Thirteen-year-old Rits has been living with his Uncle Corry since his mother had a breakdown. Corry is hardly ready for prime-time parenting: He has no clue how to offer comfort and support to a boy full of worry and anxiety, nor does it even occur to him that he should. Prone to bouts of hypochondria and panic, Rits finds solace and purpose in two goals: making a movie and learning to cook. The movie is inspired by his new friend Rita’s intriguing and sometimes mysterious family history, which leads Rits to embark on a stint of documentary filmmaking. And the cooking is inspired by Corry’s nutritionally challenged lifestyle. The narrative is composed of Rits’s journal entries, full of observations that are painful, tender, and so very funny at times. Rits is spot-on sure of the things he knows are true about the world (many of which are only true if you’re thirteen) yet unsure of so much else as he bears the burden of not knowing what will happen to his family as it seems to unravel around him. But there is hope, too—in Rits’s sweetly developing relationship with Corry; in his deepening friendship with Rita, the girl next door (well, across the street); and even in the efforts of Rits’s very imperfect parents to do their best by him in the days to come—leaving a lasting impression in this singular story. (Ages 11–14)

Rits is living with his Uncle Corry while his father travels with a girlfriend and his mother is in a rest home. Trying to make the best of a confusing situ ation, Rits begins to cook for his unemployed, unkempt uncle. As they try to work out their lives together, Uncle Corry begins to care. When Rits’s father arrives to take him home, Uncle Corry tells Rits that he is always welcome to come back. There is an uncertainty about Rits’s future, but the reader does know that no matter what happens he will be a survivor . pwc

Originally published as Rits in Dutch by Lemniscaat The Neth erlands, in 2005. Translated by Wanda Boeke.

When his father runs off with his girlfriend and his distraught mother is admitted to an institution, thirteen-year-old Rits goes to live with his uncle and tries to make the best of his unusual circumstances.