The Frontman

March 15, 2018
Ron is like lots of other teenage boys in 1980s Lincoln, Nebraska. He stays up late doing homework, snacks on anything he can find, and has a crush on a girl he knows his parents won't approve of. Ron's parents, Israeli immigrants, have a pretty strict idea of what they think their son's life should look like. Ron knows he is supposed to grow up and become a doctor, but he keeps getting glimpses of what true freedom could mean. He has a suprisingly good singing voice and fills in for a friend's band at the occasional house party or wedding. Being on stage, with all eyes on him?especially the eyes of Amy Andrews?is like nothing he has ever experienced. As Ron nears the end of high school and must make serious plans for his future, the tough decisions start to pile up. Bahar's debut coming-of-age novel plunders the author's own heartbreaking and hilarious teenage years in Nebraska. Fans of Matthew Norman and Jonathan Tropper will enjoy this immersive and heart-opening novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)