Good for You, Mikey Mite!

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Young Jenny is told by her parents that she can no longer play with her
friend Mikey Mite. They have just heard that Mikey was caught
shoplifting food for his pet guinea pig. They have also learned that
Mikey’s arm is in a cast because his father had an accident while
driving drunk. Because Jenny is a true friend of Mikey’s, she has a
hard time obeying her parents. But instead of being grateful for her
loyalty, Mikey suddenly starts acting mean toward her. When he runs away
from home, Jenny is asked to take care of his guinea pig until further
notice. No one sees Mikey for a week, and then Mr. Lotecki, the school
janitor, has a nasty confrontation in the gymnasium equipment room.

This is Gilles Gauthier’s third book about Mikey Mite, an impulsive
young man who continually finds himself just one step ahead of a dozen
disasters of his own creation. This time, however, the story is less
about Mikey than it is about his home environment. Because of his
father’s drinking problem, young Mikey’s life is in crisis.
Mikey’s salvation comes not from respectable people like Jenny’s
parents, but from an ex-alcoholic who understands what Mikey is up
against. Gauthier has created an enjoyable story for young readers while
presenting the gritty facts about alcohol addiction. Highly recommended.