Donnell and Oprah picks. She is translated into over 25 languages and her books are taught in children's literature curricula in North America and internationally. She lives in British Columbia.

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    Reviews for The Vacation

    3.5/5

    30 ratings4 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 1/5
      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
    • 2/5
      Horvath, P. (2005). The vacation. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Road trips. Are they ever fun? Most of the time, they tend to be horrible. It is hot; people get annoyed of one another; and traveling is tiring. The road trip in The Vacation is no different from other car trips.When Henry’s parents abruptly decide to go to Africa for a mission trip, his Aunt Magnolia and Aunt Pigg take care of him. Although at first Mag and Pigg have fun remodeling and repainting Henry’s house, they get bored once it is complete. During the remodeling, Mag becomes extremely sick. On the verge of death, Mag and Pigg decide to take a road trip just in case Mag dies.They pull Henry out of school to take an extended vacation. Mag soon feels better with the right medicine. This vacation is the epitome of the world’s worst road trip. Not only do Mag and Pigg constantly bicker, but also they complain about every destination. This car trip around the United States is unforgettable. Henry gets lost in a swamp for several days; Pigg meets Cody in Oklahoma and decides to marry him; Henry meets his grandfather for the first time; and his dad runs over Benny the cat. There are quite a few adventures in the book. The characters are eccentric. At times, readers will feel like Henry, a twelve-year-old boy, is the only logical and sane person. When Henry’s parents return to the United States and join him on the road trip, he discovers that they are upset with each other. Henry then tries to repair his parents’ relationship. The book touches upon themes of acceptance and love. While the book has its humorous and deep moments, the plot was like a road trip; it dragged on. There did not seem to be a climatic point in the book. As a result, the story moved at a slow pace. At times, I found myself bored with the plot. This book could be a nice addition to a middle school library, but the book is not a “must-have.” The Vacation is appropriate for grades 5 through 7.
    • 5/5
      Henry is a great character and his travels with his two aunts is unforgettable. Aunts Pig and Mag are so eccentric and funny. Great read for all ages
    • 3/5
      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.