Overview
Thirteen-year-old Evan Hanson is always the last in her family to know what’s going on. Her father, Gene, who’s been meaner since he began serving in Vietnam, isn’t around much, and she likes it better that way. But then her brother, Adam, gets drafted and her anti-war mother, Endura, takes him across the border to Canada, leaving Evan alone with Gene and her younger, special needs brother, Teddy.
When he realizes Endura isn’t returning, Gene takes Evan and Teddy to Eat and Get Gas, his mother’s cafe and gas station. There, as well as her no-nonsense but loving grandma, Evan encounters Aunt Vivian, a teasing but caring know-it-all; Uncle Frankie, injured in Vietnam and suffering from PTSD; Paco, the draft dodger Frankie is hiding; Hal and Hubert, the strange but gentle next-door neighbors; and Louanne, Frankie’s reserved sister. She is drawn in particular to Louanne, who was disfigured by a car accident that killed the rest of her and Frankie’s family.
At Eat and Get Gas, Evan finds a new freedom, and she starts to carve out a place for herself. She eventually, too, learns some of the family secrets she’s been kept in the dark about—and comes to understand that her mother isn’t coming back any time soon. Then, after reading a letter that wasn’t meant for her, Evan discovers the biggest secret of all.
Review
Evan’s world has been rocked when her mother takes her older brother, Adam, across the border into Canada and leaves her with her disabled brother, Teddy, and her mean father. Adam’s number has come up and he has been drafted to Vietnam. Evan’s dad, Gene, has just returned from Vietnam and he is no longer the father she knows.
Gene loads her and Teddy up and takes them to his mother’s place, a restaurant called Eat and Get Gas. This place helps Evan grow and gives her a purpose.
I really enjoyed how the author makes the reader attach themselves to Evan. I just wanted to jump through the pages on more than one occasion and help her. Between her dad and her Uncle Frankie…you just need to read this and find out!
This story creates a ton of emotions…anger, sadness, protection, just to name a few. Then there are the family secrets. This is one of my favorite tropes, I love a book with family secrets and this one has quite a few!
Need a story which will take your breath away in places…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the author for a honest opinion.
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