The ALA Booklist says, "Brooks' portrayal of a boy groping his way to maturity and self-esteem is impressive, but what makes this book shine is the writing—fresh, probing, and uncompromising. What must have been an autobiographical germ has been shaped into a rich, perceptive story. Jake's heart and mind are real and the lessons he learns will endure." "Jerome Brooks' fourth novel is his most heavyhearted...it burns with the irrationality and untidiness of real life." (The New York Times) Author Bio: Jerome Brooks lives in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife, and their Tibetan terrier. After a distinguished teaching career, Brooks developed and taught a fiction-writing workshop for the University of Chicago's Publishing Program.