This is the story of a teenager who found her mother dead by suicide at age 10. She lives with her maternal grandparents. She has never met her father, but he is about to enter her life....and he's a female impersonator and gay. Obviously, life has given Toby some challenges.

This story is well written, with realistic characters (mostly...."dad" was a bit over the top). Mr. Francis is dealing with some difficult issues here, but does so with the right blend of compassion and realism. ( )

Life hasn't always been easy for 15-year-old Toby. Her mother died by suicide five years ago, and her father is not in the picture having abandoned her mother when she was pregnant.

When the book opens, Toby is living on a dairy farm with her grandparents. Struggling to find any light in her world, she’s making plans to follow a similar route as her mother. But her plans are suddenly interrupted when she’s told that her estranged father is returning home. Oh, and that he’s gay, and a famous female impersonator.

This novel broke my heart, and I mean that in the best way possible. Francis tackles some heavy and difficult topics, but deftly handles the responsibility that comes with writing about suicide and depression—he writes with care, compassion, and authenticity.

The characters are well-developed and each provide a different view of Toby. As far as she is concerned, there is just enough pathos without the reader feeling sorry for her, instead they are pulling for her and don't want her to make the same choice as her mother.

With Francis' signature wit, Break in Case of Emergency is a vulnerable story about a non-traditional father and daughter relationship, and a young girl reconciling with herself. I highly recommend! ( )