Funerals and Fly Fishing

Funerals and Fly Fishing by Bartek, Mary. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780805074093.

I start up the street toward my grandfathers house. Just how weird is it that I, Brad Stanislawski, am walking toward a funeral home of my own free will? Where do you fit in when youre oversized, underappreciated, and faced with a name like Stanislawski? Brad Stanislawski is looking forward to summer vacation, if only to get away from the classmates who make fun of his size (its not his fault hes so tall) and his last name (Stan-is-lousy being their moniker of choice). So when Brads mother announces that shes taking a summer vacation by herself and sending Brad across the country to stay with his estranged grandfather-who happens to be an undertaker-Brad thinks life couldnt possibly get any worse. Still, as Brad ought to know, first impressions can be deceiving, and a name can hold a lot more than embarrassment. What exactly does it mean to be Brad Stanislawski? In this thoughtful, funny first novel, Brad (with a little help from his grandfather) is about to find out for himself. Funerals and Fly Fishing is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Childrens Book of the Year.