In the tradition of John Irving and Tom Perrotta, 'The Every Boy' finds humor in dysfunction and hope in the roller coaster of self-discovery.
During his short lifetime, Henry Every flirted badly with girls, broke into the houses in his neighborhood, fantasised about being a minority, and killed a great blue heron. His sudden, unexplained death was a shock to all who knew him, especially his father. Alone now in his suburban house, Harlan Every pores over his late son's secret thoughts in an attempt to connect with the boy he never really knew - and to figure out how he died. Harlan had reached out to his son in the only ways he knew how: giving competitive boxing lessons, sharing marine-life minutiae, and doling out hard-bitten maxims about how to get the upper hand in life. Now, for the first time, Harlan really listens. He learns the truth about Henry's many misadventures and transgressions. He also discovers the part he played in Henry's tragic death and the real reason his wife walked out years ago.
The story grows into two parallel love stories - one past, one present - with very different outcomes. Both whimsical and wise, 'The Every Boy' is a page-turning mystery, an exploration of fathers and sons, a romance, and a one-of-a-kind celebration of human individuality.
