Driving the Bugmobile by Alan Orloff
Publisher: Level Best Books
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeSometimes a pool noodle is just a pool noodle. Other times…
In two short weeks, Nick Carlin will be old enough to get his driver’s license, but there’s a catch—a huge one. His mom says he must first pass a swimming test, and Nick takes to the water as well as a flying fish pilots a jumbo jet. It’s one more challenge as the Summer From Hell comes to an August crescendo: his slacker friend Miller is worried about “failing life,” and the older girl Nick’s crushing on—his robo-hottie swimming instructor—is leaving for college. But the cherry on top of the stress sundae? His mom’s low-life moocher boyfriend has just moved in, and Nick is supposed to be happy about it!
As Nick struggles to get his life in shape (and master the freestyle), he learns that the best solutions aren’t always the easiest ones. If he wants to relieve his friend’s anxiety, shield his mom from heartache, find happiness with the right girl (hint: not the robo-hottie), and score the keys to the Bugmobile, he’ll have to step up his game, big-time.
Growing up isn’t always easy.
Mr. Orloff did an excellent job of showing both the upsides and the downsides of being a teenager, from the parties to dealing with the frustration of rules that don’t quite make sense. Nick was at the age when he was almost ready for bigger responsibilities in life like getting his driver’s license, and his impatience to grow up felt realistic and relatable to me. Time often seems to pass more slowly when you’re a teenager, so the thought of waiting even a few more weeks was exasperating to him. I smiled and nodded along as I read about everything he did to prove to his mom that he was responsible enough for this next step.
I would have liked to see more attention paid to the subplot involving the budding relationship between Nick’s mom, Tiffany, and her new boyfriend. She was such an attentive and cautious parent in other areas of life that I was a bit surprised by how quickly she not only introduced Jason to Nick but also invited him into their family traditions and routines. Having more details about her thought processes here would have made this a five-star read for me.
Some of the most interesting scenes were the ones that explored why Nick had never learned how to swim despite years of lessons. His reasons made perfect sense and gave extra layers of depth of this character. I also appreciated the way this storyline explored how childhood experiences can shape someone’s personality for years to come. Yes, I know that’s a little vague, but the big reveal isn’t something anyone should have spoiled for them, and figuring out what it was made this reader even more curious to discover what happened next.
Driving the Bugmobile was an absorbing read.
