What You Gonna Do With All That Junk?

Books. Gotta love ‘em.

Okay, so the general consensus among youths these days is as follows: TV GOOD. BOOKS BAD. It seems that anything that involves actually having to concentrate isn’t really cool these days. And this is where Junk changes these views.

Children’s book ‘Junk’ by Melvin Burgess follows two teenagers Gemma and Tar who run away from home and meet a brand new family of people who lead lives of sex and drugs. Sex and drugs? Children’s book? You heard correctly.

What is so great about this book is how the author includes such racy, over-the-top themes in such a childlike manner. He speaks as a young adolescent would with his language, helping the reader to really relate to the story. (Assuming that the reader is between twelve and eighteen years old, which is probably the target audience here.)

Alongside the great storyline, Burgess intertwines the darkness and risks of a life of drugs into his book - a serious topic that is hard to get across to children effectively. The characters develop as the book goes on, making you feel as if you’re really living with the characters for a short while and the settings described through first person narrative really give your senses something to ponder over.

I wouldn’t just recommend this book to children – it is a children’s book that adults will be drawn into. A little like Harry Potter.

In short, this novel is snappy, to the point and fun all at the same time. Pick it up and you won’t put it down.

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