A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
Just when seventeen-year-old Matt thinks he canât handle one more piece of terrible news, he meets a girl whoâs dealt with a lot moreâand who just might be able to clue him in on how to rise up when life keeps knocking him downâin this âvivid, satisfying, and ultimately upbeat tale of grief, redemption, and graceâ (Kirkus Reviews) from the Coretta Scott KingâJohn Steptoe Awardâwinning author of When I Was the Greatest.
Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom diedâalthough she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than the Cluck Bucket, and he needs the income since his dad canât handle the bills (or anything, really) on his own. So while Dadâs snagging bottles of whiskey, Mattâs snagging fifteen bucks an hour. Not bad. But everything else? Not good. Then Matt meets Lovey. Crazy name, and sheâs been through more crazy stuff than he can imagine. Yet Lovey never cries. Sheâs tough. Really tough. Tough in the way Matt wishes he could be. Which is maybe why heâs drawn to her, and definitely why he canât seem to shake her. Because thereâs nothing more hopeful than finding a person who understands your lonelinessâand who can maybe even help take it away.