An Occasionally Happy Family, Cliff Burke
An Occasionally Happy Family, Cliff Burke
List: $18.99 | Sale: $13.29
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An Occasionally Happy Family

Author: Cliff Burke

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 4 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Clarion Books

Published: 05/18/2021


Synopsis

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.

About Cliff Burke

Clifford Burke grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He worked as a house painter, a parking lot attendant, and a sign-twirling dancing banana before graduating from the College of William and Mary. He currently teaches English in the Bay Area.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Darla

You are going to need your tissues when you read this new release from Cliff Burke. You may find yourself laughing and crying within short periods of time. This book has so much heart and just the right amount of sass. Theo and big sister Laura find themselves in Big Bend National Park with their wi......more

Goodreads review by Diana

☆ Bittersweet & Funny Middle Grade Fiction ☆ 4.5 Stars — AN OCCASIONALLY HAPPY FAMILY is about two teens and their father dealing with loss, and just because one member is ready to move on, the others might not be. Can a disastrous road trip help the Ripley family face their grief after the loss of t......more

Theo Ripley is going on vacation. With his sister. And his father. And they are going to Big Bend, the least popular national park. Theo is not thrilled. The trip to Big Bend is everything a family trip is known for: fighting between siblings, fighting between parent and child, boredom during the lon......more