I personally struggled with the first half of the book. I've been in his situation as far as having a parent who doesn't want to admit emotions needed to be validated. I pushed through the negative parts and loved the ending. It is always nice to see another adult prove they don't have to be like their parents. Mikel goes from orphan in a cult to child taking care of his mother who battles depression. The upside is that the addict dad who is supposedly unfit becomes the best dad for Mikel and his older brother Tony. There's drug use, alcohol use, and a lot of teenage rebellion, but it really helped shape the man Mikel is now. It's raw, honest, and what a lot of people have gone through. Thank you Celadon for sending it!