The Scar Boys

(Hardback)

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Description

In his college application essay, Harry Jones goes beyond the word limit and gives a full account of his life. First defining moment: the day the neighbourhood goons tied him to a tree during a lightning storm when the tree was struck and caught fire. Harry was badly burned and has had to live with the physical and emotional scars. Second defining moment: a boy called Johnny rescues him from bullies and suggests they start a band. Harry discovers that playing music transports him out of his nightmare of a world and finally compels people to look beyond his physical appearance.

Reviews

"[A]n uplifting novel for students who prefer thought-provoking contemporary realistic fiction." --Library Media Connection

-- (5/1/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"Etches its way onto the heart and leaves a mark." --Kirkus Reviews

-- (11/1/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"Harry's obsession with punk music will appeal to music lovers, while his journey to accept himself for who he is--scarred face and all--is one that will likely resonate with any teen trying to find his way in the world." --Booklist

-- (1/1/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"Harry's trajectory loosely mirrors Vlahos's time as the guitarist for a touring punk/pop band, so details like how to cut a record, land a gig at the now-defunct club CBGB...or rework a tour when the van breaks down strongly resonate." --Publishers Weekly

-- (11/4/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"Playing and touring demand creativity and commitment, forcing the Scar Boys -- actually three guys and a girl -- to come of age in this wry, stylish tale." --The New York Times

-- (1/10/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"Vlahos's narrative flows easily and rings true....Distinguished in every way." --starred, School Library Journal

-- (1/1/2014 12:00:00 AM)

Author Bio

Len Vlahos is the Executive Director of BISG, and the former COO of the American Booksellers Association, where he worked for the past 20 years. At the ABA, he had overall responsibility for ABA's Winter Institute. So he knows booksellers and booksellers know him. Len has also worked in indie, chain, and university bookstores, was an on-air personality for a commercial radio station in Atlantic City, and worked for a time for Internet marketing guru Seth Godin. He was in a punk rock band in the mid-1980s. The Woofing Cookies toured and their music was played on dozens of college radio stations coast to coast. You can visit him online at www.lenvlahos.com and on Twitter @LenVlahos.