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At once heartbreaking and hilarious, the eleven stories in The Book of Right and Wrong capture their characters at the defining moments of their lives. A mother finds herself defending her son’s biggest bully from a tormentor of his own; a young man watches as his cape-wearing former high-school classmate proves himself more adept at making friends; a social worker gambles everything on expediting an adoption—and causes unforeseen consequences for every person in her life; a boy standing in for Jimmy Carter in his elementary school’s mock-election inadvertently starts a bloody playground war; an ex-con single father finds himself on the inside of his town’s social circle, with no clue as to how the game is played.

 

“Outrageous, tender, hilarious, bewildered: Matt Debenham’s The Book of Right and Wrong is so full of life that it’s a miracle the binding can hold it all together. A spectacular debut.”--Paul Lisicky, author of Lawnboy and Famous Builder

 

“Matt Debenham writes people you could swear you’ve actually met, and your heart goes out to each and every one of them. Even the sonsofbitches.”--Paul F. Tompkins, Comedian

 

"it’s highly recommended" --Dana Stevens of Slate.com