Abby lives in South Florida with her older brother Paul and their moms, Mom Rachel and Mama Dee, both of whom are chefs (Mom Rachel cooks savories, Mama Dee bakes desserts). Abby is devastated when her best friend and next door neighbor Cat moves away to Israel, leaving her to face the summer before seventh grade alone when Paul goes to camp. And when Paul returns from camp, he's not the same - he's too tired to play with her, and something is wrong. The something turns out to be testicular cancer, and Paul must undergo surgery and four rounds of chemo. Cat is supportive from afar, and family members visit Paul in the hospital (and visit the house for Jewish holidays). Even Conrad, the eighth grade boy living in Cat's house next door, turns out to be a friend - and more. Abby strives to be her best self and come a little further out of her turtle shell to be there for Paul; she remembers her Bubbe's advice that when a door closes, a window opens.

Quotes

"The world is loud and unexpected." (Paul to Abby, 119)

Abby had never thought of being sensitive as an asset. She'd never thought you could be the right amount of sensitive. But maybe you could. Maybe she was. Perhaps her sensitivity made her a more empathetic and understanding person when someone was going through a hard thing. (195-196)

"You're both acting weird."
"Oh, Abby, we're not acting." (Abby and her moms, 239) ( )