Tagged

March 2, 2015
In this sensitive portrayal of a budding artist from newcomer Mullen, 14-year-old Liam O'Malley is consumed by the idea of becoming a graffiti writer. After Liam gets embroiled in a rivalry between local gangs and his grades slip, his mother sends him away from their home in the projects of Minneapolis to spend the summer with her friend Kat in tiny Lakeshore, Mich. Kat, a sculptor, provides a calm and supportive temporary home for Liam, who becomes inspired by the tranquil landscape, researches a variety of artists including Basquiat and Picasso, and begins to let go of his resentment surrounding his upbringing. Soon Liam has to decide between returning home to serve as a role model for his siblings or pursuing his dreams independently. Short chapters and clipped phrases give Liam's narrative the punchy impact of graffiti: "No sirens in two weeks. No black-and-whites driving around, either. No cops standing in stores. None walking the streets. Nothing,â Liam reflects on his new environment. A powerful story about the positive effects of change. Ages 12âup. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

January 15, 2015
A 14-year-old graffiti artist spends a summer away from his inner-city home. Fearful that Liam will follow his older brother into gang-influenced crime, his mother sends him from Minneapolis to a small resort town in Michigan to spend the summer with her artist friend, Kat. Liam's had a rough year, having been kicked out of the private school where he'd won a scholarship and threatened with a gun for painting graffiti over a gang sign. At first Liam dislikes Lakeshore; he even vandalizes the town beach house in a cross between artistic expression and boredom. Gradually, with Kat's help, he begins to see himself as a serious artist. Kat invites him to stay, but he knows that at home, his younger brother is befriending gang members. Mullen's smooth debut, written primarily in dialogue with very short chapters, often feels like a verse novel without the limitations of that form. His first-person narration is characterized by clipped, often incomplete sentences that capture his restlessness. Liam's reluctance to take chances feels authentic, given his past, and the exploration of graffiti as serious art, with links to Picasso and Basquiat, intrigues. A solid, interesting novel. (Fiction. 12-16)

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May 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Budding graffiti artist Liam lives in the Minneapolis projects, where he struggles to resist the influence of the Irish mafia. After older brother Kieran coerces Liam to tag over a rival gang's symbol, and Liam's grades start slipping, their mother sends Liam to Lakeshore, MI, to live with her friend Kat for the summer. Liam is initially unimpressed with small-town life, but Kat gives him access to her studio and art history books. Liam finds inspiration in famous black artist and former graffitist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and combines elements from Picasso's and Basquiat's work to create his own style of street art that is accepted by the community. Mullen's main theme is the acceptance of graffiti as art, but she also explores concepts of existing versus living and artistic legacy as Liam finds his identity as an artist. Basquiat's real-life struggles give Liam much to consider. Present tense and clipped sentences provide immediacy and make this good for reluctant readers. VERDICT Recommended for those interested in street art and urban literature, and fans of Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon (Knopf, 2012).-Hannah Farmer, Seguin Public Library, TX

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