Synopses & Reviews
To say That Harlan Q and his Bible-thumping father, Harlan P, have their differences would be an understatement. But the death of Harlan Q’s long-lost grandfather, Harlan O, just might bring them together. The will leaves a chunk of money and a Cadillac convertible. The catch? Harlan’s body must be buried in Las Vegas. This means Harlan Q and Harlan P need to undertake a road trip across the Southwest with the corpse in the back of their station wagon. . . .
“In her strong debut . . . Hemphill strikes a confident balance between deep heartache and sharply irreverent humor. . . . Many teens will see their own questions about faith, worship, and independence in Harlan’s heart-twisting feelings.” —Booklist
Books for the Teen Age, selection —New York Public Library
Synopsis
The first time fourteen-year-old Harlan Q met his grandfather, he was laid up on a porcelain prep table at the local funeral home with a grin on his facelike he was getting the last laugh. His will leaves a chunk of money and a Cadillac convertible. The catch? His body must be buried in Las Vegas. With little money, Harlan Q convinces his Bible-thumping father to load the corpse in the back of their station wagon and take the road-trip to honor his grandfathers wishes. Along the way they pick up Warrior, a Hollywood-bound, Zen-minded actor-in-training. He surprisingly helps Harlan begin to understand his thoughts and lifeseparate from the thinking of his fatherduring a covert stop at his late grandfathers bar, Long Gone Daddys.
About the Author
Helen Hemphill grew up in Texas and now lives in Austin and Nashville, Tennessee. She is the author of the novels Runaround and The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones, which were