This Last Adventure

A Contemporary Middle Grade | Ryan Dalton

About the Book

When Archie’s beloved grandpa is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Archie desperately wants to slow the progression of his grandpa’s memory loss.

Using Grandpa’s old journal entries as inspiration, he creates shared role-playing fantasies with epic quests for them to tackle together—allowing Grandpa to live in the present and stay in touch with his fading memories. But as Grandpa’s condition gradually worsens, Archie must come to terms with what’s happening to his hero. The limits of the fantasies, revelations about Grandpa’s past, and a school project about the future force Archie to grapple with what it truly means to live a life worth remembering.

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Reviews

“A sensitive, touching story . . . With a family history of the disease, I can’t wait to hand this book to the younglings in my family.”—#1 New York Times Bestselling author Aprilynne Pike

“This novel sensitively explores difficult issues with hope and warmth, creating believable characters readers will care about.”School Library Journal Online

“As empowering and inspiring as it is heart-wrenching, this book will no doubt comfort kids who are dealing with the emotions and struggles that come with watching an aging loved one go through changes, whether from Alzheimer’s or another condition.”—Christina Collins, author of After Zero

This Last Adventure has something for everyone: family, friendship, a little bit of fantasy, and a whole lot of heart. I loved it.” —Dusti Bowling, author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and The Canyon’s Edge

The Details

Published: February 1, 2022
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Pages: 308
Formats: EbookHardcover
ISBN-13: 9781541599284
ASIN: B09M948BKS

Genres & Tropes
Family, Grandfather, Grandson, Alzheimer’s Disease, Imagination, Audience: Ages 10–14, Audience: Grades 5-8. Family - Multigenerational. Social Themes - Emotions & Feelings. Social Themes - Depression & Mental Illness. Diverse Books: Mental Health & Neurodiversity,