Publisher's Synopsis
Growing up is never easy, but as everyone knows, it can sometimes be exceptionally difficult. This coming-of-age story, a true Bildungsroman, rich in detail, much of it seriously disturbing, is yet rich with humour, friendships, and wisdom. Beginning on the Caribbean island of Trinidad during WWII, the story moves to the Pacific Northwest, then to California, and back to Trinidad, as we follow the triumphs and the tragedies of Arthur (nicknamed Poonky Doodles by his godfather), through his childhood and his teen years, as he tries to find out who he is, who and what he wants to become, and why life can be very cruel even when he tries to do all the right things. This novel of growth, of strength, and of survival, though told through the mask of fiction, is a true story about real people and events. It is a tale you will long remember.
