Following a family tragedy, 18-year-old Gabe LoScuda finds himself thrust into the role of caregiver for his ailing grandfather. Between the shopping trips and the doctor visits with Grandpa, Gabe and his friend John try to salvage their senior year, meet girls, and make the varsity baseball team. It doesn’t take long for Gabe to realize that going to school and looking after a grandfather with Alzheimer’s is more work than he ever imagined. And when long-lost Uncle Nick appears on the scene, Gabe soon finds that living with Nick and Grandpa is like babysitting two grown men. Aside from John, the only person who truly understands Gabe is Sofia, a punk-rocking rebel he meets at the veteran’s hospital. When these three unlikely friends are faced with a serious dilemma, will they do what it takes to save Grandpa? If there’s a chance of preserving the final shreds of Grandpa’s dignity, Gabe may have to make the most gut-wrenching decision of his life—and there’s no way out.
"Full of heart and humor...will make young readers take stock of their own parents' responsibilities, and what it means to make sacrifices for the ones you love." -Booklist"An emotional story, filled with lots of laughter and great sadness. Smartly written, with beautiful characters and a compelling plot, No Sad Songs deals honestly with the challenges of caring for someone with dementia." -Foreword Reviews
"This coming-of-age tale is a must for any YA collection." -School Library Journal, starred review
"No Sad Songs is lovely and funny and heart-aching and true. I didn't want it to end. But the big-hearted story and characters-- especially the very real, unforgettable Gabe-- will stay with me for a long, long time." -Jennifer Niven, NY Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up The Universe.