EighthgradeissettobeagoodyearforDiggyLawson:He'schosenagreatcalftocompeteattheMinnesotaStateFair,he'llseealotofJuly,thegirlhesecretlylikesat4-H,andheandhisdadPophavebigplansforAprilFool'sDay.ButeverythingchangeswhenclassmateWayneGraf'smotherdies,whichbringstolightthesecretthatPopisWayne'sfather,too.Suddenly,Diggyhasahalfbrother,whomovesinandmessesuphislife.WaynethreatensDiggy'schancesattheStateFair,hornsinonhisgirl,andrattleshiseasyrelationshipwithPop.Whatstartedoutgreatquicklyturnsintotheworstyearever,filledwithjealousy,fighting,andseveralincidentsinvolvingcowpoop.Butastheboyscarefortheirsteers,pullpranks,andwatchtoomanyBmovies,theylearnwhatitmeanstobebrothersandchangetheirconceptoffamilyastheyslowlysteertowardanewkindofnormal.PraiseforSteeringTowardNormal"First-timeauthorPetruck'saccountofcountrylifeisneverdullasshedepictsthestrongworkethicofcattlemenandwomen,alongwiththeuniversalconflictsbetweensiblings."--PublishersWeekly"Theplotisfullofpranksandhumoroussituationsbutatitsheart,itisastoryaboutnavigatingthecomplicatedandsometimesunexpecteddynamicsthatcomewithbeingpartofafamily.PetruckcapturesthesettingofruralMinnesotawell,creatingasmalltownwhereitseemslikenearlyeveryoneisrelatedorattheveryleastalwaysknowseveryoneelse'sbusiness."--VOYAMagazine"InPetruck'scapablehands,raisingasteer—caringforit,lovingit,andeventuallylettingitgo—becomesakeenmetaphorforthelossofalovedone.Diggyisaperceptivenarrator,butnotunusuallysoforhisage,andit'sreassuringtoseehimsortouthistangledfeelings."--Booklist