While not all critics have admired his work, Peck has won praise from many for the honesty and authenticity in his writing and for his ability to portray accurately the problems of growing up in today's society. Problems are not overplayed or sensationalized. Realizing that modern adolescents face more difficult and complex problems than prior generations, Peck populates Remembering the Good Times with believable characters, and presents subtle humor and a well-crafted plot that provides insight into the world of adolescents. As usual, Peck writes with a rich, yet easy-to-read flowing narrative and the descriptive details that make both the major and minor characters stand out as individuals. By telling the story from Buck's point of view rather than from Kate's or Trav's, Peck is able to step back for a better look at both the old-timers and the newcomers in Slocum Township.

He is also...