"Rosalind had two mommies. Now, thanks to a tragic accident involving foodstuffs, she has none. And Sean, the sperm donor responsible for half her DNA (and nothing else) is taking custody."

Donorboy by Brendan Halpin is told entirely through emails, IMs, transcripts, notes, journals & other communications, giving the reader the opportunity to hear this tough but funny story from both points of view. Rosalind resents living with "Donorboy" Sean, her biological father, since she didn't even know who he was before her mothers died. Sean, an instant parent, is overwhelmed by love and fear for - and of - his daughter.
Rosalind is having a tough time dealing with her grief, which she angrily (and profanely) pours out into a grief journal "prescribed" by her otherwise seemingly incompetent counselor. Sean, unable to communicate with Ros in person, begins a series of emails to her, explaining how he came to be her donor and why he wants to be her father. Sean and Ros seem miles apart, but they share a sense of humor that comes through in their communications, and Sean's agonized determination to be a good parent begins to get through to Ros when she discovers "Donorboy" does have a few likeable traits.
Rosalind is a great kid with a good head on her shoulders as she begins to find her way through her grief. Although her mothers were lesbians, this is not a homosexual issues book; Rosalind worries about being a lesbian herself, but her grief consumes most of her energy. Sean is the one with the real appeal for me, though. He's honest and funny and determined and scared and frustrated and confused - and it all comes pouring out in his heartfelt emails to his daughter. This one was enjoyable from beginning to end with some great laugh-out-loud funny lines.

Halpin, Brendan. Donorboy. New York: Villard, 2004. ISBN 1-400062772 $12.95.

What I'm Reading: My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel by Rosemary Graham (because I just discovered Thou Shalt Not Dump the Skater Dude is a companion novel to it)
On My Bookshelf: Thou Shalt Not Dump the Skater Dude and Other Commandments I Have Broken by Rosemary Graham; Claiming Georgia Tate (which I'm putting off because it sounds depressing) Maximum Ride by James Patterson (which I'm putting off because I'm not in the mood)