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abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
Johnny has had a pretty hard life. His dad died when he was twelve and his mom collapsed in on herself, leaving him to pay the bills and take care of the house. Johnny turned to alcohol to dull the stress and ended up in rehab by age 16. When he gets out of rehab, Johnny's mom sends him to live with an uncle in North Carolina and Johnny has to start over with a new school and even a new family. As Johnny starts to figure out life there, he finally begins to find himself. This is a coming-of-age story that will appeal to music buffs. Hand it over to fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
steelyhann's review against another edition
2.0
subject matter was interesting but the writing was pretty elementary and simplistic. lots of random plot lines introduced and never followed through on, and writing somehow felt lazy and like it was trying too hard at the same time. again, story was interesting but it was a kinda laborsome to finish.
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
cute, quick, lightweight read - it was totally my "lunch hour reading" over a couple of enjoyable days. really endearing characters and definitely people i'd like to hang out with.
funsizelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it surprised me. I really enjoyed getting to know the main character and his love-interest. The others are not really developed, but it's enough to further the plot nicely.
lemon_drop's review against another edition
3.0
This book really is about sex, drugs & rock and roll!
And it's much more serious than I expected it to be.
And it's much more serious than I expected it to be.
ohlookanowl's review against another edition
4.0
Debbie Harry Sings in French is the kind of book that you pick up unsuspectingly and wind up wishing more people would read. Our hero, Johnny, is a thoughtful, goth-clothed, eyeliner-wearing teen who's been left to fend for himself (dead father, checked-out mother)after a stint in rehab and a relocation to his uncle's house in South Carolina. Everyday is a fight. Though the book takes an honest look at Johnny's difficult life, it ultimately becomes a tale of love and acceptance. Johnny meets a young, spirited woman who sees in Johnny the beauty that he cannot see in himself. With her help, Johnny embarks on a non-cliched journey of exploration and identity.
This excellent novel tackles real issues that may be uncomfortable to some, but which deserve and need to be talked about. It's an examination of gender expression, teenage sexuality, family dynamics, bullying and so much more, wrapped up in an honest and unassuming young adult book. For the open minded, this book may be a refreshing treat.
This excellent novel tackles real issues that may be uncomfortable to some, but which deserve and need to be talked about. It's an examination of gender expression, teenage sexuality, family dynamics, bullying and so much more, wrapped up in an honest and unassuming young adult book. For the open minded, this book may be a refreshing treat.
foreveryoungadult's review
Graded By: Meghan
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Nick Hornby, You're Wanted In the Principal's Office
Bonus Factors: Blondie, High Fidelity
Relationship Status: Call Me
Read the full book report here.
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Nick Hornby, You're Wanted In the Principal's Office
Bonus Factors: Blondie, High Fidelity
Relationship Status: Call Me
Read the full book report here.
fallingstar924's review
4.0
Being a music lover, I was intrigued by this book when a friend of mine read it during a reading challenge. So, after tracking it down from the Monroe County Library system (thank goodness for MELCAT!), I picked it up and read it in a matter of hours.
Johnny is a very sweet character who had some hard emotional times. This book chronicles his journey of finding himself, while making new connections in his life. In some ways, it's a love story, but I found it to be more about Johnny finding himself, with the help of others.
Johnny is a very sweet character who had some hard emotional times. This book chronicles his journey of finding himself, while making new connections in his life. In some ways, it's a love story, but I found it to be more about Johnny finding himself, with the help of others.
ceramirezmcfarlin's review
3.0
I saw this book on the new YA Fiction shelf and decided to check it out...such interesting topics being covered in today's youth fiction! I recall my mother becoming very concerned when she found me reading a book about a young lesbian couple...and looking back, the book was so mild and really stepped all around the core issue.
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The first 50 pages of this book very nearly made me stop reading. Their main objective seemed to be pure shock-value, pulling out every stereotype of kids-gone-wrong. I think it would have made much more of an impact to have had these kids come from average homes, not families where moms were strippers and dads had been killed. I thought the language and situations were a bit over-kill on the author's part - almost as if she was trying to prove herself as "down with the kids." I know that there are teens out there dealing with really harsh situations but the writing just rang untrue.
However, once Johnny leaves this scene behind for South Carolina, the story truly becomes interesting. I would have liked to have seen a bit more personal insight to Johnny's character, but for a first novel, and a young adult novel, the story was strong and fulfilling.
I would really like to see this book used as a group reading for kids in 11th and 12th grade. I think it could generate some very interesting conversation. I also think it reflects a much different attitude towards life than when I was a teenager. This book would have been set in college, not high school, had it been written 20 years ago.
The book takes a pretty adult stance with language and sex, yet the main character Johnny is still a sweet, somewhat vulnerable young man trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs.
I honestly don't think the book really deals too deeply with the issues of trans-gender/sexuality...it's more about self-acceptance and love and just uses cross-dressing as an attention grabber.
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The first 50 pages of this book very nearly made me stop reading. Their main objective seemed to be pure shock-value, pulling out every stereotype of kids-gone-wrong. I think it would have made much more of an impact to have had these kids come from average homes, not families where moms were strippers and dads had been killed. I thought the language and situations were a bit over-kill on the author's part - almost as if she was trying to prove herself as "down with the kids." I know that there are teens out there dealing with really harsh situations but the writing just rang untrue.
However, once Johnny leaves this scene behind for South Carolina, the story truly becomes interesting. I would have liked to have seen a bit more personal insight to Johnny's character, but for a first novel, and a young adult novel, the story was strong and fulfilling.
I would really like to see this book used as a group reading for kids in 11th and 12th grade. I think it could generate some very interesting conversation. I also think it reflects a much different attitude towards life than when I was a teenager. This book would have been set in college, not high school, had it been written 20 years ago.
The book takes a pretty adult stance with language and sex, yet the main character Johnny is still a sweet, somewhat vulnerable young man trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs.
I honestly don't think the book really deals too deeply with the issues of trans-gender/sexuality...it's more about self-acceptance and love and just uses cross-dressing as an attention grabber.
bibliocat4's review
4.0
I really liked this book! Johnny is a teenager in crisis. After his father's death, Johnny's mother falls into a depression, leaving Johnny basically on his own. He turns to drinking. But his life changes after he collapses in a club and is left at the emergency room. This leads him on a journey to discover who he really is and who is father had been.