The author's note at the beginning was pretty interesting because she says she wants a book where characters aren't always hiding the feeling and emotions we're always told to hide. When we're first introduced to the characters, it's a little surprising because the girl and her father are a little bit frank about his stinking up the place on his way to take a shower. It's certainly a different way of communicating than existed in my family, but I imagine there are a fair amount of families like that.