Smack - Hardcover

Burgess, Melvin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080505801X ISBN 13: 9780805058017

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co, 1998

Synopsis

After running away from their troubled homes, two teenagers--Tar and his girlfriend Gemma--move in to an abandoned building with a group of squatters and try to find ways to support their growing addiction to heroin.

About this title

Review:

Winner of the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
"Searing . . . unflinching . . . seductive . . . insidious . . . flawless. This is one novel that will leave an indelible impression on all who read it."--"Publishers Weekly", Starred Review
"Cuts to the bone. . . . Based on actual people and incidents, this harrowing tale is as compellingly real as it is tragic."--"Kirkus Reviews", Starred Review
"Heroin chic? Far from it."--"Teen People"
"The book is powerful and calculated, intent on affecting readers and shattering pat illusions. . . .
[B]rutally honest."--"School Library Journal", Starred Review
"Smack is filled with cool British lingo and interesting characters, all the while subtly delivering a harrowing message about addiction."--"Seventeen"
"Grim and cautionary novel."--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Smack pulls no punches: Drugs can be fun. And "Smack" makes it relentlessly clear that fun comes at a vicious price. . . . It will leave you reeling."--"Denver Post"
"[A]n honest, unpatronizing, unvarnished account of teen life on the skids."--"Booklist"
"[A] gritty, no punches-pulled chronicle."--"News and Observer", Raleigh, NC
"It does exactly what teenagers want a book to do. It tells the truth. It doesn't preach. It makes you think. . . .Smack is as addictive as the drug it profiles. You will not be able to put it down."--"VOYA"
"The book sticks with you."--"Seattle Post Intelligencier"
"[A] boot-in-the-gut look at British kids on the dole and drugs."--"Toronto Globe & Mail"

Searing . . . unflinching . . . seductive . . . insidious . . . flawless. This is one novel that will leave an indelible impression on all who read it. "Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"

Cuts to the bone. . . . Based on actual people and incidents, this harrowing tale is as compellingly real as it is tragic. "Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"

Heroin chic? Far from it. "Teen People"

The book is powerful and calculated, intent on affecting readers and shattering pat illusions. . . . [B]rutally honest. "School Library Journal, Starred Review"

Smack is filled with cool British lingo and interesting characters, all the while subtly delivering a harrowing message about addiction. "Seventeen"

Grim and cautionary novel. "The New York Times Book Review"

Smack pulls no punches: Drugs can be fun. And "Smack" makes it relentlessly clear that fun comes at a vicious price. . . . It will leave you reeling. "Denver Post"

[A]n honest, unpatronizing, unvarnished account of teen life on the skids. "Booklist"

[A] gritty, no punches-pulled chronicle. "News and Observer, Raleigh, NC"

It does exactly what teenagers want a book to do. It tells the truth. It doesn't preach. It makes you think. . . .Smack is as addictive as the drug it profiles. You will not be able to put it down. "VOYA"

The book sticks with you. "Seattle Post Intelligencier"

[A] boot-in-the-gut look at British kids on the dole and drugs. "Toronto Globe & Mail""

Searing . . . unflinching . . . seductive . . . insidious . . . flawless. This is one novel that will leave an indelible impression on all who read it. Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Cuts to the bone. . . . Based on actual people and incidents, this harrowing tale is as compellingly real as it is tragic. Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Heroin chic? Far from it. Teen People

The book is powerful and calculated, intent on affecting readers and shattering pat illusions. . . . [B]rutally honest. School Library Journal, Starred Review

Smack is filled with cool British lingo and interesting characters, all the while subtly delivering a harrowing message about addiction. Seventeen

Grim and cautionary novel. The New York Times Book Review

Smack pulls no punches: Drugs can be fun. And Smack makes it relentlessly clear that fun comes at a vicious price. . . . It will leave you reeling. Denver Post

[A]n honest, unpatronizing, unvarnished account of teen life on the skids. Booklist

[A] gritty, no punches-pulled chronicle. News and Observer, Raleigh, NC

It does exactly what teenagers want a book to do. It tells the truth. It doesn't preach. It makes you think. . . .Smack is as addictive as the drug it profiles. You will not be able to put it down. VOYA

The book sticks with you. Seattle Post Intelligencier

[A] boot-in-the-gut look at British kids on the dole and drugs. Toronto Globe & Mail

"

"Searing . . . unflinching . . . seductive . . . insidious . . . flawless. This is one novel that will leave an indelible impression on all who read it." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Cuts to the bone. . . . Based on actual people and incidents, this harrowing tale is as compellingly real as it is tragic." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Heroin chic? Far from it." --Teen People

"The book is powerful and calculated, intent on affecting readers and shattering pat illusions. . . . [B]rutally honest." --School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Smack is filled with cool British lingo and interesting characters, all the while subtly delivering a harrowing message about addiction." --Seventeen

"Grim and cautionary novel." --The New York Times Book Review

"Smack pulls no punches: Drugs can be fun. And Smack makes it relentlessly clear that fun comes at a vicious price. . . . It will leave you reeling." --Denver Post

"[A]n honest, unpatronizing, unvarnished account of teen life on the skids." --Booklist

"[A] gritty, no punches-pulled chronicle." --News and Observer, Raleigh, NC

"It does exactly what teenagers want a book to do. It tells the truth. It doesn't preach. It makes you think. . . .Smack is as addictive as the drug it profiles. You will not be able to put it down." --VOYA

"The book sticks with you." --Seattle Post Intelligencier

"[A] boot-in-the-gut look at British kids on the dole and drugs." --Toronto Globe & Mail

Synopsis:

After running away from their troubled homes, two English teenagers move in with a group of squatters in the port city of Bristol and try to find ways to support their growing addiction to heroin.

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 080505801X
• ISBN 13: 9780805058017
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 327