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This mostly-autobiographical summer trip with a school group takes place before cell phones; a historical setting that many parents, teachers, and librarians can relate to, since it's the world of people-over-thirty, basically. Current middle-school readers will appreciate that it's well-crafted, artfully illustrated, and humorous, and also because it's kind of thrilling and CRAZY to think what middle-school age students used to be allowed to do. Santat is an amazing artist, and his drawings of tourist sites in Europe made me also believe that he was a genuinely kind, caring friend and that his nervousness and shyness were childhood qualities that he quickly grew out of, by trusting that his friends were encouraging him to do what he really wanted to do - boosting his confidence. I love the Spotify playlist! What a genius idea, and I enjoyed having a soundtrack while I read. --Erica S., Rockridge Branch