The Big Nothing
Candlewick Press · Paperback · October 3, 2006
When everyone that Justin depends on lets him down, he begins discovering himself with the help of a new friend and some newly found talents.
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- Who it’s for
- For readers drawn to adolescent self-discovery amid family upheaval
- Themes
- Adolescent self-discovery, Family upheaval and loneliness, Music and emotional growth
- Pacing
- Reflective
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Start with this bookAbout this book
When everyone that Justin depends on lets him down, he begins discovering himself with the help of a new friend and some newly found talents. Alone. That's how thirteen-year-old Justin feels these days. His older brother Duane has left home, enlisting in the Army, and his father has walked out, maybe for good this time. His mom is too depressed to get out of bed. And if that's not enough, his best buddy Ben has a new girlfriend and no longer has time to hang out.
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There's not much left for Justin to do but to put his brain in neutral and slide into the state he calls "the Big Nothing." But slowly Justin discovers he has more resources than he thinks. With the help of his classmate Jemmie and her grandmother, Nana Grace, he learns that underneath all the noisy confusion in his brain lies a talent for music. As he spends time with Jemmie, he begins to understand how simple notes make complex music, and how simple feelings can turn into deep emotions. Award-winning author Adrian Fogelin once again offers readers an emotionally charged story featuring a sympathetic adolescent trying to make sense of the people and world around him.
Who it’s for
- For readers drawn to adolescent self-discovery amid family upheaval
- For readers interested in music as a path to emotional growth
Where it sits
| Growing Up | 54% |
|---|---|
| Music Stories | 41% |
| Family Stories | 40% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Family Stories
- Music Stories
- Depression & Mental Health
- Authors
- Adrian Fogelin
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Published
- October 3, 2006
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Adolescent self-discovery · Family upheaval and loneliness · Music and emotional growth
- Reading lane
- Family Stories