This is Jennifer Havlik with the Sioux City Public Library, and you’re listening to Check It Out.
Summer road trips are perhaps one of the most quintessential travel experiences for American families, recalling memories of crammed minivans, loads of snacks, and of course, a chorus of “Are we there yet?”. Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith, one of the library’s adult summer reading selections for 2025, features four adult siblings reuniting after an estrangement lasting several years.
...Oh, but this reunion is not during the summer. No. As if this scenario doesn’t sound painful enough, the family is meeting in small-town North Dakota. In February.
Dad worked as a delivery driver and was rarely home. Mom left to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, but she faithfully returned each summer to take the kids on a lengthy road trip, attempting to reach all fifty states. Gemma, the eldest, held the family together in their mom’s absence and has lived a very normal life in the Midwest. Roddy, a professional soccer player, and Jude, an Oscar-nominated actress, are twins who have always shared just about everything, including careers that put them in the spotlight. Connor, born in the middle, won the National Book Award for his most recent novel, the contents of which also served as a catalyst for the family’s separation.
When Jude suggests a weekend trip, each sibling agrees. Each is at a personal crossroads, questioning both past and future choices, and while Jude seems like she has her life together, she’s bringing along three secrets, each likely to cause even more heartache for the others.
Told from both the past and the present, Fun for the Whole Family may elicit both laughter and tears. While Jerry Seinfeld once said there is no such thing as fun for the whole family, this engaging story showcases the importance of forgiveness and the power of families, even when they’re incredibly messy. You can find it here at the Sioux City Public Library.
Support for Check It Out on Siouxland Public Media comes from Avery Brothers.