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Tar loves Gemma, but Gemma doesn't want to be tied down - not to anyone or anything. Gemma wants to fly. But no one can fly forever. One day, somehow, finally you have to come down. Commissioned and produced by Oxford Stage Company, Junk premiered at The Castle, Wellingborough, in January 1998 and went on to tour throughout the UK in 1998 and 1999.
"John Retallack's excellent adaptation of Melvin Burgess's controversial Carnegie Medal winning novel is splendidly unpatronising...a truly cautionary tale" (Independent)
Anonymous
Posted December 8, 2005
'Junk,' which is the original title of the book 'Smack' by this same author, is a rather realistic peek into the life of a young heroin addict. It correctly depicts the transition from 'soft' drugs, such as marijuana, to the eventual usage and subsequent addiction to heroin. While true that not every drug user tries and becomes dependent on heroin, in reality, not many do. The feeling of invincibility that is inherent in teenagers is certainly apparent here, as is the open-mindedness of said age group. Melvin Burgess also accurately portrays the punk/anarchist scene in the mid-late 1980s in Britain. For young addicts, it is almost always certain that the girls will go into prostitution to support their various habits. Males also do it as well, though they are more prone to turning to theft and other forms of criminal activity to support their habit. Gang activity is also certainly a reality, although not pictured in this book. I recommend this book to ALL teenagers and especially those is the punk and goth scenes. This is not a stereotypical prejustice, but those scenes are where I was introduced to drugs and, eventually, heroin, though I was one of the lucky ones that never did get addicted. I had a close friend die of an overdose in front of me. That scared me straight, and now I live a SxE (straight-edge, a.k.a. poison free) life. Read this book and realize that dangers that your D.A.R.E. officer or parents tell you about are only too real, even if this book is fictional.
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Posted October 11, 2005
i love this book so much i made all of my friends read it...however one of them lost it so i dont have it anymore...its so good that im gona buy it again though! love it love it love it! xxx
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Posted October 23, 2004
Junk was was such an eye-opener to the real world. I never knew that all this stuff when on when someone was addicted to drugs. After reading this book, I have vowed to never do drugs. This book was excellent!!!
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Posted October 8, 2003
This book was amazing. Not only the story line, but the opinions each character gives. I enjoyed this book very much. I am very interested in reading other books by Melvin Burgess.
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Posted July 3, 2003
This book is not only about the dangers of drugs but the core of love, love of a person, and love of the junk. This book captured my attention completly! IT WAS GREAT!
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Posted July 23, 2003
it usually takes me a month or 2 to read a book but once i started reading it i read it in 2 days it was a wonderful book
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Posted May 31, 2002
well, what can i say? well firstly this book was simply the best book i have ever read. I totally related to it, the punk/rebel aspects and the feeling that you just want to leave everything just to be with someone you think you want. I have experienced many of the feelings that Gemma goes through,especially the pregnancy,problems with parents, and the hold that drugs have. This book is more about the real feelings of drug addicts than any other book i have ever read. really, if you want a great book then buy this...
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Posted February 4, 2002
SO IS JUNK THE NEW SMACK?
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Posted January 31, 2002
This is a great book i've always wanted to runaway as a teen but when i read this i was thankful that i never did. at first it slightly glorifies young love and life on the streets. As the book goes on you find out just how wrong some fantasies are
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Posted January 16, 2002
Junk was the best book I have ever read. I'm sixteen years old, and at first you can really relate, then it takes you on this rollercoaster of first time experiences, drugs, and becoming your own person. I recommmend this to anyone who plans on being glued to it to the end.
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Posted June 19, 2011
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Posted June 11, 2011
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Posted October 14, 2012
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Overview
Tar loves Gemma, but Gemma doesn't want to be tied down - not to anyone or anything. Gemma wants to fly. But no one can fly forever. One day, somehow, finally you have to come down. Commissioned and produced by Oxford Stage Company, Junk premiered at The Castle, Wellingborough, in January 1998 and went on to tour throughout the UK in 1998 and 1999.
"John Retallack's ...