The Jeeptown Sock Hop eBook John Harrigan
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Jeeptown is the story of four teens who seek to bridge the racial and class gaps that splinter their gritty 1950s industrial town. It is narrated by altar boy Charlie, who lives in a sea of chaos marked by an alcoholic father, a brother at war in Korea, a town fractured by a violent strike at his father's workplace, and a trusted adult who sexually abuses him. In this sea of chaos, his one island of tenderness is a black gospel singer, Clarice, with whom he develops a deep attachment. After they are spotted sharing a kiss, Charlie gets punched out by one of her other admirers and she gets a beating from her father. To create a reason for being together, they start a dance band and organize a Sock Hop that will bring the town together.
Can they pull it off?
“Spellbinding,” said KMSU radio host Karen Wright.
The Jeeptown Sock Hop eBook John Harrigan
Had this book been available when I was an educator in junior and senior high schools, I would have strongly recommended it as an essential part of the curriculum in social studies classes. It is a sensitive study of youth growing up in a small town and their struggle to understand who they are, what they themselves want to become as they deal with the complexities of race relations in the 1950's. This book can be presented as a study of victimization of youthful innocence. It is a "can't put the book down," engrossing, powerful story of adolescents finding their own way through a tough world where adults fail them. Teachers will find this book promotes reading, thinking and discussion of gut level issues important to their students.Helene Turnbull, author,
A WWII Odyssey, The Lipskis of Lodz
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The Jeeptown Sock Hop eBook John Harrigan Reviews
In his first novel, The Patron Saint of Desperate Situations," John Harrigan gives us a compelling story of murder and mayhem (and some romance), while treating us to a plot that moves along at breakneck speed. In "Jeeptown Sock Hop," Novel No. 2, Harrigan switches gears and gives us a teenage coming of age story, with lots more tenderness, nostalgia, and feel-good emotional responses. This is not to say Jeeptown isn't as well written--it is. This shift, though, caught me by surprise, a surprise that quickly developed into satisfaction, perhaps understanding.
Harrigan's move to a different time zone also proved interesting....and inceptive. "Back to the `50s" he goes--and handles this time shift very well, indeed. As one who can certainly remember the 50s, as a kid, I felt he captured the time quite effectively, not hesitating to touch on various socially significant issues, racial class barriers not being the least. Teenage angst? It's there? Generational "differences"? It's there. Coming of age threads? Yes, it's there. It seems the whole gamut of that time and place is there.
We meet Charlie, James, Clarice--certainly characters who hold their own, all pedaling themselves (and the storyline) all over town on their bikes and into our thoughts. Harrigan's knack for good character studies is, indeed, a plus. And combined with his skill at holding this story together--the author's clearly in control--The Jeeptown Sock Hop is a dance through a period of time that is memorable, if you can remember that time; if not, it's a good--and I thought--accurate picture of those significant years, significant for kids growing up and acutely significant for America, an America that was thrashing about for its own answers, as well. This was an enjoyable (and good read) and I don't even have to stress the emotional feelings he sends us. Good book!
Living in State College, Pennsylvania for the last thirty years, I believe that sexual predation of children is a very serious, hidden problem here and all over this country. Harrigan's book shows us that it is nothing new. The book is a richly-detailed account of life in working class Ohio in the 1940's and 1950's. This finely crafted novel illustrates the insidious nature of sexual predators and the intense shame of the victims. For these troubled times, this novel is a must-read!
I recently read "The Jeeptow Sock Hop" by John Harrigan.
I absolutely loved the book. The characters were believable, and I really cared what happened to them. The plot held my interest and I could hardly put the book down.
The story was set during the same time period as my child hood and I could relate to the description of society. My father was a barber so the portrayal of working class life brought back many memories.
I thought the description of racial and ethnic tensions was especially compelling. As a child, I remember hearing the racial and ethnic slurs that appeared in the story.I thought the author did a good job of showing that both black people and white people had incorrect suspicious beliefs about each other.
I also thought the descrption of sexual abuse was very believable.I was a social worker for many years and often worked with sexual abuse victims. The behavior of the abuser and change in the victim was so similar to the real situations I dealt with.
Finally I thought "The Jeeptown Sock Hop" was a story of hope as evidenced by the fact that desparite groups black, white, Jewish and lame did form a band.
I hope that John Harrigan writes another book.
Had this book been available when I was an educator in junior and senior high schools, I would have strongly recommended it as an essential part of the curriculum in social studies classes. It is a sensitive study of youth growing up in a small town and their struggle to understand who they are, what they themselves want to become as they deal with the complexities of race relations in the 1950's. This book can be presented as a study of victimization of youthful innocence. It is a "can't put the book down," engrossing, powerful story of adolescents finding their own way through a tough world where adults fail them. Teachers will find this book promotes reading, thinking and discussion of gut level issues important to their students.
Helene Turnbull, author,
A WWII Odyssey, The Lipskis of Lodz
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