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Book Review Summary
Four adopted boys, two dads, a cat, a dog, a soccer ball and one grumpy neighbor are bound to create a few catastrophes in Dana Alison Levy’s hilarious family book The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher.  A new school year kicks off with exciting changes for the four Fletcher boys, including a secret play tryout, a difficult school project involving the grumpy neighbor next door, and a mystery involving the real or imaginary kindergartner named Ladybug Li.


In a year of making new traditions, new friends, and new self-discoveries, the Fletchers learn that the one thing they can always count on is family. I recommend The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher for kids 8 to 12.

The Story

The family Fletcher is unique: a household of two dads and four adopted boys, a dog named Sir Puggleton and cat called Zeus. First, twelve year old Sam is top dog at school. A popular sixth grader and star soccer star, he discovers a talent for telling stories when a rainstorm ruins their outdoor Halloween party.  Jax, ten and about to start fourth grade in Upper Elementary, is worried about making friends. He hopes to take advantage of his older brother’s cool status.

Meanwhile Jax needs to interview a veteran for a school project, and the grumpy neighbor next door keeps misunderstanding all of Jax’s diplomatic gestures. Then there is Eli, also ten, and super smart. Eli is excited to start the new school year at a private school where everyone is academic; but he did not think about all the people and activities he just might miss.

And finally Jeremiah, who everyone calls Frog, who is ready to start kindergarten but worries his parents when he insists that Flare, his imaginary pet cheetah, gets to go to school, too.

 A brand new school year will bring a whirlwind of change and chaos. Memorable and meaningful lessons lie in wait as the family Fletcher embarks on some serious misadventures.

Author Dana Alison Levy

A fan of coffee, hockey, and Paris, debut children’s author Dana Alison Levy embraces life and diversity with gusto.  After graduating with a degree in English Literature and Marketing, Levy worked in the business world but finally decided to go back to what she loved best- writing.  A longtime resident of the New England area, Levy now writes full time and enjoys spending time with her family.  The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher is her first children’s book. In an ABA interview Levy said, “My hope in writing this is that all kinds of kids will find themselves in this story.”

(Sources: ABA Interview, 8/11/14, Dana Alison Levy Website)

My Recommendation

The Family Fletcher is typical in many ways of large families.  The daily family crisis of getting ready for school and dealing with new changes will read like many realistic fiction novels about families.  Brothers get frustrated with each other, but they manage to work it out. Light comical moments make the family easy to relate to and likeable.  Like many families, the Fletcher’s abide by family rules and follow many traditions such as special first day of school breakfasts and a yearly outdoor Halloween party.

However, the Family Fletcher is also unlike conventional families in that two dads head the household of four adopted boys.  Of the boys, Sam and Eli are Caucasian, Jax is African American and Eli is from India.  To honor the tradition and cultures of each boy, the parents celebrate all the cultural holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Diwali.

In my opinion, the best aspects of the book are the funny family moments that made the characters so real for readers. Dana Levy’s sense of humor ripples throughout the pages.  In addition, I appreciated the message to try new activities whether it be trying out for a play or attending a special school. All the boys are endearing and the parental involvement and family traditions are charming.

However, while I liked the characters of Dad and Papa, trying to keep their personalities separate and organized in my mind while reading was a bit tricky because the two names are similar. When the characters were called by their first names, “Tom” and “Jason,” it was easier for me to know which character was speaking.  In addition, Levy’s determination to be diverse sometimes felt heavy handed and reprimanding, especially when the Fletcher family attends Frog’s kindergarten open house where they confront children who mock their family.  A little less didactic approach would not have taken away from the comedy and heartfelt intent of the story.

Fans of funny family stories will enjoy this coming of age tale about a loveable pack of boys.  I recommend The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher for ages 8-12. (Delacorte Press, Random House, 2014: ISBN: 9780385376525)

More Recommended Books, From Elizabeth Kennedy

Other family stories your 8-12 year old child may enjoy include Because of Winn-Dixie and Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, award-winning author and the 2014-2015 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Books by Beverly Cleary tend to be popular with this age group, including her Ramona books and Dear Mr. Henshaw.