Shelf Life

(by the author of Cut)
This book is a little slow at the start but by the end I was having trouble putting it down. High school freshman Toby Malone is a baseball fanatic and avid card collector. His older brother Jake was MVP of the school’s championship team last year. But life for the Malone family is spiraling toward disaster. Dad has abandoned the family, ostensibly to find work in California and get back on his feet. Mom is overwhelmed with the task of supporting her 3 sons on a hairdresser’s salary, financial problems, and depression. And Jake is taking drugs and giving up baseball.

Toby takes on the responsibility of holding his family together. He makes excuses for Jake and cleans up after him and his druggie friends. He hides bills from his mom so she won’t worry as much. And he looks after little brother Eli who is confused by everything that is going on around him. All of this on top of the usual pressures faced by a freshman.

Of course Toby’s attempts to solve his family’s problems are unsuccessful and finally everyone has to face up to reality. This title will appeal to anyone who has had to face parental abandonment, depression, or drug abuse.

Coming soon to LHS

Mr. Doyle