A candid look at growing up in a time when truths were either sugar coated or ignored, and surviving them. The Catholic angle is not preachy, but an accurate reflection on how life was addressed. The author used a substantial amount of vocabulary that made me grateful for e-reader dictionary (even as a Cradle Catholic with 13+ years of Catholic education and several cousins & friends in the Priesthood, I never heard the term "rabat" for the vest-like article of clerical clothing). However, none of it was condescending or gratuitous - it propelled the story forward by underlining an author's early fascination with words. I don't think it will achieve the heights and durations of the author's much read Nancy Drew series or Anne of Green Gables, but it's a worthwhile summer read.