Rocky Road Trip

by Catherine Clark

Book Overview

It was a zoo the day I left. All I remember is pulling out of the driveway. I thought I was going to crumble into a hundred pieces. I looked at Grant. He looked at me. Mom hit reverse. It all seemed so tragic, like I was hipping off to war. Still and all. A really, really dumb idea to come this far for college.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061367168
• ISBN13: 9780061367168
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Harperteen
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Rocky Road Trip...

Once again, author Catherine Clark has written a book I could not put down. I will read a sad and romantic story anyday!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Courtney arrives at college 1,000 miles away from her home, her best friend, and her boyfriend. She meets her meat-loving science nerd roommate and immediately her vegan self thinks - this isn't going to work out. She struggles meeting new people, making friends, balancing her job and schoolwork, and surviving a long-distance relationship. With all her stress and worrying, Courtney wonders how she'll survive four years on her own. Catherine Clark takes a long look at college relationships and how they can make you crazy, scared, cry, and laugh. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Tasty Trip

Rocky Road Trip follows Courtney Von Dragen Smith to college, where she has plenty of (mis)adventures. Courtney's freshman year is filled with mini-traumas related to classes, friends, boys, and food. (She falls on and off the vegan wagon on a fairly regular basis.) She describes these and other melodramas in her diary, making for a quick, humorous read. This laugh-out-loud book is just as good if not better than the first book, Banana Splitsville (also known as Truth or Dairy). Courtney is a character, that's for sure! Rocky Road Trip was previously released under the title Wurst Case Scenario. If you like Banana Splitsville and Rocky Road Trip, definitely read Catherine Clark's other comedies, like Better Latte Than Never and Wish You Were Here.

More realistic than you think

I loved Truth or Dairy and I was pretty worried when I read some of the reviews on here. But I have to say that it was a great, funny read and reminded me of what college was like in a way no other book has (yes, I am a grown-up--sort of). The main character is sometimes annoying, but she actually realizes that! There aren't whole lot of books about college (believe me, its not the melodramatic experience you see on Felicity for most of us) and this one captures much (but not all) of the essence of those first few months. I have to admit it's probably a 4, but I wanted to counterbalance some of the negative reviews.

Crazy Courtney heads to college!

"Truth or Dairy" was about Courtney's (mis)adventures in her senior year at Bugling Elk High, Colorado. Now she's been lured by way of scholarship money and great job to way off Wisconsin, the dairy capital of the world, at Corwall Falls College -- CFC. Grant is back in Colorado, and Courtney feels very alone -- especially when her promising work-study job is yanked, and she's surrounded by people and places pressuring her to veer of the straight and narrow vegan path. There's Mary Jo, her wholesome farm girl roomate; Ben, her awesome co-worker at Bagle Finagle; WW III, the top seller (and Corny the school mascot on the side) at her semi-telemarketing job; and a slew of other hilarious characters. Meanwhile she has her hands full trying to make her long-distance relationship with Grant work. All in all, this book was just as hilarious, but had sort of a sad-ish ending. Hopefully another Courtney V.D. Smith book will follow, by the awesome Catherine Clark!--Rachel