My coming-of age memoir tells the story of a middle child in a family of nine with a brilliant dad who invents armor-piercing bombs, flying machines, frozen popcorn, and garbage truck loaders but loves beer more than he loves his family. From the richness of castle living when he’s being paid, to the poverty of abandoned farmhouses when he strikes out on his own, this story, set in the Midwest of the 1950s, covers fear and forgiveness with pathos and humor but, most importantly, how the lack of human touch affects a daughter who refuses to Go Pick Peas.

"A thoughtful and affecting remembrance of a challenging upbringing. Verbout is a gifted storyteller, involving the senses, nostalgia, and crafting a warm ending, all while trying to understand her parents. Her account ... shows the strength of the human spirit."
                                      --- Kirkus Reviews