The Punk Ethic

Gr 11 Up—Martin Henry is a guitar player and a very angry teenager. His English assignments for Mr. Sanden are the only things that get him to think. Not having a computer to do his homework, he goes to his friend Holly's house and uses hers, giving her some guitar lessons as a fair trade. Martin kind of likes Holly, but she is weird and keeps giving him mixed signals. Frustrated with the lack of his life moving forward, he tries to stage a benefit concert to "adopt' a landmine from a war-torn region. Against all odds, people agree to play in Martin's show with acts as eclectic as a bad Christian rock band and a hip-hop star playing cello. As Martin worries if his concert will be a success, he also begins to alienate Holly as her behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Little background is given on the characters, ultimately making their behavior seem largely immature and uninteresting. For example, Martin's dad isn't in the picture, but readers don't know why. Also, Martin dislikes his best friend, Jeff, but continues to hang out with him and insult him throughout the entire book. The prose isn't saved by the plot, either, as the hastily arranged benefit concert sheds little characterization on Martin, Holly, or any of their friends. While some disaffected teens, especially those who are musically inclined, might like this story, most readers will need more to understand the motivations behind these characters' actions and feelings.—Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library