
Reach for this book if your child is struggling to find their footing after a divorce or is feeling resistant toward a parent's new partner. Twelve-year-old Hart is navigating the steep drops and sharp turns of his family's new reality by secretly building a real roller coaster in the woods. As he balances his frustration with his mother's new boyfriend, a local weatherman, Hart discovers that life, like his coaster, is about managing the momentum of things we cannot always control. This gentle contemporary novel is perfect for middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who need to see their complex feelings of anger and loyalty validated. It offers a grounded, realistic perspective on blended families while celebrating the power of creative outlets and engineering as a form of emotional processing.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe construction and riding of a homemade roller coaster involve physical risks.
The book deals with divorce and the introduction of a step-parent figure. The approach is realistic and secular, focusing on the child's internal emotional landscape. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in reality: the divorce isn't 'fixed,' but Hart's ability to cope is.
A 10-year-old who enjoys building things or playing Minecraft, who is currently acting out or withdrawing because of a change in family structure.
Read cold. Parents might want to discuss the scene where the coaster is finally tested, as it serves as a metaphor for taking risks in relationships. A parent might see their child being intentionally rude to a new partner or becoming obsessively focused on a solo hobby to avoid family time.
Younger readers will focus on the cool factor of the coaster and the 'mean' boyfriend. Older readers will recognize the nuances of Hart's loyalty to his father and the fear of being replaced.
Unlike many divorce books that focus on legal battles or moving houses, this one uses a high-interest STEM project as a sophisticated metaphor for emotional gravity and momentum.
Hart is a twelve-year-old boy dealing with the aftermath of his parents' divorce. To cope, he pours his energy into building a functional roller coaster in the woods behind his house. His main antagonist is his mother's new boyfriend, a weatherman named Dubbs, whom Hart resents for invading his family space. The story follows Hart's engineering challenges and his emotional journey toward accepting that his parents are truly moving on.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.