Fifteen-year-old Laurence Roach just wants a normal life, but it's far from easy with his little brother who acts like a dog and their depressed alcoholic mother. If Laurence can win the luxury vacation in a local radio contest, he's certain his mum will finally be happy again. Then one night she doesn't come home from work, and Laurence must face the reality that she might not come back at all. Terrified that child services will separate him from his brother, Laurence does whatever he can to keep their mother's disappearance a secret. For two weeks, he spins a web of complicated lies to friends, neighbors, and the authorities--even dressing up in his mother's clothes to convince everyone she's still around. But Laurence can't hide the truth forever. He begins a desperate search for her, and that's when the real trouble starts in this powerful story about family, forgiveness, and hope.
15 Days without a head by Dave Cousins, Flux (May 8, 2013), 312 pages
15 year old Laurence Roach is not living the life of a typical teen. His alcoholic mom is trying to keep it together with two jobs but can get past her own tragic past to look after him and is 6 year old brother Jay. Laurence has to try and look after both of them and try and keep his mom going to avoid social services from separating them forever. He hopes that he can win an all expenses paid vacation from a local radio station that will finally make his mom happy again. But one night she doesn't come home and Laurence and his brother must cope on their own until she comes back, if she comes back at all. Laurence lies to everyone to keep this secret until he can find his mom and save his family. A great story of family, survival and hope.
(ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for a review)
