Casey tidies up the kitchen; he doesn't have his friend over any more, doesn't hang out with Oscar too long after school. Because he never knows what mood his dad will be in. He's got a project on Boston and the Revolution to work on, and he's amazed when a nice girl from his class rings and asks to talk it over with him. Tomorrow, he says, in the ice-cream place after school. Then he has to hurry and empty the dishwasher, because his dad's coming. In some ways it's better than before the break-up, when ice formed around each of his parents if the other came into the room. And Casey's learned to cook.

In THE PRINCE OF DENIAL, Casey's aunt comes and talks to him while he's trying to chat with the girl, Tara. She says it's time his father got help. Casey doesn't reply; he can cope with the drink-inspired mood swings. Only, that evening his father drinks before driving them out for a meal and spills a tray a waitress is carrying over them; next day the man tries plumbing and doesn't follow advice, bursting a pipe. Maybe he's getting worse. Casey can't talk to his friends about this issue; he just says his father is sick. When his mother phones to tell him how well his sister is doing, she reminds him that his father needs him around. As if Casey didn't know. But his father shouting abuse at Tara is the last straw. Casey calls his aunt.

The bravery of a thirteen-year-old boy shines through as Casey, his aunt Julie, and an intervention specialist, a reformed drinker named Joe, sit down and finally talk. The boy doesn't want to be disloyal and what's more, he thinks maybe the problem is his fault. But he'll work with them and try to help. Casey comes across as a lot more mature than we'd expect for his age. I admired the way that he has coped so far and how he intends to face up to the situation with adult help. This tale is simply written from a kid's point of view, unsure about a lot of things and worried about what will happen if his dad gets angry. But Casey is growing up, and something has to change.

Doug Wilhelm has written a skilled recreation of life from this young teen's point of view, and many young adults will find THE PRINCE OF DENIAL an interesting, thoughtful adventure.