Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Even at his cousin's wake, Jimmy maintains his snarky persona that so irritates his parents and others around him. It is the day before the wake when Jimmy's parents tell him that he must give a short eulogy for his 13-year-old cousin, Patrick. Immediately, Jimmy resists, as he can't imagine any positive remarks he can make about Patrick, as Patrick had done nothing but ruin many pivotal moments in Jimmy's life. "Patrick was the kind of guy who would kick your dog," Jimmy explains to readers. "And not to see what the dog would do but what you would do." Leading up to the time of the funeral, Jimmy reflects on different past experiences, times when Patrick always seemed to ruin every occasion. As the family gets closer to the actual funeral, these reflections help Jimmy to gain a more objective perspective of how troubled Patrick really was—not necessarily the intentionally destructive person Jimmy had painted Patrick to be. As Jimmy processes his memories, readers get an ever clearer understanding of a mentally ill child who desperately needs help but doesn't get it. Schmitt simultaneously paints a realistic picture of a close but flawed family who must navigate the sudden death of a young family member and all the feelings that come with it. The book adheres to the white default.A complicated, hard, and heartfelt look at a child's mental illness. (Fiction. 10-14)

ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Honesty isn't always pretty, but it courses through Schmitt's debut in more ways than one. Jimmy, 13, is already uncomfortable at his cousin Patrick's wake, but that distress escalates to panic when Jimmy's mother informs him that he has to speak at tomorrow's funeral. As he stands in the funeral home, he racks his brain for a nice memory of Patrick e cousin he hated use for his eulogy. The narrative dips in and out of the wake to follow Jimmy's memories of his 13-year-old cousin, none of which is appropriate for a speech. The temperamental boy ruined every toy or occasion he touched, but Schmitt drops clues that place Patrick on the autism spectrum, sadly undiagnosed and untreated. Complex family relationships surface with humor and candor, with adults painted as flawed and prone to delivering sharp words or even a smack. All these elements combine to make the reader as uneasy as Jimmy, who, through his recollections, gains a better understanding of the boy lying in the coffin and, ultimately, of himself.

Horn Book

Thirteen-year-old Jimmy's cousin, Patrick, has unexpectedly died. Jimmy must deliver a brief eulogy but doesnt know what to say: he really didn't like Patrick, who ruined every landmark experience in Jimmy's life with his constant presence, out-of-control behavior, and escalating temper. Through flashbacks, Jimmy begins to recognize the complex dynamics that form his family. It's a huge step toward growing up, made believable through a thoughtful and intelligent protagonist.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Even at his cousin's wake, Jimmy maintains his snarky persona that so irritates his parents and others around him. It is the day before the wake when Jimmy's parents tell him that he must give a short eulogy for his 13-year-old cousin, Patrick. Immediately, Jimmy resists, as he can't imagine any positive remarks he can make about Patrick, as Patrick had done nothing but ruin many pivotal moments in Jimmy's life. "Patrick was the kind of guy who would kick your dog," Jimmy explains to readers. "And not to see what the dog would do but what you would do." Leading up to the time of the funeral, Jimmy reflects on different past experiences, times when Patrick always seemed to ruin every occasion. As the family gets closer to the actual funeral, these reflections help Jimmy to gain a more objective perspective of how troubled Patrick really was—not necessarily the intentionally destructive person Jimmy had painted Patrick to be. As Jimmy processes his memories, readers get an ever clearer understanding of a mentally ill child who desperately needs help but doesn't get it. Schmitt simultaneously paints a realistic picture of a close but flawed family who must navigate the sudden death of a young family member and all the feelings that come with it. The book adheres to the white default.A complicated, hard, and heartfelt look at a child's mental illness. (Fiction. 10-14)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This emotionally raw first novel places eighth grader Jimmy in an impossible situation when his parents force him to eulogize Patrick, a recently deceased cousin he despised. The novel spans the wake and funeral, and titles such as -some people enjoy a wake like it-s a wedding,- introduce the chapters, which include flashback scenes with the volatile and sometimes explosive Patrick, who was Jimmy-s age. The flashbacks vary in pacing and effectiveness; the first, about their seven-year stint in the park district-s Junior Explorers, feels bloated, while others are stronger, especially a description of a Fourth of July party thrown by the formidable Grandma Mutz, during which Patrick attacks Jimmy with little firecrackers and Patrick-s father becomes enraged. Jimmy transcends speechlessness to offer an honest and unvarnished tribute. With dark comedy and raw authenticity, Schmitt captures the awkward moments of the funeral while exploring complicated family dynamics, untreated mental health issues, and family secrets. Ages 9-12. (Nov.)