A review by j_rowley
The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy

4.0

Fern, aka Frankie, has lived at the Ranch with her mom since she was little. One early morning her mom comes to her telling her the community leader, Dr. Ben, has a special errand they need to take care of. But to Fern it feels wrong and before she knows it, the are on the run. They land on the other side of the country in California (from upstate NY). They live in a motel where mom (Jamie aka Magnolia) cleans rooms. Fern is a fish out of water who knows nothing about history, pop culture, etc. Now in school, the one class she loves is science. They find Babs, her grandmother’s good friend. She is thrilled Jamie and Frankie are there. Fern misses the routine at the Ranch and her best friend, but she doesn’t know how to get back or even in touch with anyone there. After months of searching and hiring a PI, she sends a letter. Dr. Ben and her BFF come to get her but they lie. At the first stop she realizes all is wrong. She gets the waitress to call the cops. Her mom comes for her and they are going to stay put for a while.

Interesting fish out of water story.