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Junk Boy
Junk. That’s what the kids at school call Bobby Lang, mostly because his rundown house looks like a junkyard, but also because they want to put him down. Trying desperately to live under the radar at school—and at the home he shares with his angry, neglectful father—Bobby develops a sort of proud loneliness. The only buffer between him and the uncaring world is his love of the long, wooded trail between school and home.
Life grinds along quietly and hopelessly for Bobby until he meets Rachel. Rachel is an artist who sees him in a way no one ever has. Maybe it’s because she has her own kind of junk, and a parent who hates what Rachel is: gay. Together the two embark on journeys to clean up the messes that fill their lives, searching against all odds for hope and redemption.
Life grinds along quietly and hopelessly for Bobby until he meets Rachel. Rachel is an artist who sees him in a way no one ever has. Maybe it’s because she has her own kind of junk, and a parent who hates what Rachel is: gay. Together the two embark on journeys to clean up the messes that fill their lives, searching against all odds for hope and redemption.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
About the author
Tony Abbott
205 books399 followersTony Abbott (born 1952) is an American author of children's books. His most popular work is the book series The Secrets of Droon, which includes over 40 books. He has sold over 12 million copies of his books and they have been translated into several other languages, including Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. He has also written the bestseller Firegirl.
Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.
Abbott attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.
Abbott currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters.
Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.
Abbott attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.
Abbott currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
December 24, 2020
CW:
Well this was a powerful story but unfortunately lacked detail.
I have read a lot of verse novels so can say with some authority that they can be full and richly told. Whilst the story was hard-hitting and the characters engaging, I needed there to be a bit more information to connect with during the story telling. I was somewhat invested but not enough to get particularly emotional at any point. I still think this is a good addition to a high school library. Please note the content warnings.
Well this was a powerful story but unfortunately lacked detail.
I have read a lot of verse novels so can say with some authority that they can be full and richly told. Whilst the story was hard-hitting and the characters engaging, I needed there to be a bit more information to connect with during the story telling. I was somewhat invested but not enough to get particularly emotional at any point. I still think this is a good addition to a high school library. Please note the content warnings.
October 28, 2020
2.5 - I feel like novels in verse need to have writing that is so powerful and beautiful to make up for the smaller word count. It’s harder to get the same amount of character or plot development because there’s less time to let that grow. There needs to be a reason that the novel is written in verse, and in Junk Boy I didn’t feel like there was. The writing itself didn’t add anything to the story, it just ended up taking away from it by making it so fragmented.
The book covers important topics, bullying, being from a low-income home, being gay, and having abusive parents… But I think the extremely short length of this book meant that those things couldn’t be fully explored. I feel like if this book was written in traditional prose it could’ve been more effective.
The book covers important topics, bullying, being from a low-income home, being gay, and having abusive parents… But I think the extremely short length of this book meant that those things couldn’t be fully explored. I feel like if this book was written in traditional prose it could’ve been more effective.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 7, 2020This one wasn't the right fit for me, and since I've been struggling with such a bad reading slump this year, I'm allowing myself to DNF books when I don't feel compelled to continue them. That said, this book is definitely going to be the right fit for a lot of readers! I especially love that it's a story about a teen living in poverty, because as someone who was poor for a lot of my childhood, I never felt like I saw that part of myself reflected in the stories I was reading. I couldn't relate to all of the "rich kid" and upper middle class characters I met in YA contemporary, so I love that this protagonist exists. All of that said, while the writing wasn't what I was looking for, I still highly recommend this story to anyone looking for this representation and anyone who enjoys YA novels in verse.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 6, 2023
I love novels-in-verse. They pack such a powerful punch with such descriptive and purposeful word choice. Will definitely be recommending this book this school year.
July 26, 2020
Bobby Lang lives on the edge of town in a dilapidated house with his father, who is disabled and continuously drunk. The kids at school call Bobby Junk, a cruel reminder of the junk-filled property he lives on, and he tries to be invisible at school to avoid the bullying. His story is told in free verse and readers are privy to his thoughts as he ruminates on his lonely life. By accident, he witnesses a moment of violence against his classmate Rachel when her mother discovers her with her girlfriend. Bobby and Rachel bond over their outsider status, and her friendship gives him hope where earlier he felt none. Seasoned YA author Abbott crafts a nuanced story about an unlikely but desperately needed friendship between two outsiders. Both Bobby and Rachel are dealing with weak and abusive parental bonds and the damage this does to them is capably shown. Readers will cringe over what Rachel’s mother tries to force on her daughter because of her sexuality, and will hopefully be pushed to think critically about how words and actions affect others. The narrative also respectfully shows positive aspects of religion and getting mental health assistance.
Verdict: This novel-in-verse has an engaging male POV, and would be a good read-alike for those who enjoyed Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down. The message of breaking through barriers to reach out for help and being an empathetic friend are important themes for teens to understand, and makes this a definite buy for YA collections.
I reviewed this book for the School Library Journal magazine and the review can be found here: https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=jun...
Verdict: This novel-in-verse has an engaging male POV, and would be a good read-alike for those who enjoyed Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down. The message of breaking through barriers to reach out for help and being an empathetic friend are important themes for teens to understand, and makes this a definite buy for YA collections.
I reviewed this book for the School Library Journal magazine and the review can be found here: https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=jun...
October 22, 2022
Rep: male MC with depression, disabled male character with alcoholism, lesbian character with depression, lesbian side character
This book surprised me (in a good way!) It wasn't perfect but I went with such low expectations that this book deserves the five stars.
This book surprised me (in a good way!) It wasn't perfect but I went with such low expectations that this book deserves the five stars.
September 18, 2023
Felt real, and all too sad.
May 4, 2020
Junk Boy introduces reads to two outliers, two dysfunctional families, two stories which become intertwined.
“there is no putting
a tree back up after
it’s broken
and fallen
in a storm
maybe with us
with people
it’s different” (336)
Bobby Lang, nicknamed Junk by the bullies at school because he lives in a place that has become a junkyard, spends his time flying under the radar, eyes down, not speaking. His father is drunk, abusive, unemployed, and listens to sad country songs; his mother left when he was a baby is, according to his father, is dead. Bobby has no self-confidence and little self-worth but then he meets Rachel, a talented artist who sees something else in him.
“her eyes could
somehow see a me
that is more me
than I am
that is so weirdly more
so better than
actual
me” (273-4)
But Rachel has her own family problems. Her father has just moved out and her physically-abusive mother wants the local priest to “reformat” Rachel who is gay.
As Rachel moves in and out of Bobby’s life, her need helps him figure out
“what was I going to
say
do
be?” (274)
And what he is, or becomes, is a rescuer and protector, a savior. As Father Percy tells him, “It’s what she found in you…” (352)
Reading Tony Abbott’s first verse novel, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold as I followed the protagonist on his hero’s journey.
“there is no putting
a tree back up after
it’s broken
and fallen
in a storm
maybe with us
with people
it’s different” (336)
Bobby Lang, nicknamed Junk by the bullies at school because he lives in a place that has become a junkyard, spends his time flying under the radar, eyes down, not speaking. His father is drunk, abusive, unemployed, and listens to sad country songs; his mother left when he was a baby is, according to his father, is dead. Bobby has no self-confidence and little self-worth but then he meets Rachel, a talented artist who sees something else in him.
“her eyes could
somehow see a me
that is more me
than I am
that is so weirdly more
so better than
actual
me” (273-4)
But Rachel has her own family problems. Her father has just moved out and her physically-abusive mother wants the local priest to “reformat” Rachel who is gay.
As Rachel moves in and out of Bobby’s life, her need helps him figure out
“what was I going to
say
do
be?” (274)
And what he is, or becomes, is a rescuer and protector, a savior. As Father Percy tells him, “It’s what she found in you…” (352)
Reading Tony Abbott’s first verse novel, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold as I followed the protagonist on his hero’s journey.
October 9, 2020
Bobby Lang, more commonly known as "Junk" is tired of life as it has been- merciless teasing, a father who hates him, and no friends to be found. All of that begins to shift though when he runs into Rachel. Rachel is an artist who seems to see Bobby in a way no one else does, not even himself.
This novel in verse flowed well and quickly, but was only moderately engaging for me. I didn't feel as though there was much new to the story that I haven't read in a dozen other YA novels. So, while it was good and I would recommend it to my readers, I wouldn't say it was outstanding.
This novel in verse flowed well and quickly, but was only moderately engaging for me. I didn't feel as though there was much new to the story that I haven't read in a dozen other YA novels. So, while it was good and I would recommend it to my readers, I wouldn't say it was outstanding.
September 29, 2020
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"The windows of a camper junked in my yard..."
It's kind of a fascinating experience to read a book for teens by Tony Abbott, once a prominent figure in my reading life at seven-years-old now twenty years later. Junk Boy is a novel in verse, featuring a damaged and quiet boy. Bobby Lang, or Junk as his classmates call him, lives in a destitute and traumatic situation. His father, a desolate drunk, is absent at best and cruel at worst. For Bobby, life drags along in a miserable but familiar way. That is, until he meets Rachel and takes a front seat to her struggles.
In Other Words
The verse aspect of this book was intriguing. I don't know how much it worked, though. At times it really did work to pull you in, but at others, you felt somewhat removed. Bobby's head is also a very uncomfortable place to be for a variety of reasons. I think the most off-putting for me, though, was his complete lack of friends.
There wasn't even one person that Bobby spoke to (aside from his drunkard father) before Rachel.
Speaking of Rachel
I didn't like her? Something about Rachel just bugged me and I think it might have been how selfish she was in regards to Bobby. Her introduction was fine, if potentially triggering to some in the LGBTQ+ community (parental abuse). Her story wasn't terrible at first, though I didn't much care for the half-baked conversion therapy attempt her mother made with the church. But she never really seemed truly interested in a friendship with Bobby. Rather, it seemed like she was using him.
Bobby, on the other hand, grew infatuated with how she saw him. This basically amounts to the fact that she drew a picture of his face that didn't depict him in the dark light he saw himself in and his father regularly put him down to. Which, I suppose is fine. We all need someone who sees us in a positive light.
Then there was the ending, which legitimately led me to believe it was heading in the direction of a "bury your gays" trope. I suppose it's a spoiler to say that, fortunately, this is not the direction the book takes. At the same time, though, the fact that it nearly did bugged me. A lot.
A Shining Moment
I'm not sure if this novel really has one. And by that, the truth is that part of me feels like the mess was cleaned up far too easily. I think the end message is hope. We're expected to see the possibilities of it all. Everything gets better. But, if I'm being honest, this isn't a situation I really expect gets better just like that. One wake-up moment isn't going to make both parents change. And as much as I want to believe it, I just don't.
Maybe I'm jaded. Perhaps I'm just in a moment of my life where I can't see good coming from a situation like this. With all that I've experienced in the world, this ending just felt contrived. How am I truly supposed to suspend my disbelief here? I can't.
And while it isn't a bad book, it's not a great one, either. I really don't think the message hits the way it is meant to if it hits at all. This is a story about depressing circumstances that I'm sure many have faced and continue to. And this happy ending? It feels false. We needed a different happy ending.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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"The windows of a camper junked in my yard..."
It's kind of a fascinating experience to read a book for teens by Tony Abbott, once a prominent figure in my reading life at seven-years-old now twenty years later. Junk Boy is a novel in verse, featuring a damaged and quiet boy. Bobby Lang, or Junk as his classmates call him, lives in a destitute and traumatic situation. His father, a desolate drunk, is absent at best and cruel at worst. For Bobby, life drags along in a miserable but familiar way. That is, until he meets Rachel and takes a front seat to her struggles.
In Other Words
The verse aspect of this book was intriguing. I don't know how much it worked, though. At times it really did work to pull you in, but at others, you felt somewhat removed. Bobby's head is also a very uncomfortable place to be for a variety of reasons. I think the most off-putting for me, though, was his complete lack of friends.
There wasn't even one person that Bobby spoke to (aside from his drunkard father) before Rachel.
Speaking of Rachel
I didn't like her? Something about Rachel just bugged me and I think it might have been how selfish she was in regards to Bobby. Her introduction was fine, if potentially triggering to some in the LGBTQ+ community (parental abuse). Her story wasn't terrible at first, though I didn't much care for the half-baked conversion therapy attempt her mother made with the church. But she never really seemed truly interested in a friendship with Bobby. Rather, it seemed like she was using him.
Bobby, on the other hand, grew infatuated with how she saw him. This basically amounts to the fact that she drew a picture of his face that didn't depict him in the dark light he saw himself in and his father regularly put him down to. Which, I suppose is fine. We all need someone who sees us in a positive light.
Then there was the ending, which legitimately led me to believe it was heading in the direction of a "bury your gays" trope. I suppose it's a spoiler to say that, fortunately, this is not the direction the book takes. At the same time, though, the fact that it nearly did bugged me. A lot.
A Shining Moment
I'm not sure if this novel really has one. And by that, the truth is that part of me feels like the mess was cleaned up far too easily. I think the end message is hope. We're expected to see the possibilities of it all. Everything gets better. But, if I'm being honest, this isn't a situation I really expect gets better just like that. One wake-up moment isn't going to make both parents change. And as much as I want to believe it, I just don't.
Maybe I'm jaded. Perhaps I'm just in a moment of my life where I can't see good coming from a situation like this. With all that I've experienced in the world, this ending just felt contrived. How am I truly supposed to suspend my disbelief here? I can't.
And while it isn't a bad book, it's not a great one, either. I really don't think the message hits the way it is meant to if it hits at all. This is a story about depressing circumstances that I'm sure many have faced and continue to. And this happy ending? It feels false. We needed a different happy ending.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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January 24, 2021
Novel in verse – (what’s a novel in verse? Basically – a novel that is made up of short prose verses – not necessarily poems, so each verse tells a small story, then all strung together make the larger narrative.) The defining characteristic is that the “chapters” are short verses – usually 2-3 pages.
These are GREAT for struggling – lower level readers. This book is 352 pages – and looks like a “regular novel�� and therefore, a struggling reader won’t be ashamed to have the cover seen or the size of the book. Yes, kids and even me, judge books by their covers – and having a book that DOESN’T look lower level will help a struggling reader’s confidence.
This book centers around a 10th grader named JUNK – well that is what the mean kids and the bullies call him. His real name is Robert “Bobby Lang”. Teased and bullied at school, Bobby lives a hard live with his single dad, in a house surrounded by junk, off a path in the woods. It is just Bobby and his dad living in this shack surrounded by junk. And Bobby is sometimes in the parent role since his dad is fighting some internal demons and isn’t about to be a good parent thru the fog of alcoholism.
Bobby is often teased and bullied at school and has perfected the art of not saying much at all. He doesn’t take the bus and instead walks the 3 miles to his house each day, to avoid the name calling and the looks.
While Bobby doesn’t say much, he sees EVERYTHING. One day while he is walking down the hall after school, he walks by the art room and sees a mother slap her daughter – and all of a sudden, Bobby is thrown into a family situation just as messed up as his own. What he has witnessed is Rachel Braley’s mother slapping her after discovering she is gay. Rachel is a tremendous artist and that afternoon, after the slap and after Rachel’s mother leaves the building in a huff, Bobby helps Rachel hang up her art for an internal show. Rachel and Bobby discover they both have messed up families and they forge a friendship that is both endearing and sometimes one-sided…Bobby and Rachel steal off to NYC to meet Rachel’s dad and have her audition for a prestigious art school. While in the city, Rachel’s dad discovers that Rachel lied to him – we never find out about what – and we find out that many families have severe problems.
Rachel and Bobby are drawn to each other not in a romantic way but in a way that only those that have endured abuse/neglect/hardship can understand.
Rachel’s mother enlists a local priest to “talk to” Rachel – think “pray the gay away” and what happens involves a fire and the priests writing shed, followed by an accident that may or may not have been Rachel intentionally self-harming.
There is a lot of hard stuff packed into this sparse novel – but there is also a lot of hope. We hear why Bobby’s mom left, we hear from Bobby’s dad on what really happened and we see that at the end of the day, people are both good and bad. There are no one-sided characters in this story. There is some redemption, some characters that we still don’t like but have had some growth and there is a story that ends in hope.
Truth told – this book made me cry – and those that know me know I’m a bit of a meany. But the writing is so well done and evokes the feelings without all the “unnecessary” words around it. Tony Abbott has pruned this story down to the bare wood – and leaves a story that bares your soul to what human connection is about. In the time of pandemic and social distancing, I think my soul needed a good story on how people can both hurt each other and at the end of the day, grow and change to show the best parts of themselves, even if those best parts are still very, very flawed.
These are GREAT for struggling – lower level readers. This book is 352 pages – and looks like a “regular novel�� and therefore, a struggling reader won’t be ashamed to have the cover seen or the size of the book. Yes, kids and even me, judge books by their covers – and having a book that DOESN’T look lower level will help a struggling reader’s confidence.
This book centers around a 10th grader named JUNK – well that is what the mean kids and the bullies call him. His real name is Robert “Bobby Lang”. Teased and bullied at school, Bobby lives a hard live with his single dad, in a house surrounded by junk, off a path in the woods. It is just Bobby and his dad living in this shack surrounded by junk. And Bobby is sometimes in the parent role since his dad is fighting some internal demons and isn’t about to be a good parent thru the fog of alcoholism.
Bobby is often teased and bullied at school and has perfected the art of not saying much at all. He doesn’t take the bus and instead walks the 3 miles to his house each day, to avoid the name calling and the looks.
While Bobby doesn’t say much, he sees EVERYTHING. One day while he is walking down the hall after school, he walks by the art room and sees a mother slap her daughter – and all of a sudden, Bobby is thrown into a family situation just as messed up as his own. What he has witnessed is Rachel Braley’s mother slapping her after discovering she is gay. Rachel is a tremendous artist and that afternoon, after the slap and after Rachel’s mother leaves the building in a huff, Bobby helps Rachel hang up her art for an internal show. Rachel and Bobby discover they both have messed up families and they forge a friendship that is both endearing and sometimes one-sided…Bobby and Rachel steal off to NYC to meet Rachel’s dad and have her audition for a prestigious art school. While in the city, Rachel’s dad discovers that Rachel lied to him – we never find out about what – and we find out that many families have severe problems.
Rachel and Bobby are drawn to each other not in a romantic way but in a way that only those that have endured abuse/neglect/hardship can understand.
Rachel’s mother enlists a local priest to “talk to” Rachel – think “pray the gay away” and what happens involves a fire and the priests writing shed, followed by an accident that may or may not have been Rachel intentionally self-harming.
There is a lot of hard stuff packed into this sparse novel – but there is also a lot of hope. We hear why Bobby’s mom left, we hear from Bobby’s dad on what really happened and we see that at the end of the day, people are both good and bad. There are no one-sided characters in this story. There is some redemption, some characters that we still don’t like but have had some growth and there is a story that ends in hope.
Truth told – this book made me cry – and those that know me know I’m a bit of a meany. But the writing is so well done and evokes the feelings without all the “unnecessary” words around it. Tony Abbott has pruned this story down to the bare wood – and leaves a story that bares your soul to what human connection is about. In the time of pandemic and social distancing, I think my soul needed a good story on how people can both hurt each other and at the end of the day, grow and change to show the best parts of themselves, even if those best parts are still very, very flawed.
November 9, 2020
(c/p from my review on TheStoryGraph) So. Here's the thing. I just don't entirely Get the point of view of the main character. Like, I understand some of his motivation and I get a lot of what the story is saying but there's so many times when the lead character does things that simply do not make sense to me. Maybe it's because it is so short or maybe it's the nature of being a book in verse but this just didn't work for me. The other problem is that the minor characters seem pretty two dimensional and things just sort of work out in a really weird way. Additionally this got pretty weird about religion in general, I'm not gonna lie. Overall this book just didn't do it for me at all.
TW for this book include: attempted suicide, fire, child abuse, homophobia
TW for this book include: attempted suicide, fire, child abuse, homophobia
March 7, 2021
This was a book I didn't see coming. I enjoyed reading this, even though verse novels aren't normally my thing. What I enjoyed the most though was the rawness and the gritty realities that Abbott was able to portray about Bobby, the main character. And, the ultimately hopeful and uplifting end to the story.
Highly recommend. I would say this is a good book for readers in grades 8 and up. Mild language (relatively speaking) and no graphic sexual content. Rather, the subject matter (deceased parents, abandonment issues, suicide) leans more towards a mature reader.
Highly recommend. I would say this is a good book for readers in grades 8 and up. Mild language (relatively speaking) and no graphic sexual content. Rather, the subject matter (deceased parents, abandonment issues, suicide) leans more towards a mature reader.
January 9, 2022
A heartbreaking but ultimately affirming book in verse about a boy and girl who help each other through really tough family situations.
November 21, 2022
Quick, powerful and heartbreaking. I love stories written in verse - they’re just automatically more beautiful to me.
March 16, 2021
This book is undescribably beautiful, I recommend reading it 100%
May 13, 2021
A reminder that some teens feel invisible, or want to remain invisible. Highlights the importance of being seen and accepted. Easy novel in verse read.
May 11, 2020
Richie’s Pick: JUNK BOY by Tony Abbott, HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen, October 2020, 368p., ISBN: 978-0-06-249125-1
“As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion”
-- Jimmy Ruffin “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (1967)
The Art Room Door
was wide open
when I passed
and there was sudden noise
an angry voice
growling and spitting
in there
looking in I saw
two girls and a woman
not a teacher
the woman was leaning over
a skinny girl
with curly brown hair
while the other girl
stood shaking at a table
in the corner
her hands
on her face
her face pale
as paper
Ever! Ever! Ever!
was the only word
I heard clearly
the woman said it
through her teeth
then slapped
slapped
slapped
the skinny girl on her face
like she would slap a man
it was the opposite
of a sweaty schoolyard fight
this was cold and sharp as icicles
that cold froze up my chest
while the woman spun
past me
her shoes clacking fast
and angry down the hall
I shrank to nothing
watching
the skinny girl go
shaking shaking
to the other one
and hug her
kiss her wet face
and her lips
oh okay
but the other one
pried herself loose
twisting her shoulders back
and brushed by me
down the hall
the other way
ugh…
I started to say but
shut straight up when
the skinny girl
wheeled around to me
What are you staring at?
nothing
So?
Help me.
help you?
do what?
Take them! Hang them up?
The show’s next week!
this skinny girl
had dark short hair
in a mess of curls
a frayed T-shirt
almost off one shoulder
and faded jeans
and a sort of face
hard not to look at
and her cheek raw red
are you okay?
but she only looked away
scooping up a pile of big paper
art paper
pictures
in her arms
from the corner table
Get the rest. Come on.
get the rest come on
I wanted to ask
what that was all about
the shouting and the slapping
(I got the kissing part)
but already she was
somewhere else in her mind”
Motherless, fifteen-year-old Bobby Lang has been saddled with the nickname “Junk” by the high school bullies. He and his disabled, drunk father live miles off the beaten path, in a leaky shack, surrounded by mountains of junk. Bobby is a struggling kid who does his best to remain invisible at school and at home. Oftentimes, he’s stuck going hungry.
The verse novel JUNK BOY is the story of Bobby and Rachel, the skinny girl with the dark, curly hair. She can be confusing and bossy as hell, but she’s straight with Bobby, and she gets him to speak. As evidenced by a drawing she does of him, Rachel clearly sees something about Bobby that others miss. Bobby cares about her, too, and jumps whenever she demands that he assist or accompany her.
The quirky Rachel is an artist with off-the-chart talent. For obvious reasons, she cannot stand her mother, who wants to have her daughter “reformatted.” Rachel hopes to escape her mother and attend a top-notch art school in New York City, where her father now lives.
Bobby’s father and Rachel’s mother play pivotal roles in the story, along with a local priest named Father Percy.
In equal measure sweet and gritty, and containing superb descriptions of setting, this prose poetry novel would be a quick read except that so many passages just beg to be savored and reread.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
[email protected]
“As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion”
-- Jimmy Ruffin “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (1967)
The Art Room Door
was wide open
when I passed
and there was sudden noise
an angry voice
growling and spitting
in there
looking in I saw
two girls and a woman
not a teacher
the woman was leaning over
a skinny girl
with curly brown hair
while the other girl
stood shaking at a table
in the corner
her hands
on her face
her face pale
as paper
Ever! Ever! Ever!
was the only word
I heard clearly
the woman said it
through her teeth
then slapped
slapped
slapped
the skinny girl on her face
like she would slap a man
it was the opposite
of a sweaty schoolyard fight
this was cold and sharp as icicles
that cold froze up my chest
while the woman spun
past me
her shoes clacking fast
and angry down the hall
I shrank to nothing
watching
the skinny girl go
shaking shaking
to the other one
and hug her
kiss her wet face
and her lips
oh okay
but the other one
pried herself loose
twisting her shoulders back
and brushed by me
down the hall
the other way
ugh…
I started to say but
shut straight up when
the skinny girl
wheeled around to me
What are you staring at?
nothing
So?
Help me.
help you?
do what?
Take them! Hang them up?
The show’s next week!
this skinny girl
had dark short hair
in a mess of curls
a frayed T-shirt
almost off one shoulder
and faded jeans
and a sort of face
hard not to look at
and her cheek raw red
are you okay?
but she only looked away
scooping up a pile of big paper
art paper
pictures
in her arms
from the corner table
Get the rest. Come on.
get the rest come on
I wanted to ask
what that was all about
the shouting and the slapping
(I got the kissing part)
but already she was
somewhere else in her mind”
Motherless, fifteen-year-old Bobby Lang has been saddled with the nickname “Junk” by the high school bullies. He and his disabled, drunk father live miles off the beaten path, in a leaky shack, surrounded by mountains of junk. Bobby is a struggling kid who does his best to remain invisible at school and at home. Oftentimes, he’s stuck going hungry.
The verse novel JUNK BOY is the story of Bobby and Rachel, the skinny girl with the dark, curly hair. She can be confusing and bossy as hell, but she’s straight with Bobby, and she gets him to speak. As evidenced by a drawing she does of him, Rachel clearly sees something about Bobby that others miss. Bobby cares about her, too, and jumps whenever she demands that he assist or accompany her.
The quirky Rachel is an artist with off-the-chart talent. For obvious reasons, she cannot stand her mother, who wants to have her daughter “reformatted.” Rachel hopes to escape her mother and attend a top-notch art school in New York City, where her father now lives.
Bobby’s father and Rachel’s mother play pivotal roles in the story, along with a local priest named Father Percy.
In equal measure sweet and gritty, and containing superb descriptions of setting, this prose poetry novel would be a quick read except that so many passages just beg to be savored and reread.
Richie Partington, MLIS
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December 26, 2020
Abbot's ingenious mind has crafted a beautiful novel that describes a young boy's struggle with his identity and becoming his own person, taking ownership and authenticity in a life surrounded by 'Junk' - physical and metaphysical.
There are so many wonderful things about this compelling novel: the format and language choice compliment one another to give an explicit, authentic portrayal of someone's inner thoughts and feelings. Through the lack of grammar and the poetic, simplistic writing amalgamate to create a personification of Roberts true emotions at every moment. Because your thoughts continue; like a flowing stream; unstoppable; uncontrollable.
Furthermore, the relations within the book are estranged and yet through Roberts eyes, one can truly feel the connection. How he describes the moments; not understanding but grasping at anything, trying to communicate, trying to relate and identify but not being able to 'suss' a person out.
This book is an authentic representation of identity: a pure form of self discovery and a great read for anyone who struggles internally with disconnect.
There are so many wonderful things about this compelling novel: the format and language choice compliment one another to give an explicit, authentic portrayal of someone's inner thoughts and feelings. Through the lack of grammar and the poetic, simplistic writing amalgamate to create a personification of Roberts true emotions at every moment. Because your thoughts continue; like a flowing stream; unstoppable; uncontrollable.
Furthermore, the relations within the book are estranged and yet through Roberts eyes, one can truly feel the connection. How he describes the moments; not understanding but grasping at anything, trying to communicate, trying to relate and identify but not being able to 'suss' a person out.
This book is an authentic representation of identity: a pure form of self discovery and a great read for anyone who struggles internally with disconnect.
April 2, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, which I believe would be an ideal whole class novel in the English Language Arts classroom, perhaps best followed by book clubs with other novels in verse. As a reader, I value this novel in verse most for its tone and its artistry in details.
The protagonist is a fifteen year-old who is neglected by his father and marginalized at school, and what I think is very well done is the capturing of his feelings of isolation amid the hustle and bustle of a standard school day. Where most young adult novels offer a teacher hero, I appreciate that Tony Abbott steers clear of that trope in this instance. Readers will spend most of their time within Bobby's internal monologue, unpacking, and in some cases repacking, the multi-faceted issues he must navigate: motherlessness, emotional neglect by a father who struggles with substance abuse, and food insecurity to name a few.
The choice for Bobby to be mentored quietly by a clergy member was notable, and the development of the priest's character was balanced. He seeks solitude amongst books and writing and art in order to recharge. I appreciated the ways in which the author used nature to develop not only the plot, but also Bobby's character.
While this review contains no spoilers, I will speak to the ending and say that if readers are looking for all elements to be wrapped up with a neat little bow, then this is not the book for them. I'd say that the ending is like the underside of a tapestry. There is beauty in it, but the messiness remains beneath, and the reader is left with the sense that all the characters still have "self work" left to do. The revisiting and refurbishing of the VW bus is just one example of this.
To speak to the nitty gritty of the way the novel is formatted, I appreciated that both the dialogue and the internal monologue were italicized. There are little intentional choices made by the author that are best appreciated via this form.
The protagonist is a fifteen year-old who is neglected by his father and marginalized at school, and what I think is very well done is the capturing of his feelings of isolation amid the hustle and bustle of a standard school day. Where most young adult novels offer a teacher hero, I appreciate that Tony Abbott steers clear of that trope in this instance. Readers will spend most of their time within Bobby's internal monologue, unpacking, and in some cases repacking, the multi-faceted issues he must navigate: motherlessness, emotional neglect by a father who struggles with substance abuse, and food insecurity to name a few.
The choice for Bobby to be mentored quietly by a clergy member was notable, and the development of the priest's character was balanced. He seeks solitude amongst books and writing and art in order to recharge. I appreciated the ways in which the author used nature to develop not only the plot, but also Bobby's character.
While this review contains no spoilers, I will speak to the ending and say that if readers are looking for all elements to be wrapped up with a neat little bow, then this is not the book for them. I'd say that the ending is like the underside of a tapestry. There is beauty in it, but the messiness remains beneath, and the reader is left with the sense that all the characters still have "self work" left to do. The revisiting and refurbishing of the VW bus is just one example of this.
To speak to the nitty gritty of the way the novel is formatted, I appreciated that both the dialogue and the internal monologue were italicized. There are little intentional choices made by the author that are best appreciated via this form.
April 26, 2020
Verse works so well for this poignant story of an invisible boy-- bullied as "junk boy" because his house at the end of a lane tucked back is surrounded by junk-- with an uncaring father. He's generally invisible and feels this pain acutely while he doesn't share it outright to anyone. He wants for something larger and starts with setting his sights on fixing up a camper that's been sitting on the property.
The story propels forward when he sees a mother slap her daughter in school while sitting next to the girl's girlfriend. He befriends the girl but even her attitude toward Bobby is curious. She's definitely frustrated by her relationship with her who is trying to convert her from being gay and is preventing her from living with her father and going to art school. But her art is what she's good at and it's when Bobby is finally able to see himself when looking through her eyes-- she draws him on a train ride and it's just so him.
While there is a darker spin that could have gone in a few directions, the quick speed of answers to unanswered questions and the resolution of the relationships of each of the characters including a caring local pastor seems to be saved for a whiplash final 1/3 of the book. Yet the first 2/3 is building the empathy with Bobby which works phenomenally in feeling his invisibility. Heartbreaking but a useful lens.
"of course he never asked
about me joining any club
not even
ha
the human race.
I was good enough
to live at the dark end
of a dark trail
but not much else"
"'But these old moldering prison walls
Just keep on closing in.'
which pretty much
is school
and every day
and every place
for me"
The story propels forward when he sees a mother slap her daughter in school while sitting next to the girl's girlfriend. He befriends the girl but even her attitude toward Bobby is curious. She's definitely frustrated by her relationship with her who is trying to convert her from being gay and is preventing her from living with her father and going to art school. But her art is what she's good at and it's when Bobby is finally able to see himself when looking through her eyes-- she draws him on a train ride and it's just so him.
While there is a darker spin that could have gone in a few directions, the quick speed of answers to unanswered questions and the resolution of the relationships of each of the characters including a caring local pastor seems to be saved for a whiplash final 1/3 of the book. Yet the first 2/3 is building the empathy with Bobby which works phenomenally in feeling his invisibility. Heartbreaking but a useful lens.
"of course he never asked
about me joining any club
not even
ha
the human race.
I was good enough
to live at the dark end
of a dark trail
but not much else"
"'But these old moldering prison walls
Just keep on closing in.'
which pretty much
is school
and every day
and every place
for me"
December 17, 2020
Wow, this book was gripping, intense, and so true. Teens will love so much about this book and be sharing with their friends!!! Tony Abbott's novel in verse about Bobby Lang who is called junk boy because he lives in a house that is definitely a hoarding situation to anyone who sees the cars, junk, thrown out items, strewn throughout and around the yard and house. Bobby's dad is a drinker, doesn't work and belittles his son daily. In school, Bobby tries to be invisible but one day, he is drawn into fighting going on in a classroom. What he finds changes his life; a mother is slapping and yelling at her daughter (because she is gay). Once she leaves, after angrily demeaning him, Bobby helps the girl hang up art posters---thus begins the weird relationship of Bobby and Rachel. Rachel becomes his friend, dragging him to art shows and telling him how much she hates her mother. But things are not always good between them, Rachel has anger issues, lashes out, and Bobby becomes her target too. As their friendship grows, Bobby begins to seek help for himself and Rachel. As both teens experience abuse, will they both be able to rise above and become better? Highly recommended!
July 14, 2020
Robert is such a raw and vivid character. He is freakishly similar to my freshman year boyfriend (my first boyfriend): poor, not particularly clean, lived in squalor, parents hated him, Catholic. He was a mess, but he was smart and funny and I liked how he treated me (he also forced my first kiss from me, and then cheated on me. With a dude. He wasn't perfect by any means). He was so very much like Bobby in this book. I could completely believe he would befriend a girl having problems and try to help her fulfill her dreams. He was that kind of guy. He also flew into rages occasionally for no apparent reason. He was also that kind of guy. I mostly appreciated how beautifully descriptive this book was. Every scene came to light, the poetic themes throughout were clear but unobtrusive, and I liked the story. I can see this being a great class read, maybe for a special ed class that would like the compelling story without too much complexity interfering with comprehension. In fact, I'm going to tell my friend about it who's a high school special ed teacher. It's a great selection.
May 4, 2020
Staying invisible and on the edge of things is Robert’s superpower/survival strategy. Home is a shack near the dump, family is shattered, disabled dad, school is silence or bullies. Classmate Rachel is full of energy for her art and anger at her mom who wants to control Rachel’s sexual preferences. Apparently at random, Rachel pulls Robert into her orbit, and her portrait of him helps Robert to see things about himself that he never imagined might be true.
This brief novel in verse does a lot with a little, sketching characters who can grow and mature in a vivid setting while engaging questions about identity, truth, change, and redemption. Well done. E-ARC provided by Edelweiss.
This brief novel in verse does a lot with a little, sketching characters who can grow and mature in a vivid setting while engaging questions about identity, truth, change, and redemption. Well done. E-ARC provided by Edelweiss.
October 12, 2020
Junk Boy by Tony Abbott is a surprisingly moving novel written in verse. The story follows Bobby who is nicknamed "junk" by his bullying classmates. Bobby lives in a run down house on the outskirts of town with his neglectful father and a yard littered with junk. He is sad, alone, bullied and hungry. As he begins to clean up the yard himself, his mental state begins to heal as well. He finds a friend who carries her own junk and they begin to heal together.
This is a moving story that touches on suicide, homosexuality, mental health and healing as a journey. The recommended age is 13+ and would make a great classroom discussion.
This is a moving story that touches on suicide, homosexuality, mental health and healing as a journey. The recommended age is 13+ and would make a great classroom discussion.
June 4, 2020
This book tells the story of a boy attempting to work through his “junk” in a phenomenal, poetic format. The story follows characters that readers can relate to. Every battles their own demons and this book puts this idea in the spotlight, allowing a reader to really place themselves inside the story. I had never read a book that mixes poetry with novel and I can honestly say I wish I had. The story is interesting but on top of that just simply reading it is interesting because of this. I would recommend this book to anyone.
July 14, 2020
“there is no putting
a tree back up after
it’s broken
and fallen
in a storm
maybe with us
with people
it’s different
maybe”
Two teens from dysfunctional families become just what each other need to have their voices heard.
This novel in verse in not a sweet tale but one of darkness and despair. You will spend the book yelling at the characters in your head for the choices they are making while you slowly begin to root for them in the end.
Beautiful writing that will be used during our poetry unit as a mentor text.
a tree back up after
it’s broken
and fallen
in a storm
maybe with us
with people
it’s different
maybe”
Two teens from dysfunctional families become just what each other need to have their voices heard.
This novel in verse in not a sweet tale but one of darkness and despair. You will spend the book yelling at the characters in your head for the choices they are making while you slowly begin to root for them in the end.
Beautiful writing that will be used during our poetry unit as a mentor text.
December 9, 2020
So sad and with so many issues; rejection, cruelty, loneliness,acceptance, identity, neglect, hopelessness.
“You never know how you do things, you just do.”
It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve finished it and makes you think about the heartbreaking existence of others. In a very unexpected way this book is a reminder to be kind.
This would not appeal to everyone because the intensity of the anguish would be too much for some young readers, but I enjoyed it.
“You never know how you do things, you just do.”
It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve finished it and makes you think about the heartbreaking existence of others. In a very unexpected way this book is a reminder to be kind.
This would not appeal to everyone because the intensity of the anguish would be too much for some young readers, but I enjoyed it.
August 10, 2020
Rachel and Bobby were so believable that my heart hurt for them. I read this book in one sitting, hoping for good things for both of them. I hope teens with similar issues will see there is hope beyond their pain, and that they have a future. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
October 3, 2020
Heartbreaking. Gut wrenching. Tear jerking. This novel in verse has it all. I don’t think Bobby’s story would’ve been as powerful if it weren’t written in verse. Abbott creates characters that span the spectrum and you can love, hate, get frustrated with. Bobby’s story is one we all need to hear. About being alone, finding someone, and working out feelings for that someone.
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