Sutton and Luis are only children. The one thing they have in common is that their parents (Sutton's dad and Luis' mom) are dating. And it is getting serious.

Sutton has a passion for robotics and wants to impress her mom, at least when her mom finally comes back from months studying penguins in Antarctica. While her mom is away, she lives with her dad and feeds her scientific passions as a homeschooled student. Only now her dad seems to be more serious about someone he's been dating. And that frightens her (as what will happen if they marry?)

Luis lives a sheltered life, only he isn't homeschooled ... he has a few severe allergies. He longs for adventure while knowing his mom is afraid of what might happen to him.

The parents decide to bring the kids together so everyone can get to know each other. Only Sutton and Luis do not hit it off on their first outing. The second outing (a hike) is where the book title comes from as the 2 kids get lost and have to rely upon each other to find their parents.

This was a sweet and engaging read. The characters were well developed. and unique. I enjoyed the pace of character development. Sutton rubbed me the wrong way first, but she grows and we grow to like her. I enjoyed the diverse cast as well.

Two children that are very different are forced to find a way to get along when their parents form a relationship. This leads to a story about being open minded. The author included a diverse cast of characters which was very nice to read for this age group.

Adorable story about a boy with a peanut allergy who writes and a girl who is into science and robots. Their parents are dating and they all try to navigate this new life as they each intermingle.

I loved getting to read the two points of view through both main characters. There are also a lot of science facts strewn throughout the book in a subtle way, which was cool.

The thing about robotics and coding that nine-year-old homeschooled Sutton Jensen likes is that is it always black and white - if you code correctly, your program responded as expected. Not like a mom and dad who marry and then get divorced, or a mom who's always off studying emperor penguins in Antartica and who sometimes misses big events in Sutton's life. Hopefully, she'll make it home for Sutton's upcoming 10th birthday. And now her dad Martin is dating a woman named Elizabeth and it's starting to get serious. He's finally taking her out for a fancy dinner. To ask her something?

Elizabeth's son Luis is also a bit uncertain about his mom dating Martin. But their first big dinner date does mean he gets to go on his first ever sleepover. Luis, who lost his dad to cancer when he was two, has serious, very serious food allergies and ends up in the hospital in the middle of his sleepover, ending his mom's date thanks to some guinea pig food. Luis is a regular at the hospital, and everyone knows him. Back home, his mom suggests a visit to the Museum of Pop Culture, one of Luis' favorite places. And Luis suggests they invite Martin and Sutton. But as much as Luis enjoys the MoPOP, Sutton is totally disinterested, after all, Luis' favorite Star Wars exhibit is science fiction, not real science.

Clearly, Sutton and Luis have nothing in common, but Martin, who was very unhappy with Sutton's behavior at the museum, and Elizabeth decide to try getting the kids together again, and take them on an outing hiking in the woods at Discovery Park. Not really wanting to go, both kids nevertheless try a little harder to make the outing less disastrous than the first one. Then Luis spots a "narrow opening in a dense thicket of bushes," and imagines it's a secret passageway to another world. The opening is too small for adults, but the parents encourage the kids to explore it, and head to what they think will be the other side to meet them.

But when Luis and Sutton take a wrong turn at a dead end and get lost, will they be able to join forces to find their way out and back to their parents?

A Field Guide to Getting Lost is narrated by both Sutton and Luis in alternating chapters, so that readers know each child's thoughts and reactions to their parents increasingly serious relationship, and to each other. And they couldn't be more different. Sutton is logical, all science and robotics, and a Ravenclaw. Luis has a great imagination which he turns into stories, and, like Martin, is a Hufflepuff. Despite also being a Ravenclaw, I didn't really like Sutton at first, but as she grew, she also grew on me and I began to see that change is hard for her, and she retreats into science as a way of dealing with disappointment. Sutton is apparently white, but lives in a diverse neighborhood, including Muslim, Chinese, and Indian neighbors. And I would love to try some of Mrs. Banerjee's golden milk when things get rough.

I did like Luis right off the bat. Despite his life-threatening allergies that really limit what he can do, Luis is not homeschooled as you might expect for a person with his health problems, but he does carry an epipen. Luis also has a great attitude and I liked how he used his imagination to take him to places he couldn't otherwise visit through his character Penelope Bell. Luis is part Guatemalan on his dad's side, and part white on his mom's side. And even though he doesn't speak Spanish anymore, he keeps in touch with his abuelos who live there.

On the whole, I thought Sutton and Luis' story was delightful to read, and even when they were lost, they weren't in real danger, just enough to let them get to know each other better and learn to appreciate and respect their differences. This very relatable book will definitely appeal to the younger age middle graders.

This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was gratefully received from the publisher Simon & Schuster

Sutton and Luis couldn’t be more different from each other navigating under single parent life. So different, yet both so lovable. I love how the chapters alternate between Sutton and Luis' perspectives to add an additional dimension to their back story. I love the voice, the humor, and just overall honesty and realism of this story. This was such a fun and easy read. These two kids are totally an inspiration, and I cannot wait to add this to my classroom library in the spring!

Sutton is a brainy, introverted girl, with science on the brain. And Luis is a creative writer and lover of fantasy. When their parents start dating, they find themselves thrown together. Can they find common ground? Can they even hold a conversation? Then a hiking trip gone wrong leaves them lost in the woods. They must work together to make it back to the parking lot where they hope their parents will be waiting.

There was a good assortment of characters, that seemed life-like. The plot moved along at a good pace. It would hold the interest of most tweens, male or female.

This novel for young readers shows how a girl on the autism spectrum (although autism is never mentioned) living with her divorced dad learns to accept and synergize with a acutely allergic boy living with his widowed mother as their parents pursue their romantic relationship. The plot and characters are not entirely believable but many young readers could empathize with the two main characters' struggles. The chapters alternate between their points of view.

A Field Guide to Getting Lost is Joy McCullough’s debut middle-grade novel, but you’d never know that. Her writing is so comfortable and inviting, you’d think she’d spent years writing for this age group. There’s a natural cadence to her prose that lends to its authenticity.

Sutton and Luis are as different as can be, but they are equally likeable. Sutton has a dogged determinedness that is endearing. I think most readers can easily commiserate with Luis. Everyone can imagine not being able to eat something they really like or being afraid of bees, even if they’re not allergic.

What connects the Sutton and Luis is the under riding feeling of frustration each feels for their unique situations. Both are unhappy with their current situations and both know changes are coming. This universal feeling is not only real but relatable.

I read A Field Guide to Getting Lost in about two uninterrupted hours. I look forward to reading more from this author!

I think this book is more for younger readers and the character are only 9 or 10 years old. The story built up to this big moment when they got lost in the woods in a park (not that perilous) and just like that they got along. Not a lot of development in this story. I did like that it tells the story of a couple coming together in a positive way. It also showed the challenges faced by a child who has severe allergies.

Sutton and Luis don't know what to expect and are less than thrilled when their parents start dating each other, especially after they meet and don't immediately hit it off. This is a short but heartfelt look at remarriage and single-parent families from the perspectives of kids. Science- and fact-obsessed Sutton and imaginative, sheltered Luis are both dynamic, sympathetic characters and really make this book stand out. They both seem so real, and readers will feel Sutton's pain that her mom will miss her birthday because she's away on research, and Luis's frustration that his mom is overprotective due to his innumerable allergies. Children from single-parent or blended families will appreciate Sutton's and Luis's joys and struggles as they navigate the changes brought to their lives by their parents' relationship. The book is also a testament to the importance of both science and imagination. 8 to 12.

Two very different personalities from two maybe or maybe not so very different worlds come together in a touching and engaging tale.

Sutton's parents are divorced, and her mother is constantly away studying penguins. Like her mom, Sutton loves science, but unlike her mom, she's into robots and programming—and she's fairly talented at it too. But when her mom announces she won't be there for Sutton's birthday, and her father gets more serious with the woman he's been dating, Sutton's not sure her life's programming is on the right track.

Then there's Luis. He's allergic to everything...or so it seems. His mom does everything in her power to protect him, but he still manages to stumble from one allergic reaction into the next. When his mom introduces him to her to the man she's dating and his daughter, Luis is willing to give the new people a try, but Sutton is tighter than the magical wards guarding a super treasure. He's not sure he can break through.

This was such a fun book to read! Sutton comes across so single-minded, as she only thinks about her robot, while trying to drown out the thoughts of troubles with her mother. It almost makes her, at times, a bit robotic herself. It's hard not to sympathize with her and her unease at dealing with everyone's relationships. Because everyone feels a little lost sometimes. Luis is a mess with his allergies, and yet, he's got the constant glow of hope...although it's not always bright and clear. His mishaps are the kind which could be almost funny if he didn't always end up with another dangerous allergic reaction. It's hard not to feel for him, and definitely easy to cheer for him as he tries to reach beyond his fears. In other words, both of these characters to hard not to like.

While the tale revolves around Luis's and Sutton's battle to get beyond their own worlds and deal with the new situation, it packs loads of gentle humor and tons of hope. Each page holds something new, making it a hard book to put down. Many young readers will identify with the two characters, and hope they both find their way.

An excellently written, smart and sweet mini-adventure for young middle grade readers!
Luis and Sutton may seem different as is possible to be, but these two characters shine with one similarity: unselfish hearts that guide them through their difficulties and lead them to victory over their biggest enemies: fear and uncertainty.
I loved this!

Sutton lives in a quaint apartment, loves to code her robots, and is homeschooled by her loving father, while her mother is in South Antarctica saving penguins (a thankless job). The problem is that Sutton hardly sees her mom with this new job, and the fact that her dad and mom are divorced.
Luis lives in the perfect home with his mother, Elizabeth, whom is always checking in on him. He is allergic to peanuts, bees, and countless other things that resolve in EpiPen injections and emergency trips to the hospital, often. His superpower is writing fantasties. He wishes his father was around, but he passed away due to cancer when Luis was a little boy.
It all gets a little weird when Sutton’s dad is always going out with this new lady and Luis’s mom has never been happier with this guy she’s been dating. Sutton and Luis didn’t know each other, until their first “family get together”. It all went awry when Sutton seemed a little off put by the whole situation. Her father isn’t pleased with how she acted, so they try for round 2 and this time Sutton is going to give it her all. She wants her dad happy and she kind of wanted to see Luis again, plus talk with Elizabeth.
Well, this next adventure also goes a little unplanned but it allowed Sutton and Luis to realize that with working together and discovering new ways to look at things, everything will fall into place.
Each chapter switched between the two characters, the voice of each character was true to them with all their awkward-quirkiness as middle schoolers go, and I loved the quick read. This will definitely appeal to kids!

Thank you to #NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Joy McCullough. This middle grades contemporary novel will be released on April 14, 2020. All opinions are my own.

Sutton is almost 10 years old and lives with her father in an apartment in Seattle. Her mother is a scientist researching penguin migration in Antarctica, and Sutton has just learned that her mom won't be home for her 10th birthday. Sutton, who loves science, attempts to focus on fixing the issues with her robot, but her life becomes even more complicated when her father wants her to meet the woman he has been dating and her son. Luis loves telling stories and is working on writing a book. He's also allergic to almost everything which leads his mom to be overly protective. He's excited, but still apprehensive, to meet his mom's boyfriend and his daughter, Sutton. On a family hike, the Luis and Sutton get separated from their parents and lost in Discovery Park. Maybe getting lost is exactly what they needed.

I found this to be a super cute middle grades book. Sutton and Luis are both kind of outsiders, in their own unique ways, who happen to be experiencing similar struggles. I think many kids will be able to relate to Sutton's anxiety of her dad dating and their family situation changing as well as Luis's desire for freedom and adventure. I enjoyed all of the facts and science that I learned from Sutton and all of the pop culture and literary references that Luis and Sutton's father make. The book alternates between Sutton and Luis's perspectives. This story has science, fantasy, adventure, and drama. It's fun and moves at an upbeat pace. I think it's a book that many middle grade readers will enjoy.

I found this book to be rather underwhelming. The plot is nothing new (two dissimilar kids thrown together because their parents begin to date) and the characters felt like they were one or two personality quirks repeated endlessly rather than fully fleshed out people. Readers in the intended age category may well love it, but I certainly would not enjoy having to teach or read it.

Available April 14, 2020

I have been looking for more titles with blended families for the Library and this book fits the bill perfectly. A Field Guide to Getting Lost is a gently told story about two children who become friends after learning their parents are dating and ready to make their relationship more official. A Field Guide to Getting Lost is one of those wonderful stories full of diverse and relatable characters that will appeal to a wide range of audiences. Not only do we have families who have dealt with the death of a parent and divorce, immigration and separation, Sutton is a neurodiverse robotics prodigy and Luis, a fantasy writer who lives with severe food allergies. Each child has amazing gifts and strengths but also struggles with fitting in and overcoming their fears. Due to the many sensitive topics within this story, you may want to give it a read first before giving it to a younger reader who has dealt with divorce or parental death.
In A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Sutton and her father live in a tight-knit community in Seattle. After learning her mother won't be home from Antarctica in time for Sutton's tenth birthday, Sutton's anger and disappointment is overshadowed by her uncertain feelings about her father's new romantic relationship with a woman named Elizabeth. Her parents have been divorced for many years and while she always knew it was a possibility, the reality of a new relationship leaves Sutton feeling replaceable. When her father invites her along on a family date with Elizabeth and her son Luis, Sutton tries her best to be friendly but is uncertain how to answer all of Luis' questions.
Luis, the only child of Elizabeth, has few memories of his father who died when he was very young. His severe allergies have made he and his mother incredibly close and he wants to be supportive of his mother's new relationship but is unsure how to act around Sutton. Her short answers and lack of pop culture knowledge leave Luis feeling uncertain about the future.
When the two families attempt another day trip to learn more about each other, a mysterious tunnel in the woods leave Luis and Sutton separated from their parents and forced to work together to find their way back to civilization.
This is a wonderful story of friendship, overcoming fears, and understanding that families come in all shapes and sizes. As I am in a very rural area, the descriptions of Seattle, with it's farmer's markets and community gardens will be knew for my children. Large apartment buildings aren't as common here so it will be interesting to see the kid's reactions to reading about walking down the hall to a favorite neighbor or upstairs to a friend's apartment. There's a very cute scene where 10 year-old Luis gets to walk down the block to a store to buy markers by himself and this mark of independence will be a great discussion starter with younger readers about their first independent adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Possible future siblings with absolutely nothing in common other than a love for their parents. Joy McCullough painted two in-depth characters in Sutton and Louis that will resonate with children and adults. Their compulsive interests, relationships with friends and neighbors, physical and emotional challenges give resonating depth that will appeal to children and adults. Life isn't easy, even when you're doing your best and a bit more, but once these two learn to accept each others weakness and play off each other's strengths, doors open. This is an engaging story that could also be used for in depth discussions.

I really enjoyed this lower middle-grade novel. I enjoyed the dual points of view, Sutton and Luis. The characters were realistic for the most part (Sutton seemed older than nine going on ten). The dynamics between the children and their respective parents was realistic. The book is well-written with both funny and heartfelt moments. This is a good choice for children just getting into middle-grade fiction who want a bit of drama but not too much.

Joy McCullough has crafted an excellent MG title with characters that young readers will relate to and enjoy. A moving and engaging exploration of family dynamics and new friendship, I highly recommend A Field Guide to Getting Lost.