Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry

Danny Zelko 13 going on 14 needs to get rid of his moms boyfriend Harry. The guy is a creep. Drinks too much locks Danny out of the house gets in Dannys face and calls him Danielle. Of course everyone blames Danny. Its his fault he gets into fights at school. Its his fault he cant control his anger. Its his fault Harry is such a jerk. Danny isnt such a bad kid--he has his own lawn business makes his own dinner even takes out the garbage and closes up the house without being asked. All he wants is for his mom to be like she used to be--a real mother who acted like one. Because Harry makes her stupid. When she gets around him she forgets about her kids. Disappears with him doesnt stick up for her own son. And the prospect of spending another day with this man makes Danny feel helpless and broken. So when Dannys sister Lisa reveals that Harry and their mom are getting married Danny never the one to cower decides to do something. Thats right one way or another he will get rid of Harry. Set in 1983 New Jersey Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry is packed with Dannys friends and enemies a few fist fights heartbreak and fury and a little humor too. Praise for SEVEN WAYS TO GET RID OF HARRY: Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry is a poignant nostalgia trip to being thirteen in the 1980s that also has a sharp bite. It tugs at your heart-strings while making you laugh out loud. Never has the attempt to get rid of your moms evil boyfriend been so charmingly portrayed. A must read! --Lee Matthew Goldberg author of The Mentor and the Desire Card series Jen Conley brought me back to my childhood with this gripping debut. Danny Zelko battles with his mothers abusive boyfriend amidst the helplessness confusion and tumultuous friendships of his formative thirteenth summer. Sometimes harrowing often funny this is a great and necessary read for anyone who wants to understand what its like for boys in that liminal stage when faced with the challenge of a bad role model. --Thomas Pluck author of Bad Boy Boogie Very few writers can do what Jen Conley does striking the perfect balance between voice character and setting. But technical proficiency isnt what makes the book so special. Her story of a screwed-up kid learning to live without his father is heartbreaking hopeful at times hilarious but above all flat-out powerful. This book will be placed in the YA section but it is so much more. Maybe its because with this book taking place in 1983 Danny Zelko wouldve been born the same year as I was. Maybe its because I too had problems with authority fitting in and loved all things Pink Floyd. All I know is I couldnt put the book down. The story and dialogue are strikingly authentic and the prose zips along. Mostly though I just wanted to put my arms around the kid and tell him that yeah thirteen sucks and no Im not gonna lie; it doesnt necessarily get better. But the bastards wont always be able to keep you down. As long as you keep fighting kid. --Joe Clifford author of the Jay Porter thrillers Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry is a dark heartfelt and hard-to-put-down novel. Conleys stark realistic prose transports readers to a time and place when we were all 13 going on 14 and crafts the kind of YA story that feels exceedingly real and unique with a healthy dose of noir. Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry is the kind of book that slithers into your brain and never leaves. --Alex Segura author of Dangerous Ends and Blackout