- Hardcover: 261 pages
- Publisher: Hyperion Books; 1 edition (April 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0786809205
- ISBN-13: 978-0786809202
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.7 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 522 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #631,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10–President of his high school's Young Republicans club and on a fast track to Harvard with a full scholarship, Leo Carraway finds his life turned upside down by two events. His unlikely best friend–a hip, nonconformist named Melinda, whose temperament, politics, and interests seemingly clash with his lifestyle–convinces him to help tutor a gay classmate. When the homophobic assistant principal observes Leo talking to Owen during a test, he accuses Leo of cheating and causes him to lose his scholarship. Then Leo learns, to his consternation, that Marion X. McMurphy (King Maggot)–the top punk singer of the 1980s with a reputation for destruction on stage and leader of the band Purge–is likely his biological father. He decides to confront King Maggot and get him to pay for his lost scholarship and joins the crew of roadies supporting the band on a summer revival tour. Leo is introduced to the decadent world of punk performers, production crews, agents, and groupies that confirms his dislike of the music, but at the same time, he re-examines his primary beliefs and principles and is fundamentally changed by his experiences. He and Melinda, who is spending the summer following the band, slowly realize that they have more in common than they had thought. At the end, Leo uncovers a surprise about his biological father and reflects on what this means to his life. Korman's story has an appealing narrative voice, sharp dialogue, and vivid characterization to portray Leo's coming of age.–Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
A high school Republican Club president learns that his biological father is the leader of the legendary punk rock band Purge. Narrator Billy Hammond helps young Leo Caraway shed his Brooks Brothers jacket and go on tour with the band to see if dad's rebellious blood truly runs through his veins. Gordon Korman's story puts Hammond through his paces as he imparts the personalities of more than a dozen characters. Even his female characters sound believable, an achievement that is always a challenge for male narrators. Sadly, the snippets of rock music interspersed are often lame. They could use some input from someone closer to the era. M.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Characters with their own quirks and personalities and strong plot lines. ,,
By Leo was in elementary school when he learned that his father's name was Marion. 'I turned to Dad. 'You mean your name used to be Marion X. McMurphy? Did you get beat up a lot at school? (35)' What Leo eventually learns, however, is that the name on his birth certificate is that of his biological father. Further information comes to Leo in his senior year of high school, when reading a blog on the internet. Marion X. Murphy was none other than King Maggot. 'Dear Old Dad was more than a rock star. He was the cultural boogeyman of his time (43).' When Leo is included as a roadie in the 30 city summer Concussed tour, he learns more than enough about the people who inhabit the rock-and-roll world and surround his father. The drugs and sex are written about, but not descriptively or excessively and if the bands swear, Leo does not relate it to the reader. This book is a fun read that offers a brisk pace, exciting and entertaining dialogue, a diverse cast of characters with their own quirks and personalities, strong plotlines, and a conclusion that is believable for the characters involved. Korman does not disappoint.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too,
By TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Born to Rock (Hardcover)
One good deed changes Leo's life forever.
When his best friend asks him to tutor her friend, Owen, in math, he can't turn her down. He discovers that Owen can relate his math issues to pinballs and understand. So, during a test, Leo sees Own panicking and whispers "pinballs." In that moment, he's accused of cheating. There goes his scholarship to Harvard, the one he's been counting on, since his family doesn't have enough money for college. Then comes another curveball--Leo finds out the identity of his biological father, the man who's currently making a comeback: the King of Purge, the leader of the most popular punk band ever. Leo meets his father and joins the reunion tour for the summer working as a stage hand. Can he bond with his father, survive the mess he's made of his life, and figure out where to go from here? BORN TO ROCK focuses around music, standing up against bullies, and finding your strengths. I recommend this one to music lovers or anyone fighting the system. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews) 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoy this light read about a Young Republican who discovers his biological dad is a famous punk rocker,
By Jessica Lux - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Born to Rock (Hardcover)
Gordon Korman, the author of over fifty young adult novels, has written the story of Young Republican Leo Caraway, a high school senior destined for the Ivy League until a battle with a school administrator endangers his scholarship. Leo has none for years that his Dad is not his biological father, but a man named Marion McMurphy. In his senior year, Leo uncovers just who Marion X. McMurphy is--the infamous drug-addled, property-destroying lead single of pioneering punk rock band Purge. Dad McMurphy goes by the pseudonym King Maggot, and his antic have been ingrained in the nation's psyche for the last two decades.
With his scholarship withdrawn, Leo sees no option but to abandon his Young Republican ideals and seek out punk rock King Maggot for the tuition dollars. The novel centers on Leo's summer with "bio-Dad," on the tour with Leo working as a newbie roadie. Korman's novel is a beach read, pure and simple. It's a fun, lighthearted read, and the end is the stuff of Cinderella. This isn't award-winning fiction, and any older teen reader could poke a few holes in the plot. The action is clearly aimed toward a middle school audience, despite the fact that the main character is a senior in high school. In this story, grownups did drugs back in the big, bad mid-eighties, but out high school heroes have no interest in breaking the law. We even have a token gay friend to round the character list out. Have fun reading this short and sweet novel! 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Born to Rock,
A Kid's Review - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Born to Rock (Hardcover)
I thought this book was great. Overall Gordon Korman is a wonderful author and knows how to add humor to his writing. The concept of Leo being a Harvard scholarship student and having a biological father who is the leader of the "Angriest Band in America" caught my attention. The relationship Leo made with the members of the band and the truth about who is real father was, was a key part of the book. My favortie character was Leo because he was the one who endured all of this chaos on the Concussed Tour with the band. In addition, he made a relationship with a girl he thought would always be his friend, and realized that the boy who ruined his Harvard scholarship wasn't such a bad guy. All students over the age of 11, READ THIS BOOK! Trust me, you'll enjoy it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too,
By TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Born to Rock (Hardcover)
One good deed changes Leo's life forever.
When his best friend asks him to tutor her friend, Owen, in math, he can't turn her down. He discovers that Owen can relate his math issues to pinballs and understand. So, during a test, Leo sees Own panicking and whispers "pinballs." In that moment, he's accused of cheating. There goes his scholarship to Harvard, the one he's been counting on, since his family doesn't have enough money for college. Then comes another curveball--Leo finds out the identity of his biological father, the man who's currently making a come back: the King of Purge, the leader of the most popular punk band ever. Leo meets his father and joins the reunion tour for the summer working as a stage hand. Can he bond with his father, survive the mess he's made of his life, and figure out where to go from here? BORN TO ROCK focuses around music, standing up against bullies, and finding your strengths. I recommend this one to music lovers or anyone fighting the system. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel |
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