King Dork is the story of a sophomore boy named Tom, who is your average, unexpected protagonist. He is a loser. He gets beat up in school, chicks aren’t into him (well not at first anyway), his home-life is messy, he loves and truly appreciates Rock and Roll, and has only one friend like figure. Yet he still manages to view the world through a cynical, witty, and slightly askew eye. Throughout the book he yearns to sew the mystery of his father’s death into his present, by reading his father’s old books and tracking down people his father once knew. He struggles with ever bewildering females and the poor, inane educational structure of AP classes. He is constantly trying to avoid the brainwashed normalcy of the Catcher cult, and humor his hippie-wannabe mother and “cool” new stepfather. All this while trying to play one song in unison with his band.
There are many words in the English language but only one that I can think of to describe this book, amazing. At least it was for me and the type of kids who want to be Bob Dylan, and thinks that the Velvet Underground was the best thing to come out of the Factory. It’s definitely a book for the sardonic Rock and Roller of the world, as it is chocked full of witty, sarcastic, tones and 60s pop culture references. The great thing about this book is that it takes everything you’ve ever thought about cool, redefines it, and makes it much, much better. When reading the book, you can see a little part of your life mirrored in one of the characters, whether it is Tom, his best friend, his illicit lovers, or his inept parental units. It is not a particularly good choice for readers who are not comfortable with sexual innuendo, but it is a great choice if Rock and Roll, bad movies, and uncertainty make up the bulk of your life.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Erlanger, Kentucky USA
