1. Title: The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg, 978-1338215502- First Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2019, $17.99, 338 pp.
and feel sympathy and empathy for their struggles. It balances a love story with dark themes, sprinkles of humor to keep it light while demonstrating the importance of making time to be serious with loved ones. The more adult themes would likely make this book better suited for 10th-12th grade. The book does an excellent job of bringing in music, poems mostly written by one of the main characters, and art, giving even more depth and meaning to their story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely give it a 9/10.
Reviewed by: Austen Matthews
- Genre: Young Adult Novel
- Characters: The main characters in this novel are Max and Jordan, two boys who attend the same high school in Arizona. Max is an athlete, a “dude bro” as students call him, that exudes masculinity and constant cheer, hiding behind a beaming smile which, his mother calls, his super power. Jordan is not an athlete. Instead, he chooses to spend his time writing poetry and collecting merchandise and music from the 80’s. Max’s “amigos”, as they call themselves, are Betts and Zay-Rod, fellow baseball players who enjoy eating Max’s mom’s cooking and playing video games. Jordan’s friends, his “wives” Pam and Kayla, love to spend time making up games like “dream throwing”, going to the mall, and escaping Arizona summer heat by hanging out in Jordan’s 80’s themed room. Jordan’s mother, Lynda, suffers from mental issues after losing her husband, Jordan’s father, years prior and hasn’t been able to take care of herself since, relying heavily on her son to care for her. Max’s parents are divorced, his father a mediocre, traveling comedian and his mom a hard working single mom.
- Plot: Jordan and his mom are running out of funds, days away from losing their house, so they decide to break out the old food truck of his dad’s to try to get what they need for the mortgage. Jordan is a hopeless cook and his mom isn’t much better, immediately wanting to quit and give up all hope. Max who, the night before, made the mistake of going to see a man he met on an app, is battling with his own inner turmoil, trying to clear his mind and become himself again when he stumbles upon Jordan, a classmate and boy he finds incredibly cute, and his mom and, in a strange turn of events, ends up hired to work the truck. Through hard work, dedication, and many youtube videos these two started getting popular, making good money to put toward Jordan’s mom’s debt and Max’s pay, bringing them even closer together. Truck rebranding, fines, and mechanical breakdowns aside they do well, easily earning what his mom owes to save their house. They begin dating, taking things slow which, to Jordan, makes him wonder if there is something wrong. He was right. After an incident in the pool together Max breaks down, finally telling Jordan and his mom, who Jordan quickly grabbed to help, that he was assaulted. They all go to the ER together to get him tested and discuss counseling, working together to help him. Jordan’s luck runs out however when a towing company comes and takes the truck away, giving the boys the paperwork stating that Jordan’s mom took a loan out on the truck. She gets sent to a hospital for mental health issues, leaving Jordan homeless with their dog Dorcus. Max’s mom takes him in, giving him the guest room and the boys learn how to heal together.
- Touchy Areas: Sexual assault, talk of suicide
- Related Titles: Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau, You Asked for Perfect by Laura Silverman, and Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu
- Movies: Love, Simon (2018), The Way He Looks (2014), Were the World Mine (2008)
- Music: “Wild” Troye Sivan (2015), “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” Queen (1980)
- Poem: “Song” by Seamus Heaney
- Classic Work: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- Art: Banksy
- Evaluation: This story was beautiful, hilarious, and heartbreaking, giving the reader insight into toxic masculinity, two boys finding love, and Max and Jordan struggling with darkness of
and feel sympathy and empathy for their struggles. It balances a love story with dark themes, sprinkles of humor to keep it light while demonstrating the importance of making time to be serious with loved ones. The more adult themes would likely make this book better suited for 10th-12th grade. The book does an excellent job of bringing in music, poems mostly written by one of the main characters, and art, giving even more depth and meaning to their story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely give it a 9/10.
Reviewed by: Austen Matthews
