In The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish, the kids are trying to find a way to make their father's upcoming 40th birthday extra special. They hit on the idea of recreating a road trip he was supposed to take with his own father after graduating from college, but which never happened because their grandfather died.
The only trouble is, their other grandparents have come for an unannounced, unexpected visit. And, while the Vanderbeeker kids know they should love their grandparents, they struggle a lot with that. Their mom's father is quiet and observant and almost never talks. Their mom's mother is bossy, demanding, and unsatisfied with everything and everyone. Still, the kids obey their parents' reminders to be polite and kind and respectful to their grandparents... most of the time. They're kids, and they stumble, but they also apologize and ask for forgiveness when they do.
I loved how this particular book wove more of their mother's Chinese heritage into the story. But mostly, I loved the utterly believable generational conflicts and conundrums. This family feels very real, but in a light and uplifting way. The parents are good parents, the kids are good kids, and the misunderstandings and scrapes that occur are never overblown OR underplayed.
Particularly Good Bits:
Upstairs, Mama was finishing up a batch of granola that Oliver and Papa would take with them, the musical clinking of metal bowls and wooden spoons a comforting sound that the Vanderbeeker kids had all been hearing since birth (p. 2-3).
Even though Hyacinth herself was quiet, she preferred to be around people who talked a lot. That meant she could listen, which made her happy (p. 176).
We don't know a lot about the adults in our lives," Hyacinth said. "They're all mysteries" (p. 223).
If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: G. Wholesome and uplifting and wonderful.
This has been the 52nd book read off my TBR shelves for #TheUnreadShelfProject2022.
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