The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine (review)

Ever since his mother left, Dylan has been trying to hold things together, but his older brother Randy isn't making it easy. He and his friends have taken over the house, smoking weed every day and practicing their music, hoping for their big break. His dad's no help, only sparing time away from work when Dylan or Randy get in trouble, which is happening with alarming regularity. When Dylan discovers a large stash of purple bud and a set of scales, he's convinced that Randy is dealing. Meanwhile, Dylan's best girl friend, whom he wishes came with benefits, is making a film about him, challenging him to stop being so passive about his life and take some risks, which he ultimately does, ending up pulling himself and his family back from the brink of permanent dysfunction. Calling to mind Hinton's classic That Was Then, This Is Now, this story of a guy in danger of losing his hero brother to drugs is updated in just about every way: Dylan is a well-off, hip guy from Brooklyn who knows his way around Greenwich Village, has a thing for vintage vinyl LPs, and can play a mean classical guitar. He's not all that emotionally astute, but he acts when he needs to, and the generally happy ending is a result of a paradoxical recklessness that results in his taking responsibility for his own feelings and then intervening in the lives of his family. Readers tired of silent dinners, workaholic parents, and drifting siblings may well be inspired by Dylan to take some risks and discover their own latent powers.