When allegations against his father surge and his forced to move to another state with his mum and sister, Rodney can’t believe how easily his life turned upside down. He’s in a class with a bunch of kids who seem to sort of hate him and even his best friend won’t write him back.
Told fully from the perspective of the eleven-year-old main character, this middle-grade story addresses difficult topics, like sexual harassment, bullying, eating disorders, and isolation; it’s definitely not an easy read sometimes, even though Rodney doesn’t really understand what his dad did for most of the plot.
The way we see through Rodney's eyes how his sister is suffering and neglecting her health is very well executed. And the sudden and confusing and harrowing way in which Rodney himself finally realizes that maybe his father isn't such a nice person either.
Sometimes it felt hard to root for Rodney because he seems a little self-centred and judgemental, but I think he’s just trying to cope with what’s happening in his own awkward way. I think I would be a little in denial, too.
I have to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version is scheduled to be published on March 22, 2022.