Felton Reinstein is a geeky guy with a too active mind who's dealing with a piano prodigy younger brother, an ax-hippie-chick mother that insists he call her Jerri. He's a clueless small-town boy who's confused and alarmed that his best buddy is going to Venezuela for the summer and that his body has decided to betray him by constantly growing and constantly sprouting hair.
The story is charmingly told by a very clearly adolescent narrator with a overly developed sense of smell. While it starts out like any YA sports/coming of age story, this novel is a stealth family drama as well. And gives a unique look into growing up in a single parent home where mental illness is a real factor.
As dark as that sounds, youth is irrepressible and the story remains more light-hearted than one would expect. This is a good worthwhile read but I'm not sure it will appeal to many young adult readers. I think it's appeal will be more among their parents.
The story is charmingly told by a very clearly adolescent narrator with a overly developed sense of smell. While it starts out like any YA sports/coming of age story, this novel is a stealth family drama as well. And gives a unique look into growing up in a single parent home where mental illness is a real factor.
As dark as that sounds, youth is irrepressible and the story remains more light-hearted than one would expect. This is a good worthwhile read but I'm not sure it will appeal to many young adult readers. I think it's appeal will be more among their parents.
