there is a LOT wrong with this book. the little girl seems 7 years old (not 11), important details are glossed over, everybody’s ridiculously forthright, emotions are one dimensional, and it’s all tidied up too sweetly. part of the growing genre of books published for young adults where teens will not actually appreciate any of the cultural references. (old SNL characters? spuds mackenzie? charlotte rampling?????)

BUT the book works like a trashy celebrity bio, keeping a pace so quick you don’t waste too much annoyance over the problems. completely saved by attaining guilty pleasure status.

i’m pretty sure if you check the author’s old ID she’s all dressed up like the cure.

Johnny turned 13…a week later he went to his father’s funeral. Three years have passed and his mom finally woke up from her grief-stricken stupor. All of a sudden, his drinking and partying is a problem. From a bustling city, she sends him to live with his Uncle Sam and cousin Bug in South Carolina.

Johnny’s small. He’s a bit effeminate. He dresses like a member of the 80s band, Blondie – skinny ties, skinny jeans, Chuck Taylors. He has to go to a prep school, a school filled with Old Southern money Skoll chewing jocks and cheerleaders or screw-ups. Johnny’s a screw-up.

Though he hates South Carolina and gets harrassed by the jocks, things are not as bad as it seems. There are some things that are good, like Maria, the Village Green and Rocksteady Records.

This is a fun and laugh-out-loud read. The chapters are taken from Blondie songs! I enjoyed it but I am not so sure that kids would understand some of the 1980s pop culture references. It is a boy book for that indie alternative music listening boy or girl.