A review by mrskatiefitz
The Courage Test by James Preller

4.0

Will is not exactly thrilled when his historian father brings him along on a road trip following in the footsteps of explorers Lewis and Clark. He and his dad aren't close to begin with, and there might be bears out there in the woods! Still, long days on the road together combined with encounters with various people along the way, help bring Will and his dad to an understanding - at least until the true reason for their adventure is revealed. The Courage Test is the type of father-son story I was hoping to find in Avi's The Most Important Thing. Will and his dad are both sympathetic characters even as they struggle to find common ground with one another, and their journey, though occasionally marked by far-fetched occurrences, is believable and appealing. I loved learning about The Louisiana Purchase in middle school (and watching The Far Horizons in class), so this book appeals to me on a personal level, but I also see its wider appeal, not just to kids who know the history behind Lewis and Clark, but to any kid who loves wilderness adventure stories. The book is also occasionally very funny - such as when Will says his dad is "a mild G-rated version of the honey badger" - which should make it an easy sell for boys ages 10-14.