How to Stay Invisible by Maggie Rudd

How to Stay Invisible   by Maggie Rudd  230 Pages

Twelve-year-old Raymond Hurley has never had a place to call home. His freewheeling parents move their family from town to town, and they're living in a trailer in a brand-new state when one day they just up and abandon him. All alone with nothing but a duffel bag full of clothes and Rosie, his reliable pup, Raymond is forced to live in the woods behind his middle school. With a fishing pole in hand and a survival guide checked out from the library, Raymond scrapes by and doesn't tell anyone his secret. This isn't the first time he's had only himself to rely on. However, when winter days get colder and finding food becomes nearly impossible, Raymond makes new friends, including a curious coyote, in unexpected places. Soon he learns that his fate will depend on not just his wilderness skills, but also on the people and animals he chooses to trust. In her heartfelt debut novel, Maggie C. Rudd takes readers on a journey of survival that speaks to friendship, adventure, and the everyday wonders of nature. In middle school, blending in is easy, but sometimes the braver thing is being seen.

I read this because it is a Mark Twain nominee.  It was very sad but a reality for some children.  I am not sure children will understand the depth of the tragedy, and would think it is an adventure story.  I did not like the ending.  They introduced all of these different characters and then he didn't even get to go live with any of them...sorry spoiler!  It was a good book, but I definitely would want a different ending!