In beautiful, vibrant prose, devoid of self-pity, anger, or blame, Deborah describes her struggle to understand and protect her son as his behavior escalates beyond her control. Even in the midst of the most harrowing experiences, Stephen's intelligence and sensitivity shine through -- in an essay he writes about his older brother, in his incisive explanations for his unruly activities, in his impulse to take care of those in worse shape than he is. It is these special qualities that motivate Deborah to remain hopeful and strong.

Slowly, mother and son begin to rebuild their lives. Together, Deborah and Stephen adopt a bizarre menagerie -- including one epileptic dog and another on Prozac. And finally, they open their home to Trev, a friend of Stephen's abandoned by his family. Each new responsibility strengthens their unusual household into a family that can pull Stephen through these years alive. At times touching, at times terrifying, this is a beautifully crafted portrait of male adolescence in our complicated world.