“Lean on Pete is an unforgettable tale about a 15-year-old boy who becomes homeless after his father dies. Left with nothing, Charley seeks refuge at a Portland horse track until his heart sends him on a journey to find an aunt who may or may not be in Wyoming. Vlautin’s straightforward, spare writing brings everything to life in Charley’s broken-down world.”—Jenny Cohen, Waucoma Bookstore, Hood River, OR
This book was selected by a committee of Northwest indie booksellers for its 2010 Shortlist.