First published 1998
Shana and Cody feel trapped in their new suburban neighborhood. The busy streets and crowded houses feel nothing like the wild places they once knew. When their mother suggests a trip to their old woodland cabin, the siblings see their chance. They work together to convince her they can manage the cabin by themselves while she returns to town. Their mother agrees, but staying alone in the wilderness proves harder than either child expected. The siblings face challenges they never anticipated when they were just visiting with adults around. Problems pile up as Shana and Cody discover that wanting independence and actually handling it are two very different things. The cabin that once felt like freedom starts to feel overwhelming. The story follows their struggle to prove they can take care of themselves while learning what responsibility really means.
Genres: fiction, family-life, adventure, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Cabin, Suburb, Wilderness
Period: 20th-century
240 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Paperbacks