Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 14))
An unexpected summer visit leads a lonely boy to uncover his roots and discover himself in this amusing, touching first-person narrative. As sixth grade ends, only-child Brad Stanislawski anticipates escaping bully classmates who call him "Stan-is-lousy." Brad amuses himself drawing caricatures of his tormentors and schemes about changing his embarrassing last name. When his mother wins a free vacation alone, Brad finds himself on a plane heading for a rural Pennsylvania town he's never seen to visit a grandfather he's never met. Freaked out that his mother neglected to mention that his grandfather lives above the Stanislawski Funeral Home he operates, Brad gradually adapts to the routine of funerals, fly-fishing, pierogi, and polka. Along the way, Brad realizes he and his Polish grandfather have more in common than a last name and learns that being a "Stanislawski" isn't so bad after all. Like Brad, readers will see there's a lot more to funerals and fly-fishing than meets the eye. 2004, Henry Holt, 160p, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 14. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Timnah Card (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 2004 (Vol. 58, No. 2))
When Brad's mom sends him off to visit her heretofore estranged father at his home/funeral parlor in Pennsylvania, Brad expects the worst: mean old man, creepy house, tiny town. At least he'll be far from the hecklers who convert his last name (Stanislawski) into an insult (Stan-is-lousy) at every opportunity. Little does he know that his grandfather will turn out to be a soft-spoken fly fisherman, a connoisseur of local Polish cuisine, and an all-around decent fella who can give Brad the backup he needs to stand up for himself against bullies of various kinds. Brad's characterization as a precociously mature preteen remains consistent as he provides an understated and accessible account of his own emotional growth and that of his grandfather and mother as they reestablish family ties. Though the plot is predictable, Brad's sympathetic voice and the involving action draw the reader in; while emotional growth is the theme, the narrative emphasizes Brad's concrete experiences with his grandfather rather than Brad's internal dialogue about those experiences, thus deftly avoiding an overload of sentimentality. Readers who prefer their fiction without added syrup will find this a satisfyingly savory read. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004, Holt, 148p, $16.95. Grades 5-7.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2005)
When his mother goes on vacation, sixth-grader Brad Stanislawski is sent to stay with his grandfather, a funeral director long estranged from the family. In this modest story, Brad goes fly fishing with Grandpa, begins to stand up for himself, and engineers a reunion between his mother and grandfather. Although the plot is familiar, the narrative moves quickly and smoothly. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2004, Holt, 148pp, 16.95. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Monica Irwin (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 17, No. 4))
Poor Brad Stanislawski has a horrible life. He lives with his single mom and is made fun of every day at school. He is taller than most of his peers, and they make fun of his name, too. They call him “Stan-is-lousy.” He is very excited to spend the summer away from those kids. He thinks he is going to have a great summer until his mom tells him he will be spending the summer with his estranged grandfather. What makes it worse is that his grandfather lives above a funeral home! Once he gets to his grandfather’s house, though, things begin to change. Slowly Brad begins to learn about his family and himself. His grandfather teaches him to fly-fish, and the skill is one that also teaches Brad patience with himself and others. This is a delightful novel which will be appreciated by both boys and girls. Each middle school age child has to discover who he/she really is, so this book will strike a chord with him/her. There is a mixture of humor and poignancy that will appeal to readers. Brad is a very likeable character with realistic problems. His grandfather is a good mentor and teacher and yet remains human. This book should be a popular choice for middle readers in every library. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 5-8. 2004, Holt, 148p., $16.95. Ages 10 to 14.