Ten Thousand Saints

Ten Thousand Saints (2011) by Eleanor Henderson. Jude Keffy-Horn, the adopted son of a pair of die-hard hippies, is a teenager leading a directionless life until his best friend, Teddy, dies of an overdose. Then Jude travels from Vermont to New York City to try to reconnect with his father and with Teddy's half-brother, Johnny. The book is an interesting exploration of generational differences and the so-called straight edge (drug free) culture that Jude becomes involved with. Then there's also Eliza, Jude's stepsister, who was impregnated by Teddy on the last night of his life. What to do about Eliza's baby? It all works out, sort of, and the story ends up with a satisfying ending in which Jude has found himself. Grade: B+