All of the other characters are fully-realized, realistic, and delightful. Liam's father is a bit one-dimensional, but since it is Liam telling the story, that makes some sense. Equally unusual is straight Liam's fashion sense, so perfectly presented that it may have even boys taking a closer look at their wardrobes, and his gay uncle and friends, none of whom fit into a stereotype - or anti-stereotype. Even though he is popular in both his old and new schools, the author induces a powerful feeling of empathy for him, something unusual in young adult books, in which popularity almost always equates with mean and shallow.
With italicized flashbacks to pivotal moments in Liam's life, readers get to see him both inside and out, past and present. Even though the story is told in Liam's voice, readers will cotton on pretty quickly to the reality that Liam can't see and, so compelling is the author's way of telling the story, they will want to set him straight. Readers will be on Liam's side from the start. We've all known kids like Liam - bright, creative, talented, lovable - who have fallen under the sway of someone who has convinced them that they're worthless, and they can't seem to see themselves through anyone else's eyes. With events such as missing the first day of school, and getting kicked off the school bus the next day, can Liam still turn out to be his father's dream or will Liam see himself as his own person, living his style of life? Read "King of the Screw-ups" to find out.This is a hilarious, and ultimately devastating, portrait of a kid who has been emotionally and verbally abused (along with his mother). But Pete sees who Liam really is, and now Liam has to decide which version of himself he can live with. Living in Pete's trailer in upstate New York is not at all what Liam planned for his senior year, until he realizes it's a perfect opportunity to remake himself into a total nerd and be everything his father wants him to be. Liam's mother calls Liam's uncle a gay glam-rocker disc jockey -whom Liam calls Aunt Pete, to ask if Liam can stay with him. Liam hates his grandparents and his mother knows that too.
When Liam takes a step too far, his father kicks him out of the house to go live with his grandparents. Any way that Liam can, he always ends up screwing up and ticking off his dad. Liam may sound excellent, but not to his dad. Popularity, an athlete, a chick magnet, and stylish.
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