August and Then Some Hardcover by David Prete

Product Details

• Publisher: WW Norton (2012-03-27)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 272 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780393057997
• Item Weight: 353.81 grams
• Dimensions: 0.0 x 0.0 x 0.0 cm

Twisted bonds between a father and his children lead to revenge and a desperate hope for redemption and forgiveness.

In the heat of August, Jake Terri Savage (“JT”), his little sister Danielle, and his bone-headed best friend, Nokey (nicknamed after “gnocchi”), try to steal JT’s father’s beloved 1965 Shelby Cobra. Their reasons are noble; the consequences,devastating.

JT’s abusive dad’s idea of a twelfth birthday gift is getting his son involved in a barroom brawl. Nokey’s dad thinks he has potatoes for brains. Both sons live out their fathers’ stunted visions in a way that brings down a terrible judgment on them all—leaving JT hauling rocks for punishment while he staves off panic attacks and nightmares about his sister and her terrible half-known secret.

A Dominican teenage girl with little hope for her own future gives JT a second chance to save someone, including himself. Throughout, David Prete’s vivid sense of atmosphere, tight plotting, and crackling dialogue give the dysfunctional family story a new lease on life.

About the Author

David Prete is the author of Say That to My Face. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.