
'Smack' by Melvin Burgess follows the story of two teenage runaways, Tar and Gemma, who spiral into heroin addiction while living in squats in Bristol, UK. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives, giving insight into the characters' struggles with addiction, homelessness, and self-deception. The writing style is described as honest, brutal, and realistic, providing a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by young addicts in the 1980s.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include drug addiction, sexual assault, and themes of mental health struggles.
Has Romance?
There are romantic elements present, particularly in the relationship between Tar and Gemma.
From The Publisher:
Winner of the 1996 Carnegie Medal in Literature and the Guardian Prize for fiction, two of England's most prestigious awards, Smack tells a penetrating story about heroin use, a topic that is becoming familiar in the news and one of importance to teens everywhere.
The story begins with Tar, a fourteen-year-old, who runs away from home. He convinces his girlfriend, Gemma, to come with him, and it is not long before they are engulfed in a loose community of people living in abandoned buildings. Everything seems to be turning out so well: they have a roof over their heads, food to eat, and a brand-new group of friends. And when Tar and Gemma try their first hit of smack, they think life will keep on getting better.
But before long, they find they've lost control. The search for the next hit becomes all-consuming-until a disaster forces Gemma to take matters into her own hands.
Insightful, haunting, and real, Smack is the Go Ask Alice of the '90s. It's a book that every teenager should read-then pass along to a friend.
Ratings (1)
Loved It (1) |
Reader Stats (9):
Read It (1) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Not Interested (1) |
About the Author:
Melvin Burgess is the author of several other highly acclaimed books for young adults, including Burning Issy. Mr. Burgess lives in Lancashire, England.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.