From the acclaimed author of When Mr. Dog Bites and The Bombs That Brought Us Together comes a compelling, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and timely story that asks: how far would you go for family?
As the person who cares for his terminally-ill mother, Bobby Seed has a lot on his plate. Add to that a responsibility to watch over his little brother (with his endless question about why their mother is in so much pain), keeping up at school, and navigating a relationship with a girl friend who wants to be a girlfriend, and he's barely keeping his head above the water. Something's got to give.
But then Bobby's mother makes a request, one that seems impossible. If he agrees, he won't just be soothing her pain. He'll be helping her end it -- and end everything. Angry, stirring, and tender, this bold novel tells a story of choice and compassion, exploring the lengths to which we'll go for the people we love.
"Bobby's first-person narration is a masterful and very realistic blend of sarcasm, shame, hopefulness, earnestness, and anger. . . . Uncompromising, unflinching, and unsentimental." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"The relationships depicted, especially between Bobby and his mother, are raw and real, and readers will be rooting for this family . . . A heavy, well-written examination of ethics and family bonds." --Booklist
"Bittersweet and thoughtfully written . . . Teens who appreciate stories with emotional and thought-provoking plots will enjoy this novel." - VOYA
"A timeless allegory . . . Conaghan tackles the complexities of war, occupation, and totalitarianism in a direct and accessible way." --Kirkus Reviews on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
"Conaghan presents a compelling situation with no easy answers; it's easy to sympathize with Charlie's moral and ethical dilemmas, and the dichotomy between Old Country and Little Town could fuel provocative discussions." --Publishers Weekly on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
"This accomplished new novel establishes Conaghan as a major talent . . . Incredibly powerful and thought-provoking." --Bookseller on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
"[T]his book brings light to communities where teens are struggling under a repressive government or regime pressured by a larger neighboring nation . . . Readers will fly through the last portion of the book in one sitting." --School Library Journal on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
"Dylan is smart and caring, and beneath his realistically portrayed condition, he is a normal teenager with relatable concerns. As Dylan would say, this one is 'A-mayonnaise-ing.'" --Booklist on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
"Conaghan . . . does an excellent job of portraying his unconventional and memorable protagonist." --Publishers Weekly on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
"An appealingly offbeat look at friendship, sex and what's really 'normal.'" --Kirkus Reviews on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
"Insightful, engaging, and immerses teens into the world of Tourette's . . . Uninhibited and compelling." --School Library Journal on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
