Common Sense Media Review
Grim account of a runaway teen is intense and disturbing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Jamie, dubbed "Punkzilla" for his love of punk music, is a "pretty" 14-year-old boy who looks 12. A runaway from military school, he hops a bus to see his gay older brother before he dies of cancer. Along the way, he writes letters to his brother about his experiences on the road, and what led him to go AWOL. After he's jumped in a restroom and robbed of all his money, he's forced to rely on a string of odd strangers to help him get to Memphis in time.
Is It Any Good?
Most teens will be captivated by the book's main character and find much to think about and discuss. In heart-wrenchingly honest, stream-of-consciousness letters, Jamie exposes his tough-but-innocent psyche to his brother, and on one occasion, to his mother (which, sadly, he never mails). Jamie's gritty voice is so authentic, it's easy to see how he manages to charm strangers despite a host of issues, including ADD and drug use. Seen through his eyes, even the most minor (and bizarre) secondary characters populate a fleshed-out world of brief alliances and constant betrayals.
Though the novel ends somewhat hopefully, this doesn't feel like the coming-of-age story that one expects because Jamie never really grows from his experiences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Jamie's use of letters to tell his story. Would the novel be different if Jamie wrote emails or instant messages instead?
How does this old-fashioned means of communication meld with its very contemporary 2008 setting?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : May 12, 2009
- Number of pages : 256
- Last updated : September 22, 2015
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