What would you do if you were 14 and had to move to a new town because your abusive father lost his job? For Doug Swieteck, this is exactly what happens. He has no friends and a trouble-making older brother who never misses a chance to make his life miserable. To make matters worse (you wouldn’t think that would be possible!) his brother steals the only thing Doug has ever owned that wasn’t owned by another Swieteck before him; a baseball cap given to him by Yankee’s great Joe Pepitone! With the help of his new friend, Lil, and the staff of the local library, Doug begins the journey of discovering who he is and what possibilities await him.

NYTimes Notable Children's book for 2011

I'm not usually a disappointed reader. It's hard, though, to be introduced to a great writer and nearly simultaneously experience his failure. What wonderfully realized characters! What a complex, multi-dimensional disfuntional family! What brave writing! and then...why does the major nemesis have an unexplained change of heart? Why do so many troubled people find healing at the same time? And why does the ingenue have to come down with a UTD (Ultimate Tragic Disease)? Does the author have too many editors breathing down his neck, or what?

This is fantastic book about the character of a junior high aged boy. Gary Schmidt is very talented.

A really moving and at times funny read with well-developed characters. I can see why it's on so many Newberry/Printz lists! Definitely recommended to grade 6-10s. It would make a great classroom read.

Audobonn pictures at the library. Nasty father. Brother returning from Vietnam war with no legs. Wonderful characters....Doug.