Started this in audio, but read most of it in print.

"Carsick Rick" (a nickname he hopes to leave behind at his old school) lives in LA but has never been to the beach - he gets terribly sick in cars and on buses. Yet (or maybe because of this) he is fascinated with maps and traffic, and frequently sends his suggestions off to the transportation department, though he never receives a reply, and suspects his messages are being unread or ignored. The stakes go up when Rick overhears his parents worrying about their Polish catering business: traffic is a terrible source of stress, as they never know if they will be able to make their deliveries on time. Rick just knows he could fix LA traffic if he could get someone to listen to him - and he's granted an opportunity when his friend and neighbor Mila's girl scout troop gets to work with an artist, painting over old road signs and putting them up as art. Rick joins in, signing his "Colossus of Roads," in a ploy to try some of his "Snarl Solutions."

Rick is a sympathetic character: the youngest in his family (two older brothers are off at college), with a problem no one else seems to have, and a talent no one else seems to appreciate. Other than Mila, he's pretty friendless, but has entertaining conversations with his own stomach. And, eventually, he does get someone to listen.

Readers will likely forgive the marvelous coincidence of Rick's miraculous access to LA road signs in this enjoyable book that will likely make people think more about transit than they have before.

Quotes

Small changes tend to cause a chain reaction... (24)

"Kids aren't supposed to figure everything out. You're supposed to try things, mess up, then try other things." (Mrs. Herrera, 39)

"Please don't tell your parents, or my parents, or Ms. Diamond, or anyone before I get a chance to prove myself." (Rick to Mila, 133)

"I mean, not every piece of art makes a difference to every person, but it doesn't have to....the right art makes the right difference to the right people." (Mila to Rick, 138)

"It's so good when people listen to your ideas and say 'Yes, do it!' instead of 'How old are you, lady?'" (Abuelita to Mrs. Torres, 187) ( )

Enjoyable read with more than a little wishful thinking about traffic solutions. Loved the humorous dialogue with Rick's nervous and opinionated stomach, loved his friendship with Mila and her family, loved both the art and the various ways the traffic obstructers come together in the end. Ingenious hijinks with some great characters tying everything together.

11 year old Rick is determined to help his family's catering business survive by deploying his extraordinarily traffic assessment and improvement talents. His friend Mila and her formula-1 driver Abuela are pulled into the story as they work on an art project painting roadsigns with the girl scouts. ( )