Gordon Korman meets The Great Outdoors in this funny and moving debut about a boy who goes on a disastrous family vacation (sweltering heat! bear chases!) that ends with a terrible surprise: his dad's new girlfriend.

There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation. Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo is an indoor animal. It doesn’t help that this will be the first vacation they’re taking since Mom passed away.

Once there, the family contends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologist and his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo’s dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise: the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend.

Theo tries to squash down the pain in his chest. But when it becomes clear that this is an auditioning-to-be-his-stepmom girlfriend, Theo must find a way to face his grief and talk to his dad before his family is forever changed.

Can a kid who loves air conditioning survive the Texas desert, a dad with a secret, and the scariest thing of all—a potential new mom?

A Hilarious Road Trip Adventure: When Theo's dad plans a summer camping trip to the least popular National Park in Texas, it's a recipe for disaster—complete with 110-degree heat, questionable snacks, and one very grumpy kid.
A Heartfelt Father-Son Story: This is the first trip Theo and his dad have taken since Mom passed away. But just when they might start to reconnect, Dad reveals a secret that could change everything.
An Unforgettable Sibling Story: Theo and his older sister Laura don't agree on much, but they might have to team up to survive this vacation... and their dad's new girlfriend.
A Surprise Blended Family?: The biggest surprise isn't the wild bears. It's Lucrecia, Dad's girlfriend, who might just be auditioning to become Theo's new stepmom.

An Occasionally Happy Family

An Occasionally Happy Family