I absolutely adored this book. It was funny and whimsical even as it tackled some really tough issues like blended families and the loss of loved ones. I can't recommend it enough!

A Fine Middle Grade Buddy Comedy, With Heart

Right off the bat I was partial to this book because the action takes place in Wales, and I don't think nearly enough books are set in Wales. But put that aside.

This is an excellent road trip comedy. Our three middle grade heroes are bright, funny and engaging. They have been given three distinct and appealing personalities, quirks and all, and they feel authentic enough to carry the action along. The plot is wildly implausible, and becomes more and more manic as the story progresses, but that's par for the course in this sort of rollicking adventure and for the most part it works just fine.

There's a bit of fart and toilet humor, but just for a bit of a lark. Most of the jokes are smart and the boys' banter is clever. Our first person narrator, Freddie, has a rather dry sense of humor and there's a good bit of off-the-cuff deadpan humor. The author doesn't mock the genre and she plays straight with the reader, but there are a few throwaway lines and bits of business that make it clear we're here just to have a bit of fun. What more could you want from a very fast paced Boy's Own adventure comedy?

Well, to top it all off there's a kind and warm beating heart at the center of the fun. Freddie has lost his Mum and Grams, and it's that loss that propels him to try to find his missing biological Dad. His pals Ben and Charlie have issues of their own, though not in that league. We come to a resolution by the end, but little bits of sad pop out throughout the tale. That adds more weight than expected to the otherwise raucous and slightly unmoored adventure.

So, good fun wrapped up in a decent and rather lovely light message. Bonus - lots of fun Wales bits without the all too common English disdain of "rural" types.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I loved this book! There were so many parts that made me just laugh out loud. The bond between the boys was just incredible and I think it will be great for kids to see how they solved their own problems.

What an enticing and fun cover for a delightful book!

Following the death of his beloved Grams, eleven year old Freddie discovers that his biological father might still be alive so he and his friends Charlie and Ben set off on a quest to find him. The characters they meet and the events they’re caught up in were wonderfully imaginative and clever. Advertised as a middle grade book, I found it very appropriate for that age group and a great deal of fun for adults too. Enjoy this rollicking, hilarious journey with Freddie and his friends as he discovers what really constitutes a family.

My review was posted on Goodreads on 5/21/20

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is a story about three friends on an adventure to find Freddie’s biological dad after his Grams passes away. The only family he has is his adopted dad, and he fears losing him too, so Freddie seeks to find a back-up dad. Along the way, the friends get into more than a few scrapes and are credited for a few heroic and miraculous events. Ultimately Freddie learns a valuable lesson about family and how he sees the world.

I absolutely loved this book. Freddie’s friends, Charles and Ben, are super funny (Charles especially), and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious. Freddie’s voice throughout is almost like you’re reading his journal or sitting down with him for a cup of tea. It’s fun and it carries you along throughout the story. The secondary characters they meet along the way are colorful and interesting, and how it all ties together at the end was really fun to see. I highly recommend this delightful read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a nice feel good story about how the journey is definitely important on the way to your destination. Freddie and his friends go on an incredible journey. They have bonding, some fights, and are able to roll with the punches as they try to make sure Freddie gets to his final destination and doesn't give up.

Freddie Yates doesn't believe in miracles, facts only for this middle school boy. Only an adventure with his two best friends through Wales will lead Freddie to realize that miracles, like families come in all different ways. A feel-good, funny story. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate for the silly potty humor. What I enjoyed most about this book is how the author truly had the boys solve their own problems and come to their own realizations which is why so many hijinx ensue. Pearson gets boys and the natural thought processes they follow. A sure hit with avid readers and you may even catch a reluctant reader or two.

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.



This is a tough book to review. As an adult, I enjoy middle grade fiction and overall, I liked this book. It did take some work to convince myself that these eleven year old boys could set off on an adventure of this magnitude. From an adult perspective, it's unbelievable.

But this book isn't written for adults, it's written for kids, and if I review this book from the angle that it is for middle grade readers, it is much better. I do think older elementary readers would enjoy this book. They want to be taken seriously and the logistics of the adventure would not be an element that would throw them off. The wacky events are appealing and full of fun.

There were two things that I especially liked in this book: the friendship between the boys and the message about family. In closing, The Super Miraclous Journey of Freddie Yates is a book that will leave you feeling good at the end.

Freddie Yates goes on a journey to find his birth father after the sudden death of his grandmother. This silly, heartfelt journey/adventure story will be enjoyed by both boys and girls looking for a great friendship story.

*Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This middle-grade novel is definitely a great one to pick up if you need a change of pace or some giggles. Despite Fred's almost instantaneous grief in the beginning of the book, through his adventures with his friends you can see how these "miracles" play out. It's amazing the different perspectives that are shown for each of these miracles. Fred and his friends go on this amazing adventure and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious because they are so realistic. It made me laugh and cry over and over. I was so happy with the ending and would love to see more adventures with Freddie, Charlie, and Ben!

I think both adults and kids will love this book. I know several of my fourth graders who would really enjoy this it! I can't wait to add it to our classroom library.

Sometimes with books for younger readers, it's challenging to figure out if the book will actually appeal to those readers or if it's just written in a way that an adult team thinks will appeal to them. The story hits plenty of hot button kid topics (e.g. underwear, farts, poop, boys dressing in girls clothes) but feels sort of as if it's a little paint by numbers, like it's somewhat performatively silly. That it doesn't have a ton of emotional heft isn't super surprising or even necessary, but might be notable, considering the book starts with a death. I also wasn't entirely comfortable with the way Charlie's size/weight was emphasized more and more as the book went on, especially since his character is also fairly foolish and often lazy - it comes together in a bit of a caricature. Can likely find an audience looking for a slightly goofy adventure, though, and might be a choice for adults and kids to read together as it has some humor that will go over the heads of younger readers.

One of my top ten in 2020! Reading this book is exactly how I imagine an eleven year old boy would tell a story. It reminded me of both my boys at this age. Along with the exciting adventures, the characters were all dealing with real family issues that produce BIG feelings. Seeing how they each handled the events made me recall some childhood experiences and how I reacted. Adding this one to my son's TBR.

This book is hilarious! I loved the characters and there were so many things that happened to them to make this a quick read. It went a little deeper than the ridiculous things that happened (onion eating contest, superheros, etc.) with Freddie's journey to find his dad. I was happy with the ending and really want more adventures with Freddie, Charlie, and Ben!

My students will love this book. It is sweet, funny, and heart-warming. I love how loyal the boys are to each other. I love their adventurous spirit and their never give up attitude. Definitely a feel-good story.

This book is PERFECT for kids (and adults) who love to laugh! I will definitely recommend this book once we get in at my library to every kid.

I love when kids' books make me laugh out loud. This doesn't happen very often as an adult so I treasure the books that make this happen! Both a book about loss and one filled with humor and mishaps, all kids will be entertained by the story of Freddie.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

After the death of his grandmother Freddie learns what his real dad's name is. He is a bit freaked out - his mom died, his grandmother died, and the person he calls dad isn't his real dad and he could die anytime (not in any danger but you never know). So Freddie decides to go looking for his dad with his two friends using information they found on the internet. Of course. things do not go as planned and they find themselves hunted by a thief, the subject of numerous false news reports, and on an adventure they will never forget.

Putting aside the theme of running off that kids seem to be doing a lot in books I have read lately this was a fun adventure - madcap and unrealistic but fun.

I might be an outlier here with my 3 star review so far.

I love a good romping adventure, and this one was poised to have a lot of what I love with this triad of best friends. All three boys have something tough they are working through at home, with our MC Freddie having the most somber set up (family death).

That being said, there’s tons of wonky humor in here so it doesn’t sit too dark (I recognize it as funky and fun but it didn’t land for me as much as I wish it would have.. maybe my mood? Or maybe just humor for kids that I missed..). I also wasn’t as riveted to the adventure as I had thought I would be. My last note is that this is brand new but it felt a bit dated/ like it was written in another time. Not necessarily bad, but just something I noticed.

I definitely can see it being a fun book group read, though/ some kids will love this.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun and zany, this middle grade novel is jam-packed with adventure, humor, and a number of surprisingly touching commentaries on families of all kinds and make ups. Set in England and Wales, there is a strong regional flair that may result in some confusion for young readers unfamiliar with that part of the world but, overall, the material is highly accessible. I'm looking forward to reading more from this debut author.

4.5 stars

Listen, I really, really love stories about plucky misfit kids going on an adventure that bring them closer together — MS. BIXBY’S LAST DAY, STAND BY ME, THE GOONIES, etc. so when I found out about this book, I naturally wanted to read it.

It was so, so, SO good.

I loved the story, I loved the writing style, I absolutely loved the friendship between the boys, and of course I loved the super miraculous journey they went on.

Perfect for fans of John David Anderson’s MS. BIXBY’S LAST DAY.

Will I be purchasing this in June?

More than likely.