The death and life of Benny Brooks : sort of a memoir
(Book)

"Christy Ottaviano Books."

"This is a story close to my heart. It is based on my own childhood growing up in the 1970s ... Divorce, anger issues, my dad's smoking, and his eventual cancer and death impacted my life in a huge way ..."--A note from the author, page [275]

Fifth grader Benny wants to focus on not flunking out of fifth grade, but he must also cope with his complicated home life with newly divorced parents, a mother who moves away, and a father with terminal lung cancer.

Benny's parents are newly divorced. When his mom chooses to move away, Benny and his brother and sister are left with their chain-smoking dad, who has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Benny is lonely, anxious, and very angry. He can't sleep at night and spends his days trying to survive fifth grade. Benny starts acting out as he watches his father virtually disappear before his eyes. -- adapted from jacket

009-014.,Little, Brown and Company.