My Not-So-Great French Escape, Cliff Burke (Book Review)

Book Review - My Not-So-Great French Escape

Summary: My Not-So-Great French Escape

In My Not-So-Great French Escape, Rylan agrees to work as a farm hand in France in order to reconnect with his used-to-be best friend, Wilder. Both their moms are friends and Wilder’s wealthier mom is happy to pay Rylan’s way. Wilder and Rylan’s friendship has been shaky since Wilder has been ditching Rylan for the cool kids. And the trip is about to get more complicated when Rylan’s mom tells him that his estranged father lives in France and wants to reconnect with him. When they arrive in France, Wilder quickly joins a different group of kids on the farm from Rylan’s deflating his hopes of reconnecting. Rylan has to find his way and decide whether or not to meet his dad. Will his French escape be worth it?

The Good

This was a really great read! Interestingly, several books released this year have featured kids traveling to Europe/France (which I love). Rylan is a sweet kid dealing with a heartbreaking inevitability of middle school: evolving friendships. His friend, Wilder, is a social chameleon who values fitting in with “cool kids” more than he does loyalty and integrity. A shame, really.

I liked the French scenes and Pierre, the guy in charge of the farm. I also loved Rylan’s group (Martin, Lia, and Annie), who stay in the stables while the other kids in Wilder’s group stay in the cottage. Martin was my favorite. The kids all learn about growing vegetables, milking goats, and making cheese. They also learn to sell their produce in a competition between the two groups (which was fun).

The most emotional parts of this story, besides the disintegration of Rylan’s friendship with Wilder, are Rylan’s bond with his mom and the way things play out with his dad. It’s tough to have a parent be hot-and-cold about meeting you after years of having not seen you. But Rylan grows a lot as a character and I loved seeing his self-worth and confidence grow throughout the book.

Overall: My Not-So-Great French Escape

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.