I chose the book to read and review because I enjoy a good road trip story and a sister story also.

Cassie has had a hard time since her life changed when her sister Julia got pregnant and is raising her baby at their parents' home.

I enjoyed the sections about the road trip and the sisters bond, but it all seemed a bit too easy, I am glad Cassie grew a bit in the story.

Every so often I read a book that I don't enjoy, but I sense my students will appreciate more than I do. This book has enough gems for me to want to add it to my classroom library even if I didn't particularly enjoy it. Let's see how my kids like it.

Counting To Perfect is about all the steps we take to make things perfect and the reality that there is no such thing. There is no perfect summer, perfect relationship, or perfect family. It is the story of two sisters, Cassie who is about to enter 7th grade and Julia who just graduated from high school but has been thrust into motherhood at the age of 17. The story is told from Cassie's point of view and the struggles she faces as she comes to accept all the changes happening in their family and her relationship with her sister. It is also about growing up and finding yourself in unexpected places. It is a great read for all middle grades!

It's not often that we get the teen pregnancy story from the perspective of another family member. Not this way. Basically, its sibling rivalry to the nth degree. Our protagonist resents the attention being given to her sister and the baby. She resents that she only gets negative attention, that her own needs and desires are being pushed aside. She's in danger of losing her best friends. She resents that she is now, in part, defined by something her sister did. The teen pregnancy aspect adds a new wrinkles as we have the sister who also resents her lack of control and being defined only as a mother. It's extreme growing pains. I have a number of plot questions, assumptions I've made that probably should have been more explicitly stated. Still, a decent read.

I've seen this described as the issue of teenage pregnancy as told by the teen mom's younger sister, but I don't think that is quite it.

This is really the story of a sibling who feels abandoned in the wake of a serious family event (or trauma). Her parents pay her little attention (until she gets a lone B instead of an A on her report card, and their response was to load her up with science books to "catch up" instead of rewarding her for her good work), they skip her swim meets, and she no longer has the close relationship she once had with her older sister Julia,

Honestly, everything Cassie felt could have occurred if a family member had a serious disease or just a major event that drew the attention to another family member, and the author manages to share Cassie's feelings without making her feel whiny or the reader unsympathetic to her. My heart broke a bit as Cassie's friends push her aside due to her sister's situation.

When Julia runs away with her bay and takes Cassie with her, they being to reconnect in the quiet time they have together. But it isn't until she returns home that she finds the bravery to confront everyone about what she has been feeling.

The story unfolded quietly and with a steady pace. There are a few moments of tension, and at times I wasn't sure what Julia's ultimate intention was, but the book had a satisfactory ending.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I sped through this book in under a day—and I think kids will, too. Cassie is a character that a lot of kids will be able to relate to, whether they have an Addie in their life or not.

Counting to Perfect is a great book for those kids that sometimes (always) feel that they’re not special and that no one pays attention to them. Sadly this is a growing number of our children now.

I teach 5th grade and think this would be a perfect book for them; it will open up great discussions.

Sweet middle grade story of lifes up and downs and feeling invisible.At times a bit unrealistic, but overall a decent story.

I was a little hesitant to read this one to my children so I read it first and then read it to my kids. I asked them what the theme of the book was and they saw the love between the sister's as the main theme not that the sister had a baby. My daughter mentioned how sad she felt for Cassie and that she would be sad if her brother left her when she wanted him to see her and be around for her big moments. Nicely written, eased into a tough subject, and fun illustrations.

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade fiction novel in exchange for a review. This is a realistic look at the issue of teenage pregnancy from the point of view of eighteen-year-old Julia’s younger sister, Cassie. From the moment Julia’s family found out she was pregnant, the whole household seemed to revolve around being supportive and helpful to the expectant young mother. Feeling left out and forgotten, Cassie has built up a strong resentment to her family, especially Julia.
After dealing with the pressure of learning how to be a mother while earning her high school diploma, Julia decides to take the baby away with her. Borrowing Cassie’s life savings to make this summer road trip, Julia takes Cassie along, too. The girls get in the car and go hundreds of miles away to stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, go swimming, and enjoy perfect days together; all without getting their parents’ permission first.
I like that this story gives voice to the frustrations that younger siblings feel when there is a family crisis centered around an older brother or sister. All of the family’s attention and energy is given to the older child’s circumstances, leaving the younger child feeling abandoned and unimportant. In that way, this book reminds me of The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner (in which an older daughter’s drug addiction has this effect on her younger sister) and Still a Work in Progress by Jo Knowles (in which a middle school boy is impacted by his sister’s eating disorder). Middle grade students that have ever felt overshadowed by an older family member will be able to relate to this.
I also like the way the relationship between the two sister develops into something special during the course of this journey they are taking. The narration shifts back and forth in time; to the past when the family first found out about the pregnancy and the birth to the present adventure in the car. The story moves along quickly but left me satisfied that everything is going to turn out all right in this family.
Although this book deals with the topic of teenage pregnancy, I think it’s written in a way that is appropriate for middle school students grades six and up. While the book brushes the ideas of shame, disappointment, and judgmental busybodies, the main thrust of the book is on the way this pregnancy affects Cassie, the younger sister. Her anger is more about the family not coming to cheer her on during her swim meets, missed swim practices, and tensions with her own friends because of all this. This is a book that many kids will be able to recognize themselves in.

Overall it wasn't a bad book, and it had a decent representation of dealing with a teenage pregnancy, and a child kind of fading to the background. There were some unrealistic aspects. As a mother, I would personally never allow my teenage daughter, her kid, and my 12 year old to continue to run off together once I found out where they were. Especially the 12 year old. I know that the parents are tracking them, and they aren't in any real danger; but just the possibility of trouble would worry me too much. Parts of it are a bit slow; although its only 200 pages so its not much of a slog, and reading through a 12 year olds perspective can grind your nerves at times. A nice story in the end though.

A fairly realistic look at a family dealing with the unplanned pregnancy of their older daughter. Told through the eyes of the younger sister, the complexities of the shifting familial relationships and the wider social ramifications in their community are well-handled.

By the author of Listening for Lucca comes this story of a twelve year old girl. Cassie's older sister has had a baby at 17 and Cassie is struggling with the loss of attention from her parents and her formerly attentive big sister. She's a great swimmer but has missed practices because the family has been occupied with pregnancy and baby issues. Her two best friend seem to be drifting away from her. And then her sister takes a road trip with the baby and Cassie. While sometimes a bit slow and sometimes a bit whiny, the story is a good read about family bonding.

This is an unusual take on teen pregnancy, in that the narrator is the little eleven year old sister, Cassie. She is feeling estranged because everything is about her sister, Julia and the baby, Addie, and she is not getting the attention she used to get. And of course, this being a middle school story, she is also having friendship problems.

Julia decides that she is fed up with being told what to do, by her parents, and her boyfriend, so decides to run away from home, with the baby of course. And Cassie decides, at the last minute, to go with her as well.

There is never any danger. There is never any fear. The parents are tracking the sisters via their cell phones. They both have money that they have saved up, so they aren't exactly staying beside the road every night.

It is a bonding of the sisters, to be sure, but that is it. I felt like there could have been more there.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Cassie wishes that life were the way it used to be, before her older sister Julia had a baby her senior year in high school. Now, instead of going away to college, she will be living at home with Addie. Cassie's friends aren't allowed to visit her home now, and her parents don't come to her swim meets as much. When Julia mentions that she and Addie are going on a vacation, she asks Cassie to come along. Since she has swim team, Cassie doesn't want to go, but ends up tagging along. Julia doesn't have a plan-- she just wants to get away. The two girls have some savings, and spend time staying in hotels and eating lumberjack breakfasts, having great days hanging out together. They let their parents know they are okay, and while the parents aren't happy, they instruct the girls to check in and let them have their trip without freaking out. Eventually, Cassie wants to get back to her friends and swim team, so her parents fly her home. She is able to work things out with her parents, and when Julia returns, she is, too.

Strengths: This was an interesting and fun road trip book, and I liked that the girls followed safety protocol with their parents. Julia is a good mother for the most part, and takes care of both Addie and Cassie. The parents are portrayed as very understanding and see how the family dynamic could be slightly different. The sisterly bond is sweet.
Weaknesses: The trip seemed like an extreme reaction to a fairly good, if unfortunate, situation. Not many young single mothers would have the financial assets to take such a break.
What I really think: I was confused by the reactions to Addie. It's 2018. I marched for abortion rights, so was sad to see that Julia did not avail herself of them. That said, having chosen to have the baby, her embarrassment seemed odd, if somewhat understandable. What was not understandable was the portrayal of the action of the friends' parents not allowing them to come to Cassie's house. That sounds like a 1960s reaction, and I worry that my students, many of whom have been raised by young, single mothers, might be confused and feel bad about their own situations after reading this.

Cassie just finished her sixth grade year, and she’s feeling lost in her own house. Cassie’s older sister, Julia, had a baby as a teenager and her parents always seem to be focused on Addie, the baby. When Julia decides to ru away from home, Cassie joins her, with Addie in tow. Together they have much-needed sister bonding time, and when the Cassie returns home, she finally feels like things are going to change for the better with her parents and her friendships.

I think this book would be relatable for any younger sibling of a teen parent. I also think this might be eye-opening for parents who are dealing with a teen pregnancy and give them a glimpse into the emotions and toll it might be having on the entire family.

This book attracted me because of the author. Unfortunately, this book was not was not as good as her previous ones. It was a compelling story, but I was lost as to why the characters were feeling lost and how the trip changed that. I would have thought that staying home when her sister left would have given her the opening to talk to her parents. I did enjoy reading the book and looking at things like they did for a little while.

Counting to Perfect tackles the serious topic of teenage pregnancy and the heartbreak it can bring to families. Julia and Cass are two sisters who find their lost bond as they embark on a run away trip with baby Addie in tow. Julia must find where she fits now that she is a mother. Is she destined to live under the watchful eye of her parents or will she find her strength and independence. Cass joins her sister on her journey and together they find the long lost sisterly bond that almost faded away after the birth of Addie.

A story of the bond between sisters even when you don't agree with their decisions, but continue to try to support them. Suzanne La Fleur is an expert at creating a realistic portrayal of middle grade characters with true-to-life characters and experiences that are important to include on your shelf.

While reading this book, I couldn't help thinking of my 11-year-old daughter and her feelings of distance from her 15-year-old brother. Being a pre-teen is so challenging and can be so lonely. When you're used to getting attention and suddenly don't get it, it can break your heart. Julia used to be the best big sister ever, until she became a teen mom. Cassie spends her sixth-grade year worrying about how her family will cope with a baby, what will happen to Julia, whether she'll survive labor (or that baby Addie will break her body in half!) What she didn't expect was sleepless nights for herself, getting forgotten, missing swim meets and practices so that Julia's needs would be met first.

When the end of the year comes, her father questions her B in science, even though she earned As in all her other classes. No one gave her credit or congratulations for what she did well. Her best friends and swim teammates are distant and one of their moms is even afraid that Julia's teen pregnancy and parenthood is catching, so she can't come to Cassie's house anymore. She's upset and frustrated and Julia seems to feel the same but Cassie can't understand why. When Julia decides to run away, Cassie goes with her and Addie. This is the story of their Sister Road Trip and finding themselves and each other again.

Interest Level: 3-6

Has your life ever been changed because of someone else? Maybe a brother or a sister that seems to get all of the attention to make you feel invisible? This has become the life of Cassie. Cassie is in middle school, she has two best friends, and she is the star on her swim team. Her parents always show her attention and they never missed a swim meet, that is until her teenage, senior in high school sister becomes pregnant, then Cassie's world changes. The once happy home is now full of fighting and yelling, before and after the baby is born. Everything in Cassie's home now revolves around her sister, Julia, and her baby, Addie. Now, Cassie misses swim meets and when she does get to them she has no one in the stands pulling for her. One of her best friends is not allowed to come to her house anymore and Cassie is beginning to feel left out with her friends. Julia's life is not easier either. She is not going to college like she had planned and her parents are control freaks that makes raising Addie on her own very hard. One night Julia announces to Cassie that she is going to run away and take Addie with her. She asks Cassie to go with her but she says no. However, early the next morning when she hears Julia leaving, Cassie throws some things in a bag and hops in the car with her. Julia, Cassie, and Addie are about to go on the trip of a lifetime. Will they be safe on their own? Will they be allowed to come back home? If they do go home, will things change for Julia and Cassie? This is a great read about how the actions of others not only affect themselves but all the others around them.

I loved this book because so many of our kids have to face living in a home just like this. This story is told from the perspective of Cassie. Even though she didn't do anything wrong, her life changed dramatically because of the actions of her sister. In the beginning of the book I was cheering for Cassie but by the end of the book I was cheering for the whole family to become a family again. Don't miss this one!