My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel
Mann
1973
For those of you looking for a totally depressing book about divorce for your kids, this might qualify. The beginning has our kid, Joey, found his mother sad and depressed when he got up for breakfast. Evidently, Dad didn’t come back after a fight last night. Mother is just devastated. Joey has trouble coping and hides in a closet at school.
Joey then begins his quest to talk to his father. This Dad is no prize. Joey remember how is Dad taught him to swim by throwing him in a pool with the “sink or swim” comment. After school Joey decides to find his dad and talk to him about being a better kid. Dad is disinterested and is barely engaged as Joey presents him with a written promise to be a better kid. Dad still says no to being married to Mom. Joey makes peace after his friend, Pepe says lots of kids don’t have a dad at home.