I received this book through the Early Reviewers program. Such a fun, quick adventure read! You don't really need to read book 1 to understand the plot, although I'm sure I would have enjoyed the book even more had I read the first book as well. Spalding does a beautiful job of sculpting a resilient, tightly-knit band of siblings who are fiercely independent and inspirational! Best for middle grade readers. ( )

In this charming sequel to Look Out For The Fitzgerald-Trouts, 11-year-old Kim and her four younger siblings are again immersed in another puzzling tropical island adventure. Neglectful, unloving parents who want as little to do with them as possible have abandoned the 5 children to live on their own and fend for themselves. Living in their small green car, eating the fish that they catch and fruit that they forage makes for a challenging life, but as long as they’re together, the Fitzgerald-Trouts are happy.

Mysterious people and way too much rain, along with knockabouts, volcanos and dangerous, bug-eating plants combine with the children’s desire to win an exceptional, desperately needed summer carnival prize in this fantastical tale. The Fitzgerald-Trout children are resilient, inventive, and determined to stay together and that means nothing, and no one is going to come between them.

This latest adventure shines the spotlight on the power of family and sibling love with humour and creativity. Delightfully playful illustrations by Sydney Smith pepper the book helping the reader to connect more deeply with the characters and the storyline. Author Esta Spalding has created another fanciful, engaging story that is sure to entertain middle-grade readers everywhere! ( )

This was a quick read, quite entertaining and a fun summer story. It’s interesting and would be good for young teens, and for those of us who still recall the freedom of summer adventures during family vacations. It keeps the reader anticipating the next terrible grownup encounter, and hoping for better grownups to show up and take things in hand, but that would just ruin the whole premise of the story. In unusual circumstances, children instinctively knew how to care for themselves and each other. ( )

I enjoyed reading this book. I did not read the first one, but I was still able to understand this one. There is a diagram at the beginning of the book that explains how all the siblings are related to each other. I liked that there was a scientific element to the book. It made it seem intelligent. The author writes in a way that makes the reader want to root for the kids.

A lively and engaging book for kids in the middle of elementary school or so. The Fitzgerald-Trouts are five related children who have been abandoned by their parents, and live by their own wits on a small tropical island. All of the adults in their lives are flawed in many ways, and the children work so hard to be better than them and be a strong, supportive family for themselves. Despite their ages (from 11 years old to a baby) the Fitzgerald-Trouts not only work to stay together, they also work to thwart disaster on their home island - a disaster caused by the worst of their parents. ( )