Title: Heavy Metal and You by Christopher Krovatin, ISBN: 0439734648X, PUSH, New York, 2005, $16.95, 186 pp.
Genre: Teen Issues/Music/Heavy Metal/Relationships Ages16 and up.
Characters: Sammy Markus, the main character and first-person narrator, is a high school student in New York. Having always been an outcast, he finds solace in a few things: his two best friends, heavy metal music, and his newfound love, Melissa. He meets Melissa at a recital for a play; she is a bubbly adolescent from the Upper East Side, and they both fall pretty hard for each other. His best friends consist of “Irish,” a big, red-haired guy who drinks quite a bit and listens to punk music; and the other, Brent, a tall, womanizing, preppy-dressing guy. They all respect each others’ differences, and for fun, they watch horror movies and get drunk and stoned. Sammy’s family consists of a younger sister, Erica, his older brother, Carver (who is funny and caring, though his emotions are not always apparent), and his two loving parents.
Plot: Sammy Markus, struggling to fit in with and be accepted by anyone besides his two best friends, meets Melissa. Perhaps opposites attract, because they fall for each other. However, she consumes a great deal of his time, and he often gets the feeling that she is trying to change him. He takes her to a heavy metal show and she hates it; she brings him around her friends, and he hates it. Amidst making out, and crying, and a newfound closeness, Sammy’s time with his friends becomes nonexistent. After a falling out between he and Melissa, Sammy does some soul-searching, and they ultimately agree that their love for one another is strong, but neither can, nor are they willing to, sacrifice who they are or with whom they associate, for the other person.
Touchy Areas: There are several touchy issues within this book. Strong language--the constant usage of the “f” word is impossible to ignore. There are references to sex, teen alcohol abuse, and the usage of marijuana. Granted, these are issues that countless teens deal with every day; however, it could be bothersome to some conservative readers. Upon teaching this book to a class, I would probably send a note home.
Related Titles: Twilight (2005) by Stephanie Meyer
Movies: Airheads (1997)
Photos: Photos and clips of various heavy metal bands can be seen at (www.hardradio.com).
Related websites: Interesting facts about the history of heavy metal can be found at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music).
Music: Metallica (1995) by Metallica; Master of Puppets (1991) by Metallica
Classic Work: The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D. Sallinger.
Evaluation: I liked this book very much. Music plays a huge role in Sam’s life, as does the uncertainty of what to do, and how to act while allowing yourself to be “yourself.” I could identify with Sam, as well as some of the other characters, and although I’m not a heavy metal fan, I recognized a good portion of the music he discussed. It read very fast was pretty captivating overall. The author gives very accurate insight as to what the world is like through the eyes of a young adult. His open-mindedness, humor, and insight made this book hard to put down. This was my favorite book to review all year, and I would rate it a 9.5 out of 10.
Reviewed by: Chris Solarz, University of Toledo