Occasionally Happy Family, An

Gordon Korman meets The Great Outdoors in this funny and moving debut about a boy who goes on a disastrous family vacation (sweltering heat! bear chases!)that ends with a terrible surprise: his dads new girlfriend.

There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation.Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo isan indoor animal.It doesn't help that this will bethe first vacation they're takingsince Mom passed away.

Once there, the familycontends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologistand his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo's dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise:the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend.

Theo tries to squash down the pain in his chest. But when it becomes clear that this isanauditioning-to-be-his-stepmom girlfriend, Theo must find a way to face his grief and talk to his dad before his family is forever changed.