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Liam Geller
Allan Geller
Sarah Geller
Uncle Pete
Eddie
Dino
Orlando
Darleen

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handsome, popular, and extremely sincere, he just wants his dad to love him.

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Liam’s father, he is cruel and judgmental and totally screws Liam up.

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Liam’s mother, a boutique-owner and former model.

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Liam’s uncle, an aging glam-rock dj who lives in a trailer near his boyfriend and close friends/bandmates

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Pete’s boyfriend/bandmate, a high school teacher and down-to-earth guy.

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Pete’s friend/bandmate, owner of a local clothing store.

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Pete’s friend/bandmate, burly police officer.

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Girl next door, totally uncharmed by Liam no matter what he does.

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One of the primary themes running through the novel is relationships. The novel reveals that even the individuals that make up a family have different relationships among the family members. For example, Liam has a very close relationship with his mother, Sarah. Liam and his father, Allan, on the other hand, have a very combative relationship. Allan and Liam do not get along and Liam feels as if nothing he does is right and just ends up disappointing his father.

Friendship is another type of relationship the novel tackles. It seems as if Darleen hates Liam when he first arrives in Pineville. After Darleen has a chance to really get to know Liam, however, she discovers that he isn't the pompous and shallow moron she though he was. By the end of the novel, the two are friends.

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Westchester, New York

Westchester, New York is an area in New York City. This is where Sarah runs her boutique. Westchester is also where Liam and his parents live.

Pineville, New York

Pineville, New York is a small town in upstate New York. It is the town where Allan, Sarah, Pete, Dino, Orlando, and Eddie grew up. When Liam moves to live with Pete, Pineville is where Liam winds up.

Pineville High School

Pineville High School is the local high school in Pineville. It is the school where Liam enrolls for his senior year. It is also the school where Liam repeatedly tries to become unpopular with the kids. No matter how hard he tries, it seems as the kids at the high school think that he is super cool.

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Rip Van Winkle Award (School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York)
Kirkus Best Young Adult Booklist, 2009
Green Mountain Book Award Master List, 2010
Kentucky Bluegrass State Award nominee
George State Peach Book Award for Teen Readers nominee
American Library Association Rainbow Project
Branes & Noble Best Teen Booklist, 2009

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The story follows the main character, Liam Geller, as he tries to come to terms with the fact that no matter what he does or how hard he tries, he manages to screw situations up and disappoint his father. When Liam's father, Allan Geller, discovers his son and a girl about to have sex on his office desk, Allan declares this event "the last straw" and tries to ship Liam off to live with his grandparents in Nevada. Instead, Liam ends up moving in with his cross-dressing uncle in a trailer park in a small town in upstate New York. Uncle Pete is Allan's estranged brother that Liam hasn't seen since his mother's modeling retirement party when Liam was seven.