Punkzilla

Adam Rapp’s (2009) novel Punkzilla is the story of a boy, Jamie, who goes AWOL from military school to reconnect with his older brother. Jamie travels across the United States and meets many unique and enlightening characters on his journey. This novel depicts how one can make the best out of the worst situations. It also shows its reader that people may make bad
decisions, but they can grow and change because of those decisions. Through the characters Jamie meets, the reader can see the positive and negative consequences of their decisions, and of Jamie’s. Rapp allows the reader to come to his or her own conclusions and never passes judgment on a character. Some of Jamie’s acquaintances help him, some hurt him, but they all
help him learn about himself and grow up in this coming-of-age tale. Through the stories of the characters and Jamie himself, many teenagers can relate to the decisions made in this novel, and maybe change the course of their own lives.