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Junk | 
 enlarge | Authors: Melvin Burgess, Laetitia Devaux
Publisher: Gallimard
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  98 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 346
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 2070539946
Dewey Decimal Number: 828'.914
EAN: 9782070539949
ASIN: 2070539946
Publication Date: August 29, 2002
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| Customer Reviews: Read 93 more reviews...
 Brutally honest, beautiful and desperately saddening December 1, 2008
I first read Junk shortly after its initial release, when I was 16, and it took my breath away with its stark portrayal of teenage lives which had been touched by appalling tragedy, both self-inflicted and not. Many years later I am still in awe of it. As far as literature for the younger reader goes, I cannot think of a more impressive, important novel.
The plot itself is simple enough: two teenagers run away from home and fall rapidly into a downward spiral of crime, drugs, prostitution and prison. What makes Junk so fascinating is the glorious depth of the characters, and how Burgess has managed to artfully create a cast of believable, interesting people - each with something to say, and a different perspective to say it from (with a sensible use of multiple first-person narrative to highlight this).
From my own teenage perspective, I was thrilled to find a novel aimed at my generation which did not talk down to me nor ignore the obvious, if uncomfortable, truths inherent in the subject matter. The reasons for the poor choices the characters make are clearly defined, and the strong allure of heroin is not glossed over as though it were insignificant. A significant amount of time is dedicated to explaining what it is that makes the kids in the story think that drug abuse, robbery and prostitution are good ideas before their fallacious reasoning is comprehensively destroyed by the consequences of their decisions. The single chapter written from the skewed perspective of Lily (the seductive character who draws our runaways into the life in question like heroin personified - a theme which is continued in the increasingly ugly, acrimonious relationship they share) is a mini masterpiece in itself, painting a brilliant picture of a vivacious, yet irreparably damaged young girl who has fooled herself and those around her into thinking she's found all the answers when in reality she is utterly lost. The gradual revelation that this enticing, confident young woman is actually a terrified, isolated little girl is the most devastating case the book could make against heroin addiction.
Given that they are the age group most vulnerable to these realities, most stories told to teenagers about these subjects are far too simplified, choosing to paint drug addicts and their ilk as bad people deserving of scorn, never explaining how they ended up the way they are, but that kind of patronising tone never seeps into Junk. Each character here can be loved and hated in equal measure, and all of them will have the reader's sympathy - even when they are appallingly racist and a borderline paedophile, in the case of one very complicated tobacconist. What is for certain is that nobody who reads Junk will forget in a hurry the complex, vibrant, brilliantly realised people that fill its pages with both laughter and despair. I missed Tar and Gemma as though they were my own friends when I finished Junk for the first time, and I can pay it no higher compliment than that.
There are no easy answers, and there are no fairytale endings in Burgess' world. What we have instead is a compelling, heart-breaking story about good people making bad decisions and having to live with the ensuing regret as best they can. This is an absolute must for all adventurous young readers, and for their parents too - it could well give each of those two groups an entirely fresh perspective on their lives.
juunk October 26, 2008
i'm 16, and i read alot of books & this was honestly the best book i have ever come across in my whole life, i could not put it down, its gripping and amazing, honestly read it, it makes you think about life and it's so well wrote.
it's a story about a boy and a girl who run away and get involved with drugs and the struggles they go through, at times its depressing and its uplifting
One of the greatest books of all time... July 9, 2008
I never read Junk until i was in my late teens/early twenties and it is still my favourite book now.
I love the story of Tar and Gemma. I like the way Melvin Burgess writes as the different people within the story and each chapter is told from a different perspective.
Melvin's take on teenage life is spot on and the way he gets the social issues across is fantastic.
It's a book I can read over and over again and as soon as I open to the first page I don't put the book down until i've finished it.
Everyone should read this book!!!!
He has a unique way of writing and i'm currently working my way through as many of his books as I can manage.
 Great but completely overrated February 20, 2008
When I first read this I thought it was wonderful. I marvelled at the character relationship development and it completely sucked me into the world of drugs and prostitution. The characters have clear voices. However the book does ramble a little and the plot move quite slowly.
A truly incredibly book! February 2, 2008
When I first purchased this book, I didn't know what to expect. Upon the first few chapters, for me the book was a little slow to pick up, but I preserved. The book then spiralled into events which prevented me from putting the book down. Yes, I admit, the fact that the book switches from so many different characters views confused me slightly, I still hung on. I'm glad I did however. This book gave me such an insight as to what it's like for teenagers on the streets, on drugs, prostitution that at the end I wasn't satisfied. I simply had to read it again. A truly great purchase and I recommend it to anyone!
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