"The story is powerful, and the plot is well crafted . [a] thoughtful coming-of-age story." -- School Library Journal "Parlato constructs an introspective debut about the aftershocks of family trauma. Evan's journey . is complex and solidly woven. Parlato's . ambitious, well-executed plot twists and nimbly handled cast make him a name to watch." -- Publishers Weekly "Before his father killed himself, [Evan's] home life was pretty normal .

Now there's a hole in that life that can't be filled or explained. Parlato's debut novel . is a painstaking dissection of a father's past and its reverberations in his son's life. A memorable, disturbing story, carefully wrought." -- Kirkus Reviews "Steven Parlato's The Namesake is an emotionally stimulating young adult novel that delves into the powerful topic of abuse. Using dry wit, incredible similes and metaphors, and a very thought-provoking storyline, Parlato introduces the reader to an original and unforgiving exploration of the teenage psyche." --Blogcritics "Steven Parlato's The Namesake totally knocked me off my feet. This is the type of book that keeps you reading, especially if you enjoy dark humor.

It's jarring to be sure, but well worth your time." -- Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile "The novel shapes up to be one of the best contemporary reads I have ever read. The further I got into the book, the more I became convinced that [the author] was a genius with his writing. The characters were all perfectly laid out. I was able to connect with each and every one of them." -- The Subtle Chronicler.