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Premise

In the book, Neil has to transfer from private to public school when his mother brings his mentally challenged adolescent sister Geraldine home from the institution where she's been living. Neil finds it difficult to cope with Geraldine's disability; their father finds it impossible, and leaves the family when Geraldine causes him to forget an important music composition. Neil misses his dad, but sticks with his mom and sister until Geraldine ruins his big piano recital at school.

To avoid a confrontation with his mother, Neil decides to sneak out in the middle of the night. But he trips over Geraldine, who calls him "Neil" for the first time. Neil realizes that he can't leave Geraldine, and tells his father the same. Neil's dad understands, and says that one day he might come back too, if not in the near future.

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