Theo is struggling to go on this next family vacation. Getting stuck in the middle of the desert with his dad and older sister, while still dealing with the death of his mother a year or so ago. It was going okay, minus a bear attack and some annoying "influencer" camping partners, until they find out what their dad's surprise is. Namely, his new girlfriend who he's been secretly dating for the last seven months. She's a life coach, and she wants to make it work, but doesn't really see the issue of pulling this during a family vacation. While the ending wraps up pretty quickly, Burke does a great job of having the characters feel real. I just wish this had developed more with the later half then having it wrap up so fast. While they talk about the importance of emotions, they don't let the reader feel the emotions before moving on and resolving everything. Still a great middle school book.

I tried this book as a read aloud with my ten year old book tester Fiona. She was not a fan of it and asked if we could read something else. The book itself is well written and is likely to be a hit with many middle school aged kids, particularly those like the main character.

This was a fun story filled with both humour and relatable family drama and issues to be solved. I think this wil resonate with a lot of kids, and make them laugh along the ride.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is a fast-paced book that kids will really enjoy. There is some angst but is about a family coming together after the hard times.

In the heat of July, Theo and his sister Laura experience a family vacation in Texas's Big Bend National Park with Nature Dad, his new persona since the death of his wife and their mother. Theo, a budding graphic novelist who thrives best in air conditioned spaces, narrates the story, and dialogue allows Laura's organized, snarkiness, and Nature Dad's energized enthusiasm shine. A birdwatching obsessed dad with his social media obsessed son, enter the scene, followed by Nature Dad's new “girlfriend “ Unresolved grief overshadows the family, but humor balances the emotional load, and a satisfying conclusion allows Dad, Laura and Theo to address their loss and heal their family of three.

Theo’s mom died two years ago and the Ripley family is venturing out on their first vacation without her. Theo and his older sister Laura aren’t thrilled about the outdoor experience their dad has planned for them. They manage to survive searing heat, a bear attack, and an encounter with some annoying campers. Just when it seems things can’t get worse, Theo and Laura discover that the real reason their dad has planned this trip is so they can meet his new girlfriend! The arrival of their dad’s girlfriend forces the Ripley family to confront their feelings head on and figure out how to move forward. This is a funny, well-written book that also strikes an emotional chord as the family deals with their loss. The sibling relationship between Theo and Laura is relatable and the dialog is well-written and brings the characters, even the secondary ones, to life. Good read for middle grade readers!

The characters in this book don't seem like they're fully in touch with reality. Nor are they especially realistic. The dad is and extreme version of an identity crisis. The older sister is like a living eye-roll. I did like the portrayal of how grief affects them as a group. They are essentially living parallel lives. But their journey is in two distinct parts. The early part of their vacation where they interact with the other dad is too long, doesn't do enough to develop the characters. I can see the point here but the attempt is a bit clumsy.

Thirteen year old Theo is starting his summer off with a road trip to Big Bend National Park with his dad and older sister, Laura. Dad, who's turned into an outdoorsman since the death of his wife two years ago, is super hyped about the trip and a surprise he's planned for the end of it. To Theo and Laura's horror, the surprise is dad's new girlfriend. For a guy who has difficulty discussing the loss of their mom, Theo and Laura are less than pleased.

Theo and Laura are completely relatable as bickering siblings both trying to deal with the loss of their mother and an emotionally distant father who doesn't inspire great confidences. Their relationship will ring true with many young people. The hilarious details of their misguided adventure, especially the other campers, made this story unputdownable.

I think my students are going to have a lot of fun with this one.

This was a great look into loss and the family dynamics surrounding it. Two years after their mother dies, Laura and Theo's dad are taking them on a big trip for the summer. They go to Big Bend National Park and during the last portion of their trip, their dad springs a surprise on them. He has invited a "friend" who might be a woman, and he might be dating. As Laura and Theo navigate this new person, feelings fly and all three of them have to deal with their feelings once and for all.

The writing was really good. I enjoyed the banter between dad and kids, as well as between Laura and Theo as siblings. Laura is loud and opinionated while Theo is quiet and enjoys drawing his comics. How they all navigate this difficult situation in their lives was sweet, but not saccharine.

A poignant yet humorous examination of grief and loss perfect for fans of books like Merci Suarez, The Science of Breakable Things, or King and the Dragonflies.

With thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

One of my favorite types of books is one where I am transported to another place. I like to call it "Traveling Through the Pages." This book definitely transported me to Big Bend NP in Texas! I really liked the family vacation aspect of the book and liked the dad's family Road Trip Rules (even if the kids didn't like them!). Theo, Laura, and their dad meet a number of interesting characters along their journey and must face the realities of their situation.

Note: There is a scene in the book at the hot springs with an older couple who is naked and this is talked about and addressed, so some parents might want to hold off having their younger MG readers read the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for the review copy of An Occasionally Happy Family by Cliff Burke. This book follows Theo, who lives with his dad and sister, Laura, since his mother passed away from cancer two years ago.

Theo is a bright, imaginative middle schooler, who loves to illustrate and write graphic novels that he shares with his friends at school. When his dad announces that they will be going on vacation, he doesn’t really know what to think. He really doesn’t know what to think when they encounter a crazy cast of characters en route to their destination: a bird enthusiast, a social media prince, a pair of nudists and finally - his father’s new girlfriend.

An Occasionally Happy Family explores what happens when family members move on from loss at different paces, and how much empathy and patience are important in families. Theo is a wonderful main character and the banter between Theo and his friends, and with his father and sister are a perfect blend of heartfelt and humorous. This story is delightful, and the set up is believable. Cliff Burke has certainly written a wonderful debut for middle grade students!

Let me be honest, I had to read this book. After all, don’t many of us judge a book by its cover? I did. I judged it to be funny and full of relatable incidents. And that it was.

Theo’s family’s vacation usually consisted of visiting his grandma, but this year his dad had other plans for them. Theo and his sister have been out of sorts over life lately. Though no one has said anything, it’s probably because they are still trying to deal with their mother’s death, which occurred two years ago. They seem to be getting uglier and uglier toward each other. And their bad attitude has spilled over to their dad.

Could it be possible that by not addressing the elephant in the room, Mom’s death, that they have deteriorated so far as a family?

As expected there were literally laugh-out-loud places for me. The author’s descriptions and dialog at times felt right on. Burke’s debut story had so many ups and downs. He could bring out both laughter and tears.

My Concerns
Unfortunately, I had enough concerns that I rated the book down a star or two. I understand that the kids were suffering from grief from not having discussed, as a family, the hurt and loss of their mom’s death. I completely understand the author’s point, but it’s going to take much more than that for a child to disrespect a parent like Theo and his sister did to their dad. That part of the book was really difficult to read.

The behavior of the kids in this book Theo and his sister, toward their dad, may be meant to elicit laughs or make a point as to the pain they were internally suffering, either way it’s a bad example to young readers. A better example is to learn to apologize and “use your words.” (Ugh, I was a secretary in an elementary school. I hated that phrase, but it seems fitting here.)

Final Thoughts
It pains me to rate this debut novel down. For me, it bounced between really funny and really disrespectful dialog. The writing was very good. Sadly, part of the content didn’t work for me.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book and the ability to review it without any stipulations.

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 widower dad on the first vacation (grandma's house doesn't count) since their mom died. Dad has a big surprise to unveil -- his new girlfriend Lucrecia. There are some humorous moments as the family attempts to adjust to the heat while dealing with the flora and fauna in the park. What they really need is to have some honest conversations about missing mom and when those happen, the book really shines.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a certain sense to the writing and some of the plot beats here that this is a book written by an adult for children. Most middle grade is, certainly, but the tone here leans a bit heavily into “very mature young narrator.” It is, however, quite funny and enjoyable, at least from my perspective, with characters who come through clearly and a fast pace. I did also feel as if the story was a bit contained, with not much time to settle into what the everyday is like for this family and the vacation set off from the wider universe of the book (especially in terms of Theo's mother and her death), but I suppose that echoes the feeling you sometimes have on vacation anyway. Recommend to those who enjoy Gordon Korman’s work or Schmidt’s Pay Attention, Carter Jones.

A nightmare of a family vacation. A Texas State Park in July. Hot. Camping. Constant bickering. A wild bear. An introduction to dad’s secret girlfriend. All equal a disastrous family vacation that changes this family forever. Funny and heartfelt. @gordonkorman @NetGalley

Theo is glad that it is summer vacation, but while he friends are either going to robotics camp or dedicating themselves to playing video games, he finds himself roped in to a family camping trip to Big Bend National Park with his dad and older sister Laura. While this is a little better than the family's usual vacation of visiting their grandmother, it's still a lot of hikes in the woods with bugs and high temperatures. Theo's dad, a high school science teacher(who "looks and acts like one"), loves nature but is still a bit too gung ho for the outing. He has also not planned all that well; luckily, Laura excels at planning and has brought better snacks, found more amusing activities, and has even upgraded their overnight stays. She's taken on the role of family organizer since their mother's death from cancer a couple of years previously. The trip goes like most family vacations, but both kids are leery when their father has a "surprise" for them. It turns out that he has been dating Lucrecia, a life coach and very earnest believer in sharing emotions and hugs. While she's not much more annoying than their father, the whole idea of their family changing once again is somewhat difficult for both Laura and Theo. Will Lucrecia's presence move the family forward?
Strengths: In the summer of 1977, my parents (both educators) packed our Chevy Impala station wagon and took off for a month out west. We saw several Laura Ingalls Wilder sites, stayed with friends in Colorado, and traveled as far as Salt Lake City. Gas was 59 cents a gallon. It's all a bit of a blur, but I remember the feeling that this book captures perfectly: I was glad to be with my family at the very same time I was completely irked with them. There were cool moments (getting my first pair of pierced earrings in Jackson Hole, Wyoming) and not so cool ones (roaches in the motel in Kalispell, Montana). Even though the scenery was different, and Theo's family had different circumstances, the emotions portrayed in this book are absolutely true to life. Theo and Laura annoy each other but are also glad to have each other around when dealing with their father. Lucrecia is trying really hard to have the kids like her, and the father is a bit goofy in her presence. There are plenty of funny scenes as well-- there's an ornithologist and his son who lead the family a bit astray, and Lucrecia's general demeanor is a bit out there. I especially enjoyed that while Theo initially wanted to make fun of her, he benefitted from some of her advice. Plus, massages!
Weaknesses: This sucked me in right away, but bogged a bit after the initial car journey. It picked up again, but could have been a bit more smoothly plotted.
What I really think: This is a good, realistic, funny book about a family in transition. While I wished the mother was not around due to divorce rather than death, there are plenty of funny moments, and the scenes with Lucrecia hit just the right note. Definitely purchasing, and this will be a popular titles, since road trip books and humorous stories are always a hit!

Humorous and heartbreaking, a family deals with grief and change during an ill fated camping trip in Texas, during the blazing heat of summer.
Theo, bookish and conflict avoidant, is our guide on this journey. He is a compelling and sympathetic character and the reader shares his pain, disappointment and eventual healing.

A wonderful humorous look at serious subjects, such as dealing with death and family dynamics. The Texas background added 'spice' to the book.

I loved reading An Occasionally Happy Family by Cliff Burke. I read this in a single sitting and immediately sucked into this story. It is a story about Theo, his sister, and his dad grappling with the grief from Theo's mom passing away. Through their surprise family vacation that involves several disasters, you see the undercurrent of grief they are trying to avoid. Overall, this book had me laughing out loud and deep in my feelings. I highly recommend this book.