Review: BAD IDEA by Todd and Jedd Hafer

This book should be required reading for every youth pastor, if only to show that what they see in church may not be the truth.

Come to think of it, maybe everyone should read it.

The titular "bad idea" is a road trip to take the main character to college, involving him, his father, his best friend, and his future stepmother. Because this is a coming-of-age novel,  the reader learns a lot about themandabout his mother's new family, but especially about the main character and his bad habits.

Needless to say, I liked and recommend this book, with a couple of caveats. The first has to do with cussing. There is none in this book, which is partially explained in-story by the presence of the father and Amanda Mac. I personally hate when it's thrown in gratuitously, but teenagers have always loved to cuss. Its complete absence lends a slightly unreal quality to the book.

The second is about characterization, particularly of the main character. He seems wise beyond his years. This is common when older authors write young protagonists, but I remember being remarkably stupid at that age. Making him too wise pulls the reader out of the story.

Despite these quibbles, I really liked this novel. I recommend it.