Chubby Wedge and his flighty, impulsive mother are trying to cope with her having just married King, a man who runs a miniature golf course and has a son a few years younger than Wedge. Wedge can't stand either his new stepfather or stepbrother, so when his mother proposes a week of vacation in which she takes King's son camping and Wedge stays home with his stepfather, he thinks the world is coming to an end. Typical of Henkes books for young readers, the cast of characters is spare. Outside the four family members, only three characters appear, and then very briefly. His great talent is focusing on the feelings and thoughts of children, and masterfully describing them. It is easy for us to feel Wedge's suffering, even when we know he's not being nice or fair. The book is slightly funny, slightly sad, but has emotional impact and a very satisfying almost-conclusion. Another characteristic of Henkes is that his books don't tend to come to a definite end, but sort of gently bring the reader near then end, and then allow us to imagine the rest.

(On a different note: this book has been produced with three different covers. Two are good. The one I bought is horrid. It is hard to believe the illustrator even read the book. The green cover showing the four members of the family makes them all look a bit harsh, makes Wedge look rather nasty, which he isn't. Makes King look distinctly sinister, which he definitely isn't, and worst of all, makes sweet, naive, innocent Andrew look like some sort of evil demon child from a horror movie. If you see this cover - DEFINITELY do not judge the book by the cover.) ( )