Mona Ashleigh
Richard Levine
General/Literary Fiction.
Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old “Bugboy” is baffled when beautiful, Brazil-nut-eyed Ashleigh sits down at the school lunchroom table he shares with his other “Defective” friends. Is it the first salvo in a mischievous prank orchestrated by the “Normals,” or is it serendipitous, as Bugboy, a serial crusher, is lately crushing on Ashleigh? Serendipitous perhaps, but not accidental. A friendship blossoms, and as it does, Bugboy discovers that Ashleigh is not only beautiful, brilliant, and compassionate, but also as fragile a person as he has ever known. Getting to know her is for him a fantasy come true, but behind the fantasy, reality lurks, intrudes, and occasionally punches back.
Review: Mona Ashleigh
This story is strong in character development and many of the characters have interesting traits and nicknames.
The story is narrated by Josh Golden a.k.a. Bugboy. Bugboy considers himself a Defective and spends his lunch break at a table with other Defectives. The Normals set at the other tables.
Each of the Defectives has something that makes them different. One is tall, another has a viewable birthmark, and some have noticeable health issues like Tourette Syndrome. And then one day, almost perfect Ashleigh walks up to their table and asks if she can sit down. Later, she explains that she is Defective, and even a little crazy.
The social history of the sixties plays into this read as Bugboy and Ashleigh share a special friendship where they confide in one another. They discuss John F. Kennedy's assassination, their favorite movie stars, shows they like and dislike, and their enjoyment of Freedomland U.S.A, which was an amusement park in the northeastern part of The Bronx.
There are also some interesting subplots such as Bugboy's friend Stut's run-ins with the bully Adam Sikorsky who was said to have muscles like Popeye.
Bugboy is not able to play sports so he paints to pass the time, and he really enjoys painting his favorite Yankees. He eventually, earns a scholarship and leaves for art school in Massachusetts. While he's away, he receives a call, and later a letter, that devastates him.
This is a beautifully written heart-wrenching story about adolescence, discovery, friendship, and loss. I received this book from Richard Levine for an honest review.
Richard Levine
General/Literary Fiction.
- Paperback: 206 pages
- Publisher: Firedrake Books, LLC (December 17, 2017)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1941036236
- ISBN-13: 978-1941036235
- Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old “Bugboy” is baffled when beautiful, Brazil-nut-eyed Ashleigh sits down at the school lunchroom table he shares with his other “Defective” friends. Is it the first salvo in a mischievous prank orchestrated by the “Normals,” or is it serendipitous, as Bugboy, a serial crusher, is lately crushing on Ashleigh? Serendipitous perhaps, but not accidental. A friendship blossoms, and as it does, Bugboy discovers that Ashleigh is not only beautiful, brilliant, and compassionate, but also as fragile a person as he has ever known. Getting to know her is for him a fantasy come true, but behind the fantasy, reality lurks, intrudes, and occasionally punches back.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Review: Mona Ashleigh
This story is strong in character development and many of the characters have interesting traits and nicknames.
The story is narrated by Josh Golden a.k.a. Bugboy. Bugboy considers himself a Defective and spends his lunch break at a table with other Defectives. The Normals set at the other tables.
Each of the Defectives has something that makes them different. One is tall, another has a viewable birthmark, and some have noticeable health issues like Tourette Syndrome. And then one day, almost perfect Ashleigh walks up to their table and asks if she can sit down. Later, she explains that she is Defective, and even a little crazy.
The social history of the sixties plays into this read as Bugboy and Ashleigh share a special friendship where they confide in one another. They discuss John F. Kennedy's assassination, their favorite movie stars, shows they like and dislike, and their enjoyment of Freedomland U.S.A, which was an amusement park in the northeastern part of The Bronx.
There are also some interesting subplots such as Bugboy's friend Stut's run-ins with the bully Adam Sikorsky who was said to have muscles like Popeye.
Bugboy is not able to play sports so he paints to pass the time, and he really enjoys painting his favorite Yankees. He eventually, earns a scholarship and leaves for art school in Massachusetts. While he's away, he receives a call, and later a letter, that devastates him.
This is a beautifully written heart-wrenching story about adolescence, discovery, friendship, and loss. I received this book from Richard Levine for an honest review.