Synopses & Reviews
James Patrick (JP) OBriens once safe and secure world quickly unravels with the death of his beloved grandmother. Grandma Mary had always been the guiding hand of the OBrien family, lovingly raising his mentally challenged Pap and allowing Mam to remain free of adult responsibility. Soon after Grandma Marys death, Mam wins a farmhouse in an essay contest and insists on sharing her good fortune with various neighborhood outcasts. As JP sees both Pap and himself being replaced in his mothers life by others, his anger pushes his family and friends further away. Its not until he begins to understand that he must learn to accept differences, human frailties, and the randomness of life that he recaptures his happiness and begins to grow as a person.
Review
[set star] and#147;An emotional roller-coaster ride . . .and#160;A profound and heartwarming message about the various manifestations of love.and#8221;and#151;
Publishers Weekly (starred)and#160;[set star] and#147;Only a writer as talented as Han Nolan could make this improbable story line and bizarre cast of characters not only believable, but ultimately uplifting, intriguing, and memorable.and#8221;and#151;
Booklist (starred)
Synopsis
A teen learns to appreciate his unique family and friends in this novel by National Book Awardand#150;winning author
Synopsis
After Grandma Mary dies, sixteen-year-oldand#160;JPand#8217;s safe, secure world quickly unravels. He finds himself living in complete chaos when his mother wins a farmhouse in an essay contest and insists on sharing her good fortune with other neighborhood outcasts. Suddenly there are no rules, and the house is filled with poets, musicians, a reformed drug addict, an abused teen, and too many others who seem to have replacedand#160;JP and his fatherand#160;in his motherand#8217;s life.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; JP longs for his family to be restored to what it once was. But then somehow, amid the madness, his idea of family is redefined in ways he never expected.
About the Author
HAN NOLAN is the author of several books, including Dancing on the Edge which won the National Book Award and Send Me Down a Miracle, a National Book Award finalist.andnbsp;She lives with her husband on the East Coast.