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How to Avoid Extinction
Since the death of his grandfather, Leo's number one chore has been to chase after his grandmother who seems to wander away from home every few days. Now, Gram's decided to roam farther than ever. And despite his misgivings, Leo's going along for the ride. With his seventeen-year-old cousin, Abbey, and an old, gassy dog named Kermit, Leo joins Gram in a big, old Buick to leave their Pennsylvania home for a cross-country road trip filled with foldout maps, family secrets, new friends, and dinosaur bones.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2016
36 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Paul Acampora
11Ìýbooks76Ìýfollowers I was born in Bristol, Connecticut and grew up surrounded by an extended mob of parents, sister, grandparents, cousins, neighborhood kids, rabbits, dogs, nurses, engineers and others that, at various times, included musicians, Italians, Canadians, cancer survivors, gardeners, chicken killers, hair dressers, poker players, checker cheaters, pony riders, shopkeepers, factory workers, elementary school teachers, auto mechanics, rock and roll fanatics, massage therapists, several people who may or may not be dead, and a crowd of other miscellaneous wheeler-dealers. I went to school at St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Paul Catholic High School. I was a voracious reader as a kid. I still am. I attended the University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH!) where, thanks to my friend John Costello and his father, Dr. Donald Costello, I earned a degree in American Studies despite the fact that the only American places I’d ever visited were summer vacations on a beach at Rhode Island and occasional day trips around New England to watch jai alia, greyhound racing or the trotters with my grandfather who, with my Uncle Joe, taught me how to ride and drive a sulky behind my very own pony named Misty (that's me and Misty at left). After college, I wandered around the country for a few years. Despite what my mother might say, I did not steal her 1973 Buick Electra. Despite what my friends might say, the car was the color of summer gold. Not piss yellow. I've lived in every state that begins with the letter U or a C. I was a Student Conservation Association volunteer for awhile giving tours at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in southeast Utah. I spent a winter schlepping very expensive bags around the Rocky Mountains for guests of the Snowmass Lodging Company. As a Holy Cross Associate volunteer, I lived with a half-dozen friends in a tiny house in the San Francisco Bay area where we tried to be good people. I stayed in California to teach kindergarten at St. Patrick Elementary school in West Oakland. I got married (yahoo!), and my wife and I lived in “the heart of the bay,â€� Hayward, California for nearly ten years. When we decided to move, we put names of favorite places in a paper bag and pulled out a slip that said PENNSYLVANIA. So that’s where we live now. These days, I remain married to my best friend. I have a son and a daughter who keep me on my toes. I’ve got a day job and a kayak and tons of books that I love to read. I write early in the morning and late at night. My favorite place in the world is wherever my wife and kids are. I am especially happy when that place is next to a lake or in France. My favorite word in the dictionary is Naugahyde. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 20 years. My favorite non-home-cooked meal is cinnamon-raisin French toast plus black coffee at the Karlton Café in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. For the future, I hope my family and friends are safe, healthy and happy and that I will write dozens and dozens of new stories and novels, each one better than the last.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 23, 2016
This would make a fantastic read aloud for middle school! Funny and poignant.
October 15, 2017
Maybe it will be a better inter-generational road trip than Cooney's Hit the Road.
It looks like the author has other books, too, that I should investigate....
----
Done. Fun, and lighter, not so full of itself as some 'getting to know grandma' type stories. For a younger audience, too, than, for example, (which is probably the main source of the Bauer comparison). Acampora's story reads, too, like he actually took the trip, more authentic feeling. Lots of interesting bits, like the Filipino family, the Field museum, issues of aging, grief, fragile ecosystems, carburetors, etc.
And, yes, I will investigate more by the author.
It looks like the author has other books, too, that I should investigate....
----
Done. Fun, and lighter, not so full of itself as some 'getting to know grandma' type stories. For a younger audience, too, than, for example, (which is probably the main source of the Bauer comparison). Acampora's story reads, too, like he actually took the trip, more authentic feeling. Lots of interesting bits, like the Filipino family, the Field museum, issues of aging, grief, fragile ecosystems, carburetors, etc.
And, yes, I will investigate more by the author.
September 21, 2016
The story: Leo's job is keeping an eye on his grandmother, who tends to wander off. So when she jumps in her old Buick and heads off to see the dinosaurs in Utah, Leo HAS to go with her. Right!?!? Here's a funny story about growing up, getting old, and getting there.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (death of a family member, dementia) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I really liked this one! Acampora's style is a lot like Richard Peck's, and his treatment of family problems and strengths is reminiscent too. Hand this to a kid looking for an easy read, and he/she will end up with even more than they bargained for.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (death of a family member, dementia) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I really liked this one! Acampora's style is a lot like Richard Peck's, and his treatment of family problems and strengths is reminiscent too. Hand this to a kid looking for an easy read, and he/she will end up with even more than they bargained for.
May 1, 2020
3.7 Stars for this read!
Who doesn't love a road trip story, especially with a wild Grandma, a crazy cousin and an old dog, being chased by a mad mom? WELL, of course, everyone loves this! HOW TO AVOID EXTINCTION is about family, love, exploration, and understanding. This middle school read is fit for adults and kids alike, it is a short and fun read.
Happy Reading!
Who doesn't love a road trip story, especially with a wild Grandma, a crazy cousin and an old dog, being chased by a mad mom? WELL, of course, everyone loves this! HOW TO AVOID EXTINCTION is about family, love, exploration, and understanding. This middle school read is fit for adults and kids alike, it is a short and fun read.
Happy Reading!
July 12, 2018
When I finished this book, I announced to my husband that it was a 5. He questioned why and I told him that I cried once and laughed out loud three times. “So that’s the scorecard?� he asked. My response was that it was the sigh of satisfaction when I closed it that earned the 5 stars. After I read Paul Acampora’s acknowledgements, I got a hint about why the book evoked such a heart response—Jordan Sonnenblick is one of his encouragers and he’s another author who causes strong emotional reactions from me. School Library Journal compared “How to Avoid Extinction� favorably to Joan Bauer’s books and I wholeheartedly agree and, in fact, noted the similarities to her books before I read SLJ’s comment. I look forward to promoting this 2018-2019 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee with my grade 4 and 5 library patrons and will happily be able to suggest it to both genders due to strong male and female characters, humor (although not all will crack up during the Beatrix Potter section like I did, but surely everyone will laugh uproariously as Abbey eats those Filipino snacks!), adventure, dinosaurs, a classic car, family drama that many will connect with, and a solid conclusion. I highly recommend this book for grades 4-8 without reservations. And while I realize that is quite an age spread, Leo and Abbey cover that range nicely and they share main character billing, so there is plenty for everyone to enjoy.
November 10, 2016
Acampora, Paul How To Avoid Extinction, 208 pages. Scholastic, OCTOBER 2016. $17. Content: G.
Leo’s Gram has always been a handful, but even more so since his grandfather passed away. Gram gets wind that Leo’s mom is considering putting her in a home because of her shenanigans. Before that can happen, Gram coerces Leo into a cross-country trip to a remote Utah location to check out allosaurus bones, along with his cousin Abbey and Kermit, an old dog. Gram abandons the rest of the group part way through the trip, now Leo and Abbey hope that she is really going where she said she was headed.
The summary of the book does not do this book justice. It combines a great cast of characters with laugh out loud hilarity. I kept reading quips out loud to my husband because I just had to share. I can’t wait to share this with my students.
MS � ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
Leo’s Gram has always been a handful, but even more so since his grandfather passed away. Gram gets wind that Leo’s mom is considering putting her in a home because of her shenanigans. Before that can happen, Gram coerces Leo into a cross-country trip to a remote Utah location to check out allosaurus bones, along with his cousin Abbey and Kermit, an old dog. Gram abandons the rest of the group part way through the trip, now Leo and Abbey hope that she is really going where she said she was headed.
The summary of the book does not do this book justice. It combines a great cast of characters with laugh out loud hilarity. I kept reading quips out loud to my husband because I just had to share. I can’t wait to share this with my students.
MS � ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
November 19, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, .
Honestly, my gut reaction when closing the book was "man, this needed to be longer!"At barely 200 pages, there didn't seem to be much room for the story to stretch as long as it needed to go. I did really like the characters and the path that they took, but I was also yearning for more.
If I'm being completely honest, actuall, I did have a little trouble with some of the characters: namely, Leo's mother and grandmother. Mainly his mother. She's not actually around for most of the book, so it's hard to get a pin on her personality, but from the little we do get she seems like a rather unpleasant mother. I get that there were reasons for her behavior, that her life hasn't been all roses and sunshine, but she's been very closed-off and hasn't mentioned any of the major parts of her life to Leo (even the parts that include his own birth father). Leo, for his part, seems remarkably nonchalant about all the information she's hidden from him–but grows increasingly curious to find out more as the book progresses. It's a bit peculiar, really, that he hadn't wondered much before about what his gone-away dad was like.
Anyway, I'm not always the biggest fan of quirky stories: sometimes they just feel forced, like someone is trying to hard to be "meaningful" by being bizarre. I think Acampora legitimately knows how to pull off a touching and off-beat story, as he did in his debut Defining Dulcie (my review) all the way back in '06. It definitely works in How to Avoid Extinction as well, though I have to admit Extinction didn't quite connect with me on the emotional level that Dulcie did.
This is a meaningful and interesting book, full of interesting and colorful characters facing up to some pretty tough truths about life. I will admit freely that there was one scene about three-fourths in that made me sob like a baby, and I definitely came out of the book wishing it hadn't ended. I get the general vibe from the book, though, that it could have gone a little deeper. The material felt a little rushed at times, because (as I said at the beginning of this review) it honestly just felt too short. Maybe it's just a shortcoming inherent in the middle-grade genre, but I can't help but bemoan all of the amazing things Acampora could have done with the plot if he'd only taken another hundred pages to write it.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly, my gut reaction when closing the book was "man, this needed to be longer!"At barely 200 pages, there didn't seem to be much room for the story to stretch as long as it needed to go. I did really like the characters and the path that they took, but I was also yearning for more.
If I'm being completely honest, actuall, I did have a little trouble with some of the characters: namely, Leo's mother and grandmother. Mainly his mother. She's not actually around for most of the book, so it's hard to get a pin on her personality, but from the little we do get she seems like a rather unpleasant mother. I get that there were reasons for her behavior, that her life hasn't been all roses and sunshine, but she's been very closed-off and hasn't mentioned any of the major parts of her life to Leo (even the parts that include his own birth father). Leo, for his part, seems remarkably nonchalant about all the information she's hidden from him–but grows increasingly curious to find out more as the book progresses. It's a bit peculiar, really, that he hadn't wondered much before about what his gone-away dad was like.
Anyway, I'm not always the biggest fan of quirky stories: sometimes they just feel forced, like someone is trying to hard to be "meaningful" by being bizarre. I think Acampora legitimately knows how to pull off a touching and off-beat story, as he did in his debut Defining Dulcie (my review) all the way back in '06. It definitely works in How to Avoid Extinction as well, though I have to admit Extinction didn't quite connect with me on the emotional level that Dulcie did.
This is a meaningful and interesting book, full of interesting and colorful characters facing up to some pretty tough truths about life. I will admit freely that there was one scene about three-fourths in that made me sob like a baby, and I definitely came out of the book wishing it hadn't ended. I get the general vibe from the book, though, that it could have gone a little deeper. The material felt a little rushed at times, because (as I said at the beginning of this review) it honestly just felt too short. Maybe it's just a shortcoming inherent in the middle-grade genre, but I can't help but bemoan all of the amazing things Acampora could have done with the plot if he'd only taken another hundred pages to write it.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2018
Full disclaimer- I love road trip stories. This one is a sweet Walk Two Moons -esque road trip story by the same author as I Kill the Mockingbird. It’s about a boy and his family as they get to know one another better in those ways that we often forget to in our otherwise daily lives (or try to hide/ pains we push away). I’m especially excited to rec this less stereotypically ‘actiony� book to some of my boys. I appreciated the grappling with loss, morbidity, and the many layers in which characters were trying to sort out how to look back and still move forward. I guess my one push was that I wanted to know the characters better (the snippets we caught of each were wonderful), but I wanted more. I did find the bits of humor so fun, and I could see this being a sweet read aloud with some good all-class giggles.
Mostly, I really loved Honey - I have to be honest I thought this was going to be a � Im in ‘regular� white people land type book�, and wasn’t expecting a Filipina � especially such a rad one. I love her. I have to say I wish the author had committed to the Lesbian arc I was hoping for, but alas, I’ll just interpret it as so for now (but next time, Mr. Acampora, please make it explicit !!?).
Definitely worth checking out.. the more I think about it the more I appreciate the small things he did.. especially in such a short book.
Mostly, I really loved Honey - I have to be honest I thought this was going to be a � Im in ‘regular� white people land type book�, and wasn’t expecting a Filipina � especially such a rad one. I love her. I have to say I wish the author had committed to the Lesbian arc I was hoping for, but alas, I’ll just interpret it as so for now (but next time, Mr. Acampora, please make it explicit !!?).
Definitely worth checking out.. the more I think about it the more I appreciate the small things he did.. especially in such a short book.
September 27, 2016
I appreciate middle grade books that take some chances. This book, however, maybe took a few too many wrong turns along the way.
The story is mostly a road trip tale, where Leo, a caretaker for his afflicted grandmother, has to go with her on her latest fling many states away. He gets on board with his cousin and they effectively drive cross country with a dog and figure out exactly what Gram needs and keep her safe along the way.
It's a strange read in some regards, but I had some personal issues with the fact that the grandmother clearly has dementia or Alzheimer's and it's played less for the conflict and more for laughs. The story itself isn't the most realistic thing, but we know that going in, and while this adult reader was ultimately unhappy with the payoffs, I'm not sure kids will notice enough compared to a lot of the other things the story has going for it.
It didn't work for me, but it might work for other kids. Worth keeping on your radar, but there are a lot of better options available.
The story is mostly a road trip tale, where Leo, a caretaker for his afflicted grandmother, has to go with her on her latest fling many states away. He gets on board with his cousin and they effectively drive cross country with a dog and figure out exactly what Gram needs and keep her safe along the way.
It's a strange read in some regards, but I had some personal issues with the fact that the grandmother clearly has dementia or Alzheimer's and it's played less for the conflict and more for laughs. The story itself isn't the most realistic thing, but we know that going in, and while this adult reader was ultimately unhappy with the payoffs, I'm not sure kids will notice enough compared to a lot of the other things the story has going for it.
It didn't work for me, but it might work for other kids. Worth keeping on your radar, but there are a lot of better options available.
October 6, 2017
After Leo's grandfather dies, Leo spends much of his time trying to find and take care of his grandmother. The whole family has been hard hit by the loss and are still grieving, but grandma is having an especially difficult time as the one year anniversary approaches. Gram is determined to go to Utah to a dinosaur quarry and despite his best intentions, Leo, his cousin Abbey, her dog, and Gram all head out in the old Buick on a cross country trek.
A sweet yet funny (at times) look at loss, grieving, and families. May be difficult to find the right audience for, but if you find them, they will like it. Lots of good character development and growth.
A sweet yet funny (at times) look at loss, grieving, and families. May be difficult to find the right audience for, but if you find them, they will like it. Lots of good character development and growth.
January 10, 2018
I really loved the Mockingbird book & was really looking forward to this one. Humorous & heartwarming story of family & new friends, dinosaurs and a dog hero.
Already some funny yet poignant parts, pg 6: “missing your grandfather, being depressed, it takes a lot of time if you want to do it right.�
Pg 109 � by then, it will be nothing but robots and cockroaches just sitting around talking about the good all days.� Talking about what might happen a million years from now.
Already some funny yet poignant parts, pg 6: “missing your grandfather, being depressed, it takes a lot of time if you want to do it right.�
Pg 109 � by then, it will be nothing but robots and cockroaches just sitting around talking about the good all days.� Talking about what might happen a million years from now.
March 25, 2019
Leo lives with his mom and his grandma in a small town. A lot of the location centers around Mr. Kruller, the local donut maker. His grandmother often leaves the house and Leo must go find her. Leo, his grandma, and his cousin leave on a road trip in his Grandpa's old car.
They are going to see dinosaurs and they go from Pennsylvania to Arizona. It's a great road trip book! They meet all kinds of interesting characters.
They are going to see dinosaurs and they go from Pennsylvania to Arizona. It's a great road trip book! They meet all kinds of interesting characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2016
Another fantastic read... A coming of age, cross generational road trip... I would have liked a little more resolution with the grandmother... She was at times a little flat bit o enjoyed book.
Gordon Korman would make an angry observation about one element...
Gordon Korman would make an angry observation about one element...
February 22, 2017
Laugh-out-loud funny, poignant and wise. I loved the voice. There were a few holes and one or two convenient plot devices that kept me from giving it five stars. My students are not going to notice and are going to love the ride.
September 4, 2019
Perfect read aloud book with quirky, lovable, and very funny characters. What a wild and interesting ride.
November 9, 2019
Cute story.
December 27, 2018
It's Leo's responsibility to keep track of his gram. It's been almost a year since his granddad died and everyone, especially his gram, is a little bit lost without him. That's why Leo isn't too excited when his gram announces that she wants to see the allosaur bones in Utah. The problem is that they are a couple thousand miles away. But Leo knows his gram. When she gets it in her head to do something, nothing and no one is going to stop her. He grabs a few clothes then hops into his gram's yellow 1973 Ford Electra with his cousin Abbey, and her smelly golden retriever. Their journey will take them to the Field Museum in Chicago, a Filipino family in Nebraska, and finally the Allosaur Museum in Utah.
This is a hilarious road trip book. All the characters have a quirky sense of humor. It reminds me of the National Lampoon's Vacation movie. The things that happen to Leo and the rest of the crew are just as crazy and absurd. Car almost getting towed at the Field Museum. Deciding where to bury the dead dog. Grandma getting an allosaur tattoo. It's funny. It's quick. Shouldn't be hard to find readers for this one.
This is a hilarious road trip book. All the characters have a quirky sense of humor. It reminds me of the National Lampoon's Vacation movie. The things that happen to Leo and the rest of the crew are just as crazy and absurd. Car almost getting towed at the Field Museum. Deciding where to bury the dead dog. Grandma getting an allosaur tattoo. It's funny. It's quick. Shouldn't be hard to find readers for this one.
October 12, 2019
One of those books that wished was twice as long! It’s so good!
March 4, 2018
There are SO many things I loved about this book. I love the concept--that a young boy, his grieving but feisty grandma, his cool older cousin, and an elderly golden retriever are going on a roadtrip to visit dinosaurs in their late grandfather's memory. Sold! I can't wait to buy this book for my library because I think my students will enjoy it, especially those who enjoy books on the shorter side.
That being said, from my own perspective I wanted this book to have a little more substance. I felt the emotional resolution between Leo and his mom was rushed and not fleshed out enough. I also was completely heartbroken that Kermit is never mentioned--not once--after being laid to rest in the mountains. Anyone who knows me, knows that the dog is the most important character in any story.
Finally, I am left wishing that Abbey and Honey could have their own YA series where they fall in love and hunt for dinosaur bones and fly airplanes and be awesome. Someone please write me that book!
That being said, from my own perspective I wanted this book to have a little more substance. I felt the emotional resolution between Leo and his mom was rushed and not fleshed out enough. I also was completely heartbroken that Kermit is never mentioned--not once--after being laid to rest in the mountains. Anyone who knows me, knows that the dog is the most important character in any story.
Finally, I am left wishing that Abbey and Honey could have their own YA series where they fall in love and hunt for dinosaur bones and fly airplanes and be awesome. Someone please write me that book!
December 15, 2017
Leo Henderson loved his grandfather. Since Pop died a year ago the family has been at a loss. His grandmother keeps wandering off so Leo must find her. His mother is finding it difficult as she tries, perhaps a bit too hard, to keep the family on an even keel. All this causes strain and some resentment. Then Gram decides that she must get away and take the trip that she and Pop had planned. Not quite willingly Leo and his cousin Abbey literally hop in the car with her. Leo discovers more than dinosaurs. Then Gram takes off again. Leo and Abbey chase across the country after Gram in a 1973 Buick Electra. The story is comic. The reader can easily visualize the events. But it is a poignant, realistic tale of loss, grief and finding oneself again.
July 11, 2016
Entertaining, fast-paced, and true to heart - Paul Acampora does it again. How to Avoid Extinction explores heavy issues as light as a feather - you can go there, or not. The characters, particularly Leo and Honey (my personal favs) are well developed, not a line is wasted. The chapter headings take you all over, from: A Person Wants to Know That There's a Person, to Big Bird's Evil Zombie Cousins and Other Desert Wildlife - what? Some laugh out loud moments will keep the kids reading past bedtime. Recommend for ages 8 to 10.
April 15, 2018
I am a volunteer leader of a book club for adult English language learners. We have advanced to middle school books but it can be difficult to find topics of interest that are not too childish. I think this is great for the middle school group. As it dealt with family issues and had highlights of different geographical a areas of the United States, it was a good choice for this group. The book Wonder has been one of their favorites as well as Rules of the Road, Number the Stars and the 13th Goldfish.
January 7, 2017
An amazing multi-layered book! When I first completed it, I was considering four stars, but the more it sunk in, the more amazing it became. On the surface it is a fun story of a crazy road trip with quirky characters and delightful one-liners. On another level, the reader gets to ponder extinction (dinosaur and personal) and what things should and should not be buried. Good stuff for young and old.
November 12, 2018
A good story that reminds readers that sometimes what we think might be the main thing, is actually not the main thing. Stories about travel are always some of my favorite as I have been privileged to travel a bunch in my life and look fondly on the memories I retain, but although there is a big trip in this book, it ends up being more about family and less about the trip.
December 12, 2016
I don't usually read juvenile fiction, but how to resist a book with an awesome title and a yellow 1973 Buick Electra on the cover? Adventure, interesting characters, wisdom sprinkled throughout, and excellent chapter titles. Buy it for Christmas for your middle-schooler.
February 6, 2018
Though the characters are a little exaggerated and some of their adventures are somewhat far-fetched, the message in this book about family is appealing and heartwarming. Leo is an inspiration to all kids struggling to find their voice in a world full of adults trying to speak for them.
February 26, 2018
Great! Humorous adventure story with a lot of love and some bumps in the road for Leo, his cousin, his mom, and his grandmother. A road trip helps Leo discover life’s little speed bumps while trying to find dinosaur fossils and himself.
March 6, 2018
This is a fun to read comedy for middle grade children. Leo goes on an unexpected road trip with his grandmother and his cousin Abbey and her dog, Kermit in search of dinosaurs and the meaning of life. Together they have adventures and learn about life and each other on the way.
March 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this middle grade novel. I laughed out loud, shed a few tears and fondly remembered my own family’s road trips while reading about Leo, Abby and his Grandmother. Quick and easy read.
April 8, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was touching and dealt with grief in a way that an older elementary student could relate to. Every character was solid and relatable, and I love cross country road trips. Would make a great read aloud!
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