I struggled with this book. I'd say it was my least enjoyable read of 2014. In fact, there's very little I liked about it. The main reason for this is probably due to my having limited knowledge of New York, in the 80s or at any other time, or punk culture, or straight edge (which I'd never heard of) so much of it was lost on me to begin with. But I got to the end of the book, albeit by skim-reading much of it.

As others have said, there is an awful lot going on. It is as though the author had a list of 'things that went on in 80s New York' and decided that all of them had to go into this story. It led to a confusing plot that went in many directions all at once, and I lost what the main gist of the story was. There were too many characters to follow. Sadly, I didn't find myself liking or caring about any of them. I also got bored with the narration, which often came in large chunks that didn't really add much to the story (hence the skim-reading).

I didn't really realise what the main theme of the book was before I started reading (I felt the blurb on the cover was misleading) or I doubt I would have read it. But it did give me an insight into a time period that I was unaware of before so it isn't all negative.
( )

Just could not bring myself to care about any of the characters. ( )

Some characters were stronger (Jude, Johnny, Harriet, Les, Rooster) than others (Eliza, Di) but overall, a really affecting look at lost kids and the straight edge movement in the late 80's. I got a visceral feel for the kids' life in Vermont, and in the East Village, but the straight edge music scene seemed less real to me - more described than felt. I wish I got to know Eliza as well as Jude and Johnny. ( )

Compelling characters - yes. Interesting cultural setting - definitely. Well written prose - yes. Enough plot to keep it interesting - sure! What's missing? A thematic thread to link all of the events and elements together. There were just a few too many different ideas floating around that it was hard to focus on one for any amount of time, let alone for Ms. Henderson to follow through fully with them.

I really enjoyed reading this book - it was a wonderful surprise. I just wish I could have emerged from the end of the book knowing what is was attempting to say. ( )

A very interesting look at teens in the 80's - drugs, the punk/straight-edge movement ( I was very aware of the punk scene, but somehow knew nothing about the straight-edge stuff) the AIDS crisis, NYC before the clean-up, and the remainders of the hippie culture in Vermont. A bit long and draggy in parts, especially for a book that falls into the YA realm. I did not really like any of the characters, which meant I didn't really care too much about what happened to them. ( )