The Death and Life of Benny Brooks

Ages 9 to 14, Grades 4 to 9

An award-winning children’s book creator grapples with the darker undercurrents of his childhood in this poignant and honest illustrated memoir, for readers of Free Lunch and The List of Things That Will Not Change.

Benny's life is slowly unraveling. His parents are newly divorced, his mom chooses to move away, and Benny and his brother and sister are left with their chain-smoking dad, who has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Benny is lonely, anxious, and very angry. He can't sleep at night and spends his days trying to survive fifth grade. 

Writing from a personal place, award-winning creator Ethan Long sheds light on the challenges of growing up amidst family turmoil in this thought-provoking, bighearted story that brims with hope.

About the Author

Ethan Long is the acclaimed author and illustrator of more than thirty books for young people, including Up, Tall and High, for which he received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. This is his first book for older readers. Ethan lives with his family in Colorado and invites you to visit him at ethanlong.com.