Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! (Paperback)

A plot synopsis. This is a story about Tucker Woolf, his family, his friends, and his friendsï¿ families. In New York city, Tucker is fifteen years old and for the first time in his life heï¿s seriously interested in a girl. This interest isnï¿t without its complications. The girl, Natalia, attends a school for the mentally imbalanced. And her cousin, Dinky Hocker, has issues of her own. Dinky is overweight, an unsurprising fact when you consider her negligent, often cruel, parents. From this unlikely set of characters comes a story about dealing with the problems of others, as well as yourself. Kerr could have easily taken the easy route with this book. How simple it would be to turn this plot into an After School Special, complete with everyone a little older and wiser at the end. Instead, the author meets such ooey-gooey sentiments head on, challenging the hypocrisy people exhibit every day. Along the way, other issues are brought up as well. Originally conceived and published in 1972, the book deals with politics. Everyoneï¿s parent is a liberal of the 60s, though how they display this political leaning differs per person. When we meet the radical P. John, Dinkyï¿s brief beau, the reader is suddenly shown a human being that doesnï¿t fit neatly into any real category. P. John is conservative, racist, intolerant, and honest. To read his character is to question everything the book is saying about the political climate of this country. But if you really read this book, really examine whatï¿s itï¿s saying, itï¿s clear as crystal that there is no single political stance taken in this story. People are not all one thing or another. Not all liberals are whining wimps waiting for a handout. Not all conservatives remain unchanging and unsympathetic. I can see how people would love this book and how people would hate this book. All I ask of you is that you find yourself intrigued by this review and decide to actually read this book. Draw your own conclusions. Decide Iï¿m insanely wrong or absolutely correct. The point is, this book should never be forgotten. It is so well written, so interesting and full of great points that I canï¿t even give you a glimpse of what it really means. Youï¿ll just have to find out for yourself.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews   Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

The book is funny, the characters quirky and the situations somwhat absurd, but the real fascination of this book comes from seeing how the parents of these children forget them in favour of either their own problems or the problems of strangers. The thing that struck me most is that Dinkys charity-mom is actually one of the most selfish people in the world. I would recomend this book to anyone, even though it is technically a YA-novel. Its a good read, all the same.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews   Was this review helpful to you?

Report this