What is the scariest part of growing up? What is the most fulfilling? Have you grown up or still in the process of becoming one? Yes, we all have the idea of growing up and a claim of being a grown up. This one hits me surprisingly and draws me intensely to look into my progress – in the so-called growing up.
ME Dead Dad and Alcatraz by Chris Lynch is a story of a 14-year-old boy, Elvin Bishop, with his Ma, who is his comfort zone; two oldest and best friends – Mike and Frankie, who stand as his angel’s and devil’s advocates, respectively; and Uncle Alex, who is a brother of his dead dad and an ex-convict. Elvin is scared of change. He is skeptical of his undead uncle, as he calls it, when the latter turns up in their house. He is hard on his dealings with him. Elvin has his own view even of little things. Say, when he is labeled sensitive, it means he is pathetic. Uncle Alex, nonetheless, for redemption purposes because he took Elvin’s trust fund when his brother died, takes care and teaches Elvin values about life, which he learned the hard way, such as knowing when to assert oneself, expressing what he feels, watching out his diet and appetite, 
and accepting change. See how stubborn Elvin is towards Uncle Alex, how he learns to appreciate the latter, and how he becomes capable of change.
ME Dead Dad and Alcatraz illustrates that constructive criticism is still better than open rebuke. The former affirms somehow the struggling spirit, whereas the latter devastates it. That life is more meaningful and more manageable when you have friends, who make you see both sides of the coin in a way that won’t endanger you; a mentor who is your check and balance; and a refuge, who is your one constant thing in life. That we are capable of change towards good.
Juanderworld 