First published 1969
Eddie carries weight no teenager should bear. His father provides neither emotional warmth nor adequate financial support, leaving gaps that Eddie feels compelled to fill. He works to bridge the distance between his family members and tries to shoulder responsibilities that aren't his to carry. Eddie throws himself into efforts to heal what his father has broken, to provide what his father withholds. But his attempts to repair his family's wounds seem to backfire. Each gesture toward reconciliation brings unexpected consequences. Every effort to help leads toward disaster. Eddie discovers that good intentions cannot always overcome the damage that neglect creates. The harder he tries to fix things, the more tangled they become. His family's problems run deeper than teenage determination can reach. Eddie learns that some burdens cannot be lifted through willpower alone, and some distances cannot be closed by a son's devotion.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
183 pages · Hardcover · Alfred A. Knopf
Content warnings: emotional-abuse