A strong narrative voice combined with a unique setting and eccentric characters propel Many's (My Life, Take Two) novel, despite some rushed plotting. With his parents on vacation, Nick walks across the state to visit his wild aunt Wanda on a funky commune-type farm. He hopes that Wanda and his parents will let him stay for the school year so he can avoid military school (he was kicked out of his last school for, among other things, accidentally setting fire to Wanda's former house). Nick rekindles his relationship with Wanda, gets a job at the doughnut shop where she works and bonds with his new community. He also befriends Diana, from a neighboring development, whose own troubles threaten to get Nick into more hot water. In his interspersed "foot notes," Nick explains his obsession with walking ("When you walk, everything is connected to everything else... no quick cuts like in commercials"). Diana tells him during a fight that he also uses walking to avoid conflicts. Nick's not the only one with problems: Wanda must face her own irresponsibility when she's fired from her job, and Diana is worried her sexually abusive father will attack her sisters. That's a lot to solve during one summer, and the plotting's pace is somewhat erratic (for example, Diana's transformation from playing pranks on the "hippie" farm to becoming a full-fledged member of their community seems sudden). Ultimately, the commune's exuberant celebrations, Nick's heart-to-heart talks with Wanda and funny, honest narration will keep readers along for his journey. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)
