Bobby has long carried the guilt for his mother leaving. At least that's what he hears on a daily basis from his father. When his father isn't drunk, he is hobbling around on his bum leg and adding to the junk that surrounds their house in the woods.
Even though they live in the woods, everyone knows about the mess that surrounds their place. Bobby was nicknamed Junk Boy by his classmates long ago. He's skinny and scrawny with a face he avoids looking at in the mirror at all costs. Teachers have let his father know Bobby is not dumb, just extremely quiet, and they extend their encouragement that he join some sort of after-school activity. Bobby's father just laughs.
The day he witnesses a classmate named Rachel being slapped by her mother, he starts to compare his life at home with this artsy girl he also saw kissing another girl. When Rachel asks Bobby to help her hang some artwork, he discovers her amazing talent. She shares that she hates her mother and is hoping to be accepted at an art school in the city where she can live with her father.
Both Bobby and Rachel long for less complicated family situations as they search for their own versions of peace and acceptance. Author Tony Abbott's spare verse tears at the heart yet provides hope that these two deserving young people can find ways to connect with the grownups who have so often let them down. JUNK BOY is a fast read that provides relatable issues for readers looking for their own ways to connect.
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