Read this on the recommendation of my 11-year-old, who told me, "Brett and I are a lot alike." without, I believe, understanding the implications of that statement. Brett is self-involved and spoiled, a one-time rich kid who's lost all his money, and the story involves the adult who comes along to teach him about life.

It's a bit of a story about redemption, a Secret Garden updated to the modern age, or a Thief Lord without the magic. I like that Brett doesn't actually have a complete, Scrooge-like change of heart - "From that time forward I became a better person" - but the changes in him are realistic.

The characters and scenario are quite realistic overall. A thoughtful, understated story of growing up in modern-day, upper-class California. ( )