Assigned to write his autobiography, high school senior Rob Radkovitz instead creates an oral portrait of his life, centering on the search for his missing father. Lenny G. abandoned Robs mother when she was pregnant, leaving behind a tape of his last show as a DJ and a record of the sounds of his native Louisiana. Author Paul Fleischman -- winner of the Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices and a Newbery Honor for Graven Images -- uses Robs memories: his crusty grandfather, his adoring aunts, his mothers Spanish soap operas, his grandmothers racy mysteries read aloud, and especially and repeatedly his fathers lone tape to build a counterpoint of past and present, recorded and heard, that is an ever-unfolding, ever fascinating fugue. Determined to find his father, Rob acquires a series of increasingly sophisticated radios, searching obscure stations across the country for that missing voice. This powerful need to find the absent part of his life drives the story forward as Rob both imitates his father in becoming a radio personality and makes a final break in accepting the family he has.

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book is part of a book series called Thorndike Young Adult .

This book has been graded for interest at 11-15 years.

There are 176 pages in this book. This book was published in 2001 by Open Court Publishing Co , U. S. .

Paul Fleischman is one of America's leading writers for young people and has won many awards, including a Newbery Medal (the US equivalent of the Carnegie Medal). He lives in the US.