Honestly, there are not many surprises in Continental Drifter by Kathy MacLeod. Granted, there might be a few “oh didn’t expect that to go exactly that way,” but for the most part, you know where our narrator is going and how things will probably turn out. Yet, it is an enjoyable read for the adult reader and the pre-teen/early teen will experience it new.
We follow Kathy’s (based on the author’s own experiences) story as family, friendship and belonging all come together. This makes a familiar story that has a few twists and turns from a different point of view but not totally “fresh.” The setting is more contemporary than many stories, but still is “historically based” for a reader aged 10 to 14. (MacLeod and my growing up overlapped a bit, so this isn’t “history” for me). There is clever text and images that bring to life MacLeod’s story with love and strength. The cover gives you a bit of what to expect, but there is more to it as well and things work out to keep things interesting and you reading along.
It is a nice book, a cozy read. I think I would read it again, but not right away. It is a memoir that is fictionalized giving many events that happened over the course of years happen within a few months. The family dynamic is interesting as Kathy is from a third marriage from her father and second from mother. She has older siblings that add to her identity journey (for better or worse) and the lack of knowledge of her parents’ pasts influences her choices and reactions. There are multiple layers, but nothing is “too deep”, overwhelming or too specific to Kathy’s situation. Things are relatable. I liked the tone and pacing of this book. You need to read it to find your own way to accompany the characters.
