Cody and the Fountain of Happiness

By Tricia Springstubb, Eliza Wheeler (Illustrator)

Part of the Cody series

Cody's summer begins with a runaway cat and a new friend. Can she find happiness amidst family chaos?

5.3/7 Bookroo expert·3.8/5 Goodreads · 304 ratings

160 pages· 14,768 words· Est. 2 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Cody's summer vacation starts with high hopes, but her plans are dashed when camp is canceled and her family is preoccupied. Her brother is heartbroken, her mom is stressed, and her dad is away. Just when things seem bleak, Cody meets Spencer, a boy searching for a missing cat. Together, they embark on a quest that might just lead Cody to unexpected joy. Will this new friendship and adventure be the key to her perfect summer?

"The lining of your gut replaces itself every three days . . . You never know what new talent you might develop."

— from the book

From the publisher

Middle-grade readers drawn to Judy Moody or Clementine will find a funny and charismatic companion in Cody, star of this delightful new series.

For whimsical Cody, many things are beautiful, especially ants who say hello by rubbing feelers. But nothing is as beautiful as the first day of summer vacation, and Cody doesn’t want to waste one minute of it. Meanwhile, teenage brother Wyatt is moping over a girl, Mom is stressed about her new job as Head of Shoes, Dad is off hauling chairs in his long-distance truck, and even camp has been closed for the summer. What to do? Just when all seems lost, Cody bumps into a neighborhood boy named Spencer who is looking for a runaway cat. With a new friend and a soon-to-be-found cat, Cody is on her way to the fountain of happiness.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 160
Words: 14,768
Reading age: 7–10
Audience: Juvenile Reader
Lexile: 470L

Themes & topics

Books about summer Books about making friends Books about jobs and careers Books about vacations Books about cats

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Violence

This book contains a few instances of sibling fighting, including, "Let me go back to sleep, or something else will get broken," and an older brother putting his little sister into headlocks (which she thinks is a talent of his).

Sex

This story includes one mention of her dad returning from a trucking haul, the girl waking up and noticing her parents' door was shut because "when he came home from a haul, they required their personal space." This book includes a few instances where it talks about an older teenage brother being "in love with" another girl. The sister thinks there's a moment where, if it were a movie, they would have kissed. The brother, when deep asleep, says "Payton, Oh, Payton" (the name of the girl he likes) while hugging a pillow. This book also contains a cat, who is described as lolling "around on the cushions like a plump naked lady in a museum painting."

Alcohol

This book includes one mention of two adult women having wine with their cookies while the children had milk and cookies. This book includes a few instances of the mom "cuddling" her old ashtray, and one instance where the daughter catches her with a box of cigarettes and says, "You quit! You promised to never coat your lungs in filthy black tar again!" and the mother trashes them.

Potty Humor

This book contains two instances of potty humor. One occurs when the mother says she had an embarrassing moment at work, and her daughter asks if she farted. Another is the brother stating the obvious by saying, "Is the sky blue? . . . Do bears poop in the woods?"

What readers & critics say