Name: The Colossus of Roads
ISBN: 9780823449897

Christina Uss

Eleven-year-old Rick Rusek, nearly homebound by motion sickness, wants to help his family's catering business by unsnarling Los Angeles traffic, but first he must help a Girl Scout troop with an art project.

The Colossus of Roads

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received an arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Colossus of Roads

Author: Christina Uss

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: May 5, 2020

Genre: MG Contemporary

Recommended Age: 10+ (traffic!)

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books

Pages: 224

Amazon Link

Synopsis: "Traffic is a puzzle with one correct solution. And I've got to solve it!"

Rick has been studying maps and traffic patterns for years, and devises solutions to improve Los Angeles' notoriously terrible traffic that he calls his Snarl Solutions. He has big ideas, but not enough resources-- until his artistic friend, Mila brings him to a Girl Scout meeting.

Every week at Miss Diamond's art studio, the scouts paint recycled traffic signs with their own designs. The signs will be hung all over Los Angeles to beautify the city with art. But Rick, The Colossus of Roads, has ulterior motives . . . He will restore the signs to their original glory and find a way to install them strategically to rectify the traffic. Anything can be hung with duct tape!
But of course, it's not that easy. SPLAT (Stop Poor LA Traffic), BLAM (Bike-Loving Amazing Mamas), and the TCD (Traffic Calming Division) have their own methods of curing the city's dilemma and will undermine Rick's efforts however they can.

Will Rick be able to clear the notorious traffic problem on Sepulveda Pass in time for his parents to deliver Polish food to the movie studio and land the catering contract they need to keep their company afloat?

Review: Overall, I thought this was a great book. The characters and well developed and engaging, which is super important in a middle grade book. The main character is funny and has severe motion sickness. I also loved the theme of community and coming together to make something better. I felt like the writing was well done as well. I also liked how it showed a kid with a bit of an unusual hobby. I think it shows kids to go after what they want to do, no matter if others are doing it or not.

However, I did want more world building in the book and I felt like the pacing was a bit slow for me.

Verdict: A good book for kids!

The Colossus of Roads

Reviews

Highlights