Lyndie B. Hawkins loves history, research, and getting to the truth no matter what. But when it comes to her family, her knowledge is full of holes. Like, what happened to her father in the Vietnam War? Where does he disappear to for days? And why exactly did they have to move in with her grandparents? Determined to mold recalcitrant Lyndie into a nice Southern girl even if it kills her, her fusspot grandmother starts with lesson number one: Family = Loyalty = keeping quiet about family secrets. Especially when it comes to Lyndie's daddy.
Then DB, a boy from the local juvenile detention center comes to stay with Lyndie's best friend, Dawn. He's as friendly and open as a puppy. There to shape up his act, he has an optimism that's infectious. But it puts Lyndie in direct opposition to her grandmother who'd rather keep up appearances than get her son the help he needs. This witty, heartwarming debut set in 1985 Tennessee tackles a range of complex issues about PTSD, alcoholism, and suicide, while also capturing the power of homespun wisdom (even when it's wrong), the clash between appearances and secrets, and the barriers to getting help even when it's needed most.
"Which is more important: telling the truth or 'honorable lying' out of loyalty to family?... The story moves at a quick pace as Lyndie struggles to understand why her father has become so different and her mother so withdrawn; a strong counterpoint to Lyndie’s family troubles is the development of her friendship with the “criminal boy” living with her best friend Dawn’s family. Noteworthy for its strong narrative voice and dramatic character development, including well-drawn secondary figures, this book depicts both the troubling and uplifting vicissitudes of family and camaraderie with unflinching honesty and humor." — Publishers Weekly
Recommended Age | 10 - 13 |
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Author | Gail Shepherd |
ISBN | 0525428453 |
Publication Date | Mar 26, 2019 |
Publisher | Kathy Dawson Books |
Language | English |