FICTION

The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac

by Kris D'Agostino
Algonquin. Mar. 2012. c.336p. ISBN 9781565129511. pap. $13.95. F
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Twenty-four-year-old Calvin Moretti still lives at home with his quirky parents and siblings. He is angry about his situation—employed only because his mother requires it, and he has no money saved up to move out. In addition, his father has been diagnosed with cancer, his teenage sister is pregnant, the family is about to lose their home in Sleepy Hollow, NY, to foreclosure, and Calvin just wants to escape it all. He gradually realizes that his options are either to move out and allow his family to struggle alone or to force himself to grow up so he can emotionally and financially help the people he loves.
VERDICT In this sometimes amusing, sometimes heartbreaking debut coming-of-age story, Calvin's initial self-absorption and self-pity will be off-putting to readers; however, as he struggles to make the hard decisions that will shape his present and future, they will soon root for him to make the right decisions to keep his family afloat. D'Agostino's style will appeal to Michael Chabon fans and readers who enjoy novels about dysfunctional but lovable families.
Reviewed by Katie Wernz, Powell, OH , Feb 01, 2012
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