Peculiar Angels is a novel based on my experiences teaching children with autism and emotional disabilities.

For William Peaches the blistery desert town of trailer parks and gritty, open spaces is hauntingly familiar terrain. The world-weary war veteran takes a teaching job nobody wants, and he’s about find out why. He struggles with his autistic students and their bizarre behavior. The principal’s “no blood, no discipline slips” directive and a classroom assistant constantly leaving him in the lurch create extraordinary chaos. Ditching the heavy-handed approach, Mr. Peaches finagles old percussion instruments for “therapy purposes.”

Mr. Peaches’ biggest challenge is Billy, a runty first grader with a sawed-off shotgun temper and speech patterns of a howler monkey. The quirky band includes Violet, a semi-mute and brilliant mimic; goosey and pesky Breezy; Samson, a boy built for worry; and Ezekiel the changeling. That any of them have talent is beyond belief; but with a lot of luck the drumline pulls together, though success creates more headaches for Mr. Peaches and clashes with the principal and a drug dealing parent. When Billy’s abruptly moved to another foster home, Mr. Peaches gets pulled deeper into his students’ messy and troubled lives. The day after a big performance one of the children is killed. Understanding what’s in store for the surviving brother, Mr. Peaches faces ominously familiar choices that will determine all the children’s fate – and his own.