When I was a little girl, I was fascinated with From The Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is a Newbery award winning book, written by E.L. Konisburg, and chronicles the story of Claudia and her brother who run away to live at the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art. They hide out, blending in with classroom tour groups during the day, and learn how to avoid the guards at night. I recently found a handwritten note that E.L. Konigsburg sent me after I wrote her a letter in 5th grade. I even had the opportunity to meet her in person, much later in life. What a gift!
Fast forward to 2023. Oh my. Every now and then you start a book where the storyline is so unique and you seriously cannot put it down! 102 Days of about Lying About Lauren by Maura Jortner is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read in a while.
No spoilers, but soon into the story you realize the Lauren is:
- Working at theme park
- Has no money
- Clearly also LIVING at the theme park ( day and night)
- Is alone
- Has found a friendship with a guy named Tanner
- Is able to hide out by pretending to be a park employee who cleans up messes
- Oh..and she is 12 years old….
As I started reading, my brain immediately thought of Claudia (From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler). Both girls’ ability to problem solve, in order to survive, with such ingenuity and with a bizarre set of circumstances, literally sucks you into the story. You can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen.
Here’s where the stories diverge. Lauren is dealing with a problem of much greater magnitude as her mother abandoned her at the park. And now Lauren is caught in a web of lies for the last 102 days as she tries to navigate this heartbreaking situation on her own.
I don’t want to spoil any of the storyline, but there are definitely multiple twists and turns that will keep your heart beating wildly while reading. Lauren’s 102 days at the park is like riding a roller coaster – scary, exhilarating and full of moments of stomach dropping emotion.
Maura Jortner, you rocked this one! I couldn’t put it down. Lauren’s struggle was real and you handled it with a sense of reality and humanity. You showcased how our human interactions do impact and affect each other. You reminded all of us that we’re complicated people and often carry stories and burdens that no one else knows about.
Can’t wait to read more of your books, Maura Jortner.
