Anybody But Us

the long version

Brian Wheeler is emotionally numb, constantly paranoid, and completely burned out; in other words, he's a new teacher. He and his roommates are volunteering in Catholic schools across Chicago's south side; through standardized tests, choir rehearsals, and school closings, they quickly learn that there is nothing simple about helping people. In this darkly funny novel, Tony Ginocchio takes a look at the challenges we face when we try to do something good, and the reasons we keep trying anyway.