TRIPPING TO SOMEWHERE by Kristopher Reisz
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/26/06
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
Rating: 4 Stars
Gilly just wants to be beautiful, and Samantha just wants to go home. At least, that’s what the resident crazy homeless guy in
their town tells them late one night. The strange part is when he whispers about the Witches Carnival, and tells Gilly that if
she hurries, she can catch it. Everyone knows the Witches Carnival is just a myth, something to dream about when you wish
you could escape your life. Funny thing is, both of them want just that. The next day at school Samantha convinces Gilly to
run away and search for the Witches Carnival.
The adventures begin. From Alabama, to Georgia, to Florida, to Rhode Island, to London, they chase the Carnival, and the
idea of escape. They do and see things and people they could never have imagined. When Gilly hesitates Samantha pushes;
when Samantha pauses Gilly convinces. Without each other they wouldn’t keep going.
In the end they find out that home isn’t always where you’d expect, and beauty is something you have to find in yourself.
And that crazy old man might not be so crazy after all, or he just might be…
I feel like I have to add a few notes as to the nature of this book, and some of the things that happen. There is a fair amount
of sex in this book. Not just discussions about sex, but actual sex. There’s also some drug use. In defense of the drug use,
the bad side of both the use and the lifestyle are realistic and somewhat graphic. I would say that both sex and drugs aren’t
encouraged or discouraged, merely treated as a reality. Overall, though, TRIPPING TO SOMEWHERE is a good,
entertaining read.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/26/06
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
Rating: 4 Stars
Gilly just wants to be beautiful, and Samantha just wants to go home. At least, that’s what the resident crazy homeless guy in
their town tells them late one night. The strange part is when he whispers about the Witches Carnival, and tells Gilly that if
she hurries, she can catch it. Everyone knows the Witches Carnival is just a myth, something to dream about when you wish
you could escape your life. Funny thing is, both of them want just that. The next day at school Samantha convinces Gilly to
run away and search for the Witches Carnival.
The adventures begin. From Alabama, to Georgia, to Florida, to Rhode Island, to London, they chase the Carnival, and the
idea of escape. They do and see things and people they could never have imagined. When Gilly hesitates Samantha pushes;
when Samantha pauses Gilly convinces. Without each other they wouldn’t keep going.
In the end they find out that home isn’t always where you’d expect, and beauty is something you have to find in yourself.
And that crazy old man might not be so crazy after all, or he just might be…
I feel like I have to add a few notes as to the nature of this book, and some of the things that happen. There is a fair amount
of sex in this book. Not just discussions about sex, but actual sex. There’s also some drug use. In defense of the drug use,
the bad side of both the use and the lifestyle are realistic and somewhat graphic. I would say that both sex and drugs aren’t
encouraged or discouraged, merely treated as a reality. Overall, though, TRIPPING TO SOMEWHERE is a good,
entertaining read.
Tripping to Somewhere
by Kristopher Reisz
by Kristopher Reisz