The Rambling by Jimmy Cajoleas

Buddy has the worst luck.  Everything he tries to do backfires on him.  He even manages to burn down part of his mother's bakery when he was just going to get the ovens going.  He decides to sneak out and go find his father.  Maybe his luck might be better there...

HarperCollins and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 26th.

Buddy hitchhikes to the swampy area where he thinks his dad lives.  From here, the trip gets real strange.  He meets witches, card playing story tellers, and enemies from his father's past.  When he finds his father, he's thrilled.  Then he finds out that his father is the one who hexed him and has given all the troubles he's had growing up.  Not only that, he learns his father is hiding in the swamp.  He has an old friend who wants his blood.  He'd also want Buddy's if he found him.  

Buddy meets Creepy, who drowns people and eats their bones.  When he meets the man after his father, he learns about his father's character.   He's always worshiped his father and now he's not sure he even likes him.  But unless he can beat the enemy at the orating card game, they'll both probably be killed.  Can he do it?

With magic, odd characters, and plenty of drama and tension the story flows smoothly, tells a tale and leaves you with a message at the end.