"If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing."

This book was spectacular and such an amazing example of why categories like YA and middle grade are sometimes so meaningless. Yes, our main character is in high school, but locked within the pages of this coming-of-age story is so much truth about life, loss, grief, people, family, poverty, and more. It's full of grown-up wisdom.

The story is filled with some harsh truths and very low and sad moments, but it's a testament to the writer and the narrative voice that it was a story always laced with hope. I laughed out loud at several passages. I love having out loud reactions to a book. It was only more amazing because it was all still heartbreaking, and no less funny for being so damn sad.

It's a short story, but it's also incredibly engaging. I want to read this again. I want other people to read this. I want my hypothetical future children to read this.

I feel smarter for reading this, and I don't know that I actually am, but it's nice to have come across a book I enjoyed with my brain turned on. I'll be thinking about Junior's story for a while to come.