SOLVED. Boy after mother's death moves with dad to ramshackle house. [s]

[Rezikiel]

Boy's mother (artistic, manic-depressive) dies in traffic accident and his life is torn in two. He and his father move to a ramshackle house and start anew as they deal with their grief. A neighbor boy (who doesn't talk much and is a bit odd) become a friend. It comes to light that this friend is living in poverty with grandparents who are not well. The father of the boy (boy #1) is drinking and not doing well at moving on. However then he starts to get it together, renovate the house, and ultimately fight with social services to be allowed to take care of the friend. Meanwhile an investigation tries to ascertain whether the mother's death was suicide.

[[deleted user]]

Following--this sounds really good.

When and where, exactly, was it set?

[Rezikiel]

Fairly recently. In the US but I don't remember where---in the hills... Northeast? Appalachia?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

When did you read it? Author female or male? Remember the cover? Children's, YA, or adult?

[Rezikiel]

I read it about a year ago. It could have been YA but could also have been adult. No details on author or cover.

[Adele]

This is just a guess: In High Places

Another, perhaps less likely guess: Untouchable

[Rezikiel]

Hi Adele. Thanks for the guesses! It's not either. More in spirit like Untouchable---but not as dark. Maybe it really is YA.
Has me thinking...

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Rezikiel, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Adele]

There's this: Blue Ridge. The goodreads description does not mention that Denny moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains with his father after the death of his mother.

[Rezikiel]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Rezikiel, are you still looking for this or did you find it?"

Hi Lobstergirl. Thanks for the reminder! I totally forgot about this post. I *did* find it. It's Luke and Jon by Robert Williams.

[Rainbowheart]

Glad you found it!

Luke and Jon for the link.