Haynes' debut novel is spoken through the voice of Marshall Field Finney, a young man whose cynical view of family and friends will make you laugh as he struggles to come to terms with the absurdity and uncertainty of his life. He is only a sophomore in high school, yet is suddenly coping with the sudden departure of a mother he was previously determined to ignore and is suddenly sharing living space with a father who had previously been the object of his testosterone-driven resentment.

The storyline sounds grim, but the author keeps us laughing at Marshall's predicaments and rooting for his ability to figure it all out. Haynes successfully describes the neighborhood characters and Marshall's closest friends to help us understand how much support he actually has. Who Marshall actually learns is right by his side is revealed at the very end of the book, and will probably not be the obvious or your initial choice.

This is one that will make you smile from beginning to end, and should not be labeled as exclusively young adult material. Humorous fiction is always for the young--and the young at heart. Haynes always makes sure his novels are weighty enough to satisfy both. ( )