Synopses & Reviews
A teenager's-eye view of parental desperationWhat do you do when your dad has a midlife crisis? This is the dilemma of fourteen-year-old Gardner, whose father's been laid off and is now expressing boredom with his life, and even talking to Gardner about leaving the family. Gardner has all along thought he'd like to grow up to emulate his father, whom he has idolized since childhood. But, with this disappointment and possible betrayal haunting his family, Gardner isn't so sure anymore. Eventually, through old and new friendships and a dedicated endeavor to become physically strong, Gardner finds the emotional strength and identity to survive whatever upset may be in store for him and his family's future. In scenes both comical and heartbreaking, Randy Powell demonstrates once more that he is one of the foremost contemporary writers for young adults.
Review
"Powell's contemporary novel set in Seattle artfully parallels a 14-year-old boy's coming -of-age with his father's midlife crisis . . . As in his previous novels, Powell convincingly renders multidimensional characters, drawing their vulnerabilities and flaws with remarkable accuracy and compassion." --Starred,
Publishers Weekly "Gardner, 14, must face the realization that his father is just a man and not the hero he has always admired . . . Readers will be drawn to this vibrant teen who is trying to find his own place in a world that does not always hand deliver one's dreams on demand. A funny, tender, and wise portrait of modern life." --Starred, School Library Journal
"Highly recommended for readers who enjoy family dramas, particularly those depicting father-son relationships." --VOYA
Synopsis
Gardner Dickinson's life -- like his room -- is a mess. He checks books out of the library, but never reads them. He talks about getting into shape but goofs off instead. His family is falling apart. His mom is working all the time to pay the bills, while his father is losing it. Out of work for months, his dad spends his time playing golf or holed up in the garage with magazines. And he confides in Gardner things that a father has no right to tell a son. Can Gardner get up off his rear end and turn his life around?
This title is an Accelerated Reader® Title
About the Author
Randy Powell is the author of several previous books for young adults, including The Whistling Toilets and Tribute to Another Dead Rock Star, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
Reading Group Guide
1. By the end of the first chapter, we know a lot about Gardners dad. What details reveal his character? How does Randy Powell communicate so much about Camden Dickinson and his relationship with his son without actually telling us? Compare the contents of the cluttered garage with what we later learn is in Gardners room. What do these objects reveal about their owners? What does Gardner say about the clutter that underlines this?
2. “When a man sees something he wants, he should go for it” is one of Camdens expressions. How is this both true and untrue about the expensive golf club? About his life? What other “wise” sayings of his father does Gardner quote with admiration? Do you agree with any of them?
3. Why does Lacys revelation to Gardner at the Thanksgiving party make him so angry? Earlier, he has begun to take charge of his life in small ways. What are some of his new actions, and what is responsible for his changed attitude? After his dad shames him by showing up on the PE field dressed like a bum, why is it so important to Gardner to win the race?
4. Camden declares, “Dammit, Im going to take whats left of my life and run with it.” [p. 161] How does he intend to do this? Later Gardner says the same thing about himself, but with what very different meaning? What more does the title of the book add to this idea?
5. What is Gardners final realization about his father, and how does he act on it? In the end, he wonders, “Did it take more guts to stay and not run?” [p. 165] Does it? Is Camden tragic or heroic?