Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes by Mary E. Lambert - ESSENTIAL

Lambert, Mary E. Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes, 256 pages.  Scholastic, FEB 2017.  $17.  

Content: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f’).

It’s almost time for her father’s annual pilgrimage to teach in England, but after a huge family blow-up he takes off early.  At first Annabelle thinks she can escape on vacation with her best friend, but she decides that she needs to stay, especially when she finds out that her younger sister has called their maternal grandmother.  If living with her mother’s every growing piles of stuff weren’t bad enough, Grandma will only make things so much more worse if she uses her bull-like methods to deal with her daughter’s hoarding.  Annabelle is rightly worried, but she will tough it out and see what she can do to hold the family together.

From the cover I would have never guessed what a deep book this actually is.  I loved watching Annabelle’s story unfolded, feeling so bad for her as she navigates the family minefield.  Mu poor summary does little to help you understand what a compelling book this is.  I can’t wait to share it far and wide.

MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher