Paddy loves his family, all except for his annoying stepfather Anthony.
When they have a discussion about his future, Paddy overreacts and threatens to join the army. Unable to back down, he finds he is alienating everyone around him. And when he takes the physical exam and learns his blood type, his world starts to crumble and he starts to question everything he thought he knew.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
"This fast-paced story—an entry in the Orca Soundings series for reluctant readers—takes us on a roller-coaster ride of a mixed-up family as Paddy processes new information and deals with new relationships. The crux of the story is a fascinating paternity case."
"The theme of how people can best parent, and the underlying fear of every adolescent that their true parent MUST be someone else are foremost in this short novel, and will fascinate those struggling readers, especially boys...Teens in conflict with parents and unsure of their future will empathize with Paddy and be drawn into his drama."
"Grant is adept at creating highly engaging stories...The plot is briskly paced and straightforward, and is likely to capture the interest of contemporary teen readers. The dialogue is snappy and realistic, and Paddy's first-person narration allows readers to easily understand his motivations and point of view throughout the story...Accessible and compelling."
"The cover art will capture readers' attention but the brief, compelling story will snag readers' thoughts and have them turning the pages as quickly as they can read...The family characters shown here are spare, but believable as low-income, struggling, and imperfect. Readers may identify with these gritty characters."
Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets | 2011 | Commended
TriState Young Adult Book Review Committee Book of Note | 2012 | Commended
CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens | 2012 | Commended
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