In Run for the Hills, a group of four half-siblings are on a quest to find their deadbeat and free-spirited father.
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary Fiction, Road Trip, Family Life, Siblings, Tennessee to California
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My Summary:
In one crazy road trip, a group of half-siblings take a road trip in a rented PT Cruiser to track down their deadbeat, elusive, and free-spirited father.
My Thoughts:
Road Trip
I’m a fan of road trip stories! Never having met his half-siblings, Rubin shows up on his half sister’s farm one day and convinces Madeline (Mad) to join him in meeting the other two half siblings and confronting their father, who had abandoned all four of his children. As they pick up the other two half-siblings, these four strangers discover information about their common father that surprises them.
Quirky Cast of Characters/Siblings
I would categorize this as a character-driven novel since the only action involves the quest. Once they find their father, that box is checked and we’re left with this eclectic group of characters who are left wondering what these relationships will mean to them for the rest of their lives. Their questions for their father have been mostly resolved, and now will their sibling relationships grow deeper over time? I liked the siblings aspect of the story and could relate to it in that my husband connected with his half-sister as an older adult.
I found that the section regarding the youngest sibling (a child) was perplexing, unrealistic, and unsatisfactory. Why would a mother let her child travel with a group of strangers? It seems like she should have tagged along, but it appears that she was eager to be free of the responsibility.
The Ending
In my reading experience, the ending was underwhelming and anticlimactic. They found the father. Asked questions. Check the box. Go home. The meaningful part of the conclusion is the sibling dynamics. How will gaining siblings impact their futures? Will they continue to build relationships and form a family on their own terms? It seems like what they really needed was each other and to finally confront the grief of abandonment.
Content Consideration: abandonment
Recommending Run for the Hills:
Fans of Kevin Wilson will want to add Run for the Hills to their TBRs. It’s an interesting and unique story.
Related: You might enjoy other types of road trip stories.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Meet the Author of Run for the Hills, Kevin Wilson
Kevin Wilson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including Now Is Not the Time to Panic, Nothing to See Here and The Family Fang; as well as two story collections. His work has received the Shirley Jackson Award and been selected as a Read With Jenna Book Club pick. He lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife and two sons.
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