How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life (and a Dog) - Hardcover

Art Corriveau’s first novel, Housewrights, was for adults and was published by Penguin in 2002. Library Journal called it “one of the better debut novels of [the] year,” while Publishers Weekly said “Corriveau is a smooth, evocative writer who creates engaging character.” His adult short fiction has been anthologized in literary journals in the United States, the UK, and Canada, and as a travel writer he has lived in and written about Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and Hong Kong. He holds an MFA in writing from the University of Michigan and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Grade 5–8—Nicky and his mother live in a tiny apartment in a less-than-affluent area near Boston since his parents separated. She says he acts more like a 40-year-old man than an 11-year-old boy. In the area of behaving responsibly, she's probably right. One night, instead of dinner, she brings home a former seeing-eye dog with a mysterious past, but Nicky doesn't want him. During their walks, Reggie tries to go in certain directions, so Nicky finally lets him, hoping to discover his former owner and why Reggie was at the pound. He meets new people, becomes familiar with a new neighborhood, and discovers some of the dog's history. Nicky also tries to fit into a new school with tough kids and is confused and hurt that his dad doesn't see him on weekends. The story is told in the authentic voice of a boy who is dealing with too much upheaval in his life, including his mother's depression about her new lifestyle. What he thinks and actually says are often poles apart, but kids will immediately pick up on the difference. There are a few crude words and the action drags a bit in the middle, but young people, especially those who have had to take on responsibility at home, will enjoy the story.—Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
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