Synopsis

Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. That’s what Popeye thinks, anyway. His whole life, everything has just been boring, boring, boring. But things start to look up when the Jewells’ Holiday Rambler makes a wrong turn and gets stuck in the mud, trapping Elvis and his five rowdy siblings in Fayette for who knows how long. Popeye has never met anyone like Elvis Jewell. He’s so good at swearing he makes Uncle Dooley look like a harp-strumming angel, and he says “So what?” like he really means it. Then something curious comes floating down the creek—a series of boats with secret messages—and it sends Popeye and Elvis into the big world on the hunt for a small adventure.

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Awards and Distinctions
ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
Kirkus Best Books of the Year (PDF)
Cybils Award Finalist in the middle grade fiction category
Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts (CLA)
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing