As final page and the back tab of the dust jacket explain, the book is "mostly a true story... based on the childhood experiences of Mr. Pinkwater's friend, who lives upstairs."
Donald Chen (at school) is Chen Chi-Wing or Ah-Wing at home. He is the only Chinese student in his New York City school. Pinkwater describes his life, the real and fantasy parts both, in the same straightforward way. As Donald's life gets better, the fantasy lessens. ( )

Pinkwater is my favorite but this wasn't up to his usual genius....it was lacking something that I'm having a hard time articulating....the plot was very different than what he usually does. ( )