Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets

I hate myself but I love Walt Whitman, the kook. Always positive. I need to be more positive, so I wake myself up every morning with a song of myself.

Sixteen-year-old James Whitman has been yawping ( la Whitman) at his abusive father ever since he kicked his beloved older sister, Jorie, out of the house.

Jamess painful struggle with anxiety and depressionalong with his ongoing quest to understand what led to his self-destructive sisters exilemake for a heart-rending read, but his wild, exuberant Whitmanization of the world and keen sense of humor keep this emotionally charged debut novel buoyant.