Deborah Haenggi

Friends In Progress Deborah Haenggi

Kevin Schmidtmeyer collects pine cones, shines coins and alphabetizes spice jars. He's stuck in a social skills class called Friends In Progress, which he's sure isn't the best use of his dad's tax dollars. In less than one month, he will turn fourteen. Does Kevin have what it takes to break out of his comfort zone and ask out Samantha McDuffy? After losing the companionship and wisdom of his grandmother to Alzheimer's disease, Kevin is at a loss to fill the gaping hole in his life. He deals with common teen obstacles like Dwayne Dunkelberry, a founding member of the People's Republic of Cool Guys. Then there's the family melodrama. His father has not dealt with his children fairly, giving Max and Chloe his good looks and Kevin, his asymmetrical ear lobes. He used to be close to Chloe, but then she went and got her period and everything became a big deal. Molly, his cousin and best friend, hides behind over-sized clothes and an obsession with Hillary Clinton. Kevin's Thanksgiving takes an unexpected turn when he and Molly come across a scrapbook in the attic. Finding out about his grandmother's past, inspires Kevin to move forward from a boy living on the fringes of life into a man of action. This coming-of-age tale evokes both laughter and tears. Kevin's quest for connection is heartbreaking at times, but ultimately uplifting.