The Not-So-Great Escape by Emma Green
The alpaca did it. Or did it do them? 🦙✨
Pre-Reading Thoughts: Hilarious premise — road trips, accidental crimes, and alpacas. I was bracing myself for chaos (and maybe a little heartbreak), and I was not wrong. Perfect for middle grade readers who love animals, friendship, and a bit of online fame gone sideways.
Post-Reading:
As I thought… The humor is relentless, and the friendship angle is warm and believable. Hedley’s cautious nature clashing with Aiden’s chaos makes for some brilliant tension and comic timing.
It surprised me by… Landing some genuinely touching moments about grief and self-discovery amid the alpaca hijinks. Also, that twist? Cheeky and clever — I only saw a sliver coming.
Music Pairing: 🎵 Featured Song: “Runaway” by Aurora 🎶 Vibe Album: Weird and Wonderful Road Trip Tunes (think quirky indie pop + energetic folk) 🎧 Artist Recommendation: Ingrid Michaelson
Vibe Check: 🎨 Colour Palette: Sun-bleached beige, chaotic neon, muddy road trip greens 🎶 Soundtrack: Car horns, laughter, the occasional alpaca bleat 🌞 Season: Summer — windows down, adventure ahead 😄 Mood: Hectic, heartwarming, slightly absurd 🍪 Scent: Gas station snacks and pine trees
Tarot Pull: Page of Wands. This Page might not always know the best way to go about things, but they will - eventually - try. There's a spark of curiosity there that no circumstances can completely snuff out.
For fans of: Percy Jackson (for the misadventure spirit) and Paddington (for chaos with heart).
