Break in Case of Emergency by Brian Francis

A special thank you to HarperCollins Canada, #HCCFrenzy, and the author, Brian Francis for a finished copy of the book.

Life hasn't always been easy for 15-year-old Toby. Her mother died by suicide five years ago, and her father is not in the picture having abandoned her mother when she was pregnant.

When the book opens, Toby is living on a dairy farm with her grandparents. Struggling to find any light in her world, she’s making plans to follow a similar route as her mother. But her plans are suddenly interrupted when she’s told that her estranged father is returning home. Oh, and that he’s gay, and a famous female impersonator.

This novel broke my heart, and I mean that in the best way possible. Francis tackles some heavy and difficult topics, but deftly handles the responsibility that comes with writing about suicide and depression—he writes with care, compassion, and authenticity.

The characters are well-developed and each provide a different view of Toby. As far as she is concerned, there is just enough pathos without the reader feeling sorry for her, instead they are pulling for her and don't want her to make the same choice as her mother.

With Francis' signature wit, Break in Case of Emergency is a vulnerable story about a non-traditional father and daughter relationship, and a young girl reconciling with herself. I highly recommend!

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BRIAN FRANCIS is the author of three novels: Fruit, Brian's first novel, was a 2009 Canada Reads finalist and is an Amazon and 49th Shelf “100 Canadian Books to Read in a Lifetime” title, Natural Order was a Best Book 2011 selection by the Toronto Star, Kobo, and Georgia Straight, and Break in Case of Emergency is his newest book and YA debut. Brian is also writer and columnist for The Next Chapter on CBC Radio.

Francis lives in Toronto.