Looking for Jack Kerouac

Starred review from June 9, 2014
In this strong work of historical fiction set in the 1960s, Paul feels understood for the first time after finding a copy of On the Road during a high school trip to New York City: “Like the book knew who I was, knew what I wanted, and was speaking back to me somehow.” Paul’s mother’s unexpected death upsets his determination to break from his girlfriend’s dreams of marriage, until Duke, a fellow Kerouac devotee, entices him on a road trip to Florida to find their hero. Shoup (Wish You Were Here) creates full-fleshed characters filled with yearning, both those Paul leaves behind and those he meets on his journey. Changes in music, politics, race relations, and attitudes toward Vietnam illuminate the volatile era, rendering Paul’s sense of loss and longing both symptomatic of his era and timeless: “Would it ever stop, I wondered—this constant plummeting backward to that lost time, the happiness, the small comforts and promises I used to take for granted?” A relatable protagonist managing a delicate balance between uncomfortable realities and fertile possibilities makes for a memorable, mature coming-of-age story. Ages 14–up. Agent: David Bennett, Transatlantic Agency.

July 1, 2014
Quiet contemplation reigns when recent high school graduate Paul uses a road-trip search for Jack Kerouac as a possible escape from the pressures of 1964 suburbia.Paul is increasingly disillusioned with his night shift at the mill and his girlfriend's belief that their engagement is imminent. Breaking free from the yoke of expectations is difficult, especially in the wake of his mother's recent death. Paul's admiration for Kerouac's On the Road sparks an unexpected friendship with fellow overnight-shift employee Duke, whose adventurous nature contrasts with Paul's reluctance to rock the boat. Indeed, it's Duke's idea to run away to Florida to find Kerouac. Readers expecting a wild adventure story will find themselves disappointed. Paul's cautious approach to travel helps the pair avoid excitement, and his reserved narrative style strips even a romantic interlude with a Weeki Wachee mermaid impersonator of any salaciousness. The pair's experiences in Florida seem to further emphasize the dangers of impulsivity, as both Duke and Kerouac are revealed to have unstable lives that largely revolve around alcohol-fueled binges. But while Paul lacks a certain vivaciousness, his growing understanding of his role in the world is revealed through moments of self-awareness that are almost painfully unvarnished and at times also starkly beautiful.Ultimately though, a book whose title references Kerouac but lacks outrageous escapades may have difficulty finding its audience. (Historical fiction. 14-18)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 10 Up-While on a high school trip to NYC, Paul Carpetti discovers the West Village and On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Paul begins to question everything about his typical Midwestern life. He discovers he no longer relates to or loves his girlfriend Kathy, who had always assumed marriage and children were inevitable, but before he can do anything about this, his mother is diagnosed with a brain tumor. After his mother's death, Paul graduates and gets a job at the local steel mill. He lets Kathy takes on the role of acting wife with the supposition of future marriage. Paul falls into the routine and believes that this is what's in store for him. While at the steel mill, however, Paul befriends the effervescent Duke Walczek, a fellow reader and Kerouac lover. Together, Paul and Duke take to the road themselves hitchhiking their way to Florida to meet Jack Kerouac. This story is well written and well conceived. It immerses readers into life in the 1960s. Shoup takes readers into a world filled with assorted characters caught up in the attitudes and beliefs of the time. Paul's journey of self-discovery will captivate readers. He is a likable character even when he is doing things that aren't very kind or agreeable. A relatable and affecting coming-of-age story.-Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY

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