Publisher's Synopsis
Since the time Santiago can remember, he has never seen a male figure in his family - branded "fatherless" on the streets. But when his family moves to a distant suburb of Brisbane, he meets someone he wants to call 'Dad' for the first time - his neighbour. This man, who spends all his time with his kids Alex and Phil, teaches Santiago invaluable life lessons. Whether it's making a balaclava from his wife's hat for a playful robbery or faking a treasure map to spark an interest in reading, this man embodies the spirit of fatherhood Santiago longs for.
Tragically, Dad's first child, Adam, died two minutes after birth. Dad himself grew up without a father, losing his own to alcoholism. Is this a necessary sacrifice to atone for the sins of the fathers? Despite his hardships, Dad teaches Santiago and the boys everything: overcoming enemies through poetry, finding oneself through the dreams, and living through a broken heart while maturing. How does it feel being a father without having a father yourself? It feels like a pilot with no plane. We choose what to boast about, we choose friends, and we choose how we live. Why can't we choose our parents? According to Santiago, maybe we can. "Oh my Dad" is a story for those who haven't had a dad, for those who have had a dad, and for those who are dads.
