Korman, Gordon. Born to Rock. Hyperion Books, 2006. ISBN: 0-7868-0920-5
Plot Summary:
Leo Caraway is not an average high school senior. Leo has a perfect GPA, he is looking forward to a full ride scholarship at Harvard, and he is an active young Republican. Everything is going well until a technicality enforced by a despotic administrator causes him to lose his scholarship and any hopes of Harvard. In addition to his dreams of Harvard being lost, Leo finds out that his biological father is Marion X. McMurphy a legend in the punk music scene and more commonly known as King Maggot of the infamous band Purge. In a desperate attempt to try to contact his real father he goes to a press conference given by King Maggot and Purge. Leo succeeds in getting thrown out of the conference but manages to slip King Maggot a letter.
Leo is contacted by the musician’s lawyer and is invited to meet King Maggot, who recognizes him as a McMurphy due to a notch in both their ears, a trait which runs in the family. King Maggot invites him to come on the road with the band as a roadie while they await DNA tests. Leo feels that after touring with his bio-dad he will feel better about asking him for tuition to Harvard. Leo tours with Purge despite his dislike of the music and the lifestyle. Leo learns a lot on his tour, including his true lineage and the meaning of family.
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Critical Evaluation:
The differences in character between the conservative youth and the Keith Richards-like King Maggot allow for some interesting internal dialogue from the protagonist. Leo is in a good deal of turmoil throughout the book and is constantly defining what the concept of family means to him. These forces of tension really make the book, along with colorful scenes from the tour. The author seems to have had some connection with the music industry as the description of things that occurred while the band was on tour seems accurate. This book has relevance for any older teen who is really into music, especially the following some legendary touring bands. The exploits of bands have almost a legendary quality about them, and this book feeds right into this even though the band is fictional.
Reader’s Annotation:
Leo is a conservative high school student who finds out that his biological father is a music legend. After having his scholarship revoked, Leo agrees to go on tour and finds out many truths which allow him to develop as a man.
Information about the author:
Gordon Korman was born in 1964 in Montreal, Canada. He wrote his first book when he was 12 years old, and this proved an inspiration for a later work. When he was 17 he won the Air Canada Award for most promising young writer. He later moved to New York where he studied films and film writing, while continuing to write fiction.
Korman is a professional writer with 55 books to his name. He published his first book with scholastic and has since worked with additional publishers. He is currently contracted to write pieces for Hyperion. Korman lives on Long Island, New York with his wife and three children.
Genre:
Music Fiction
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Discuss the differences between Leo’s bio-dad and the man who raised him.
2. Focus on the ways Leo’s experience changes him and what ways he stays the same.
3. Center the talk on the level of responsibility placed on Leo as he works on the tour.
Reading Level/Interest Age:
16+
Challenge Issues:
Drugs/Alcohol/Adult Situations/Language
Challenge Defense Ideas:
1. Read the book.
2. Be Familiar with the policy of the ALA and your institution.
3. Make a note of the contents of the work and how they fall in with the collection development policy of your institution and the standpoint of the ALA.
4. Gain an awareness of the awards, reviews, and criticisms of the work, as well as other works by the same writer.
5. Know the process for materials challenges at your library.
Why did you include this book? :
There are not many books which feature the punk music scene; this would appeal to those teens that are a part of that scene.
Author's Website:
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