Punkzilla
Publisher
Candlewick Press
Publication Year
2009
ISBN
9780763652975
Pages
256 pages
Genre
realism
Format
novel
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
"Punkzilla" is on a mission to see his older brother "P", before "P" dies of cancer. Still buzzing from his last hit of meth, he embarks on a days-long trip from Portland, Ore. to Memphis, Tenn., writing letters to his family and friends. Along the way, he sees a sketchier side of America and worries if he will make it to see his brother in time.
Grade Level
9-12
Lexile Measure
1200L
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Disability and Health; Kinship care; Gay/Lesbian; Addiction; Illness; brother looking after brother; gay; gay brother; gay adult; alcoholism; drug addiction; subtance abuse; cancer
Main Character
male teenager
Race/Ethnicities
White
Family Formation
mother and father
LGBTQ+
gay male
Awards
Michael L. Printz Award, 2010, Honor Book
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2010 Twelve to Fourteen
Booklist Book Review Stars, 2009
Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2009 Fiction for Older Readers
Heartland Books Recommendation for Life-Long Readers - Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2013 Young Adult
Rainbow List, 2010 Fiction
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2010 Fiction
Keywords
siblings; military school; runaway; abuse; Oregon; Mempis; letters; theft; cross country adventure; sexual assault
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Rapp, Adam, "Punkzilla" (2009). Diverse Families. 1614.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/1614