Age range 9 to 12
'...a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like a misfit and found solace in books and music.' —Jennifer Whiteford, author of Grrrl
With a partially-shaved head, purple Doc Marten boots, and the sinking realisation that no one in a fifty-mile radius has ever heard of her favourite all-female punk band Lite Brite, 13-year-old Sydney Vicious Talcott wants to be anywhere but her new home of Beaver Dam, NC, especially when mean girl Brittany Winters treats her like the punch-line to every joke. But just as life begins to seem more tolerable with her two new book-nerd friends and a growing appreciation for the beauty of the Appalachian mountains, Sydney discovers that a shady corporation is planning to build an environmentally-damaging asphalt plant right next to the school. Her attempts to work through the system to stop the plant’s construction fail, so it’s up to Sydney to fight the corporation and their political lackeys the only way she can, using the do-it-yourself tools she has learned from punk rock. But before she can triumph, Sydney, her family, and friends must endure bullying, harassment, immigration raids, and more.
Show moreAge range 9 to 12
'...a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like a misfit and found solace in books and music.' —Jennifer Whiteford, author of Grrrl
With a partially-shaved head, purple Doc Marten boots, and the sinking realisation that no one in a fifty-mile radius has ever heard of her favourite all-female punk band Lite Brite, 13-year-old Sydney Vicious Talcott wants to be anywhere but her new home of Beaver Dam, NC, especially when mean girl Brittany Winters treats her like the punch-line to every joke. But just as life begins to seem more tolerable with her two new book-nerd friends and a growing appreciation for the beauty of the Appalachian mountains, Sydney discovers that a shady corporation is planning to build an environmentally-damaging asphalt plant right next to the school. Her attempts to work through the system to stop the plant’s construction fail, so it’s up to Sydney to fight the corporation and their political lackeys the only way she can, using the do-it-yourself tools she has learned from punk rock. But before she can triumph, Sydney, her family, and friends must endure bullying, harassment, immigration raids, and more.
Show moreKevin Dunn plays in several bands, runs a small record label, publishes zines, and writes for Razorcake magazine. He also works at a small liberal arts college, where he teaches and publishes on a range of topics from African politics to international relations to global punk. He and his family split their time between Western New York state and Western North Carolina. Vicious is My Middle Name is his first novel.
"Sydney makes for a terrific and inspiring protagonist, confident
in many aspects but also open to expanding her worldview along the
way, and music fans and budding activists will find much to learn
and love here. A rousing affirmation of both personal and community
power." --Booklist
"...Sydney's distinct, often humorous first-person voice
(interspersed with inspirational art and letters from Lite Brite's
lead singer) and her celebration of inclusive resistance make this
a socially conscious read from Dunn." --Publishers Weekly
"Vicious is My Middle Name is a compulsively readable novel with
vivid storytelling and so much heart. It is impossible not to root
for Sydney, even as she reveals her flaws and struggles to grow and
become a better person. This is a powerful story about learning to
be yourself and coping with change. It is a must-read for anyone
who has ever felt like a misfit and found solace in books and
music." --Jennifer Whiteford, author of Grrrl
"In Vicious is My Middle Name, Sydney 'Vicious' Talcott is a girl
to be reckoned with. When she moves from Rochester, NY to Beaver
Dam, NC, she realizes the full meaning of Grrl Power as she takes
on the company H.D. Dunkirk and the powers that be when they
attempt to construct an asphalt plant close to her school. In her
punk rock way, Sydney proves her fierce individual freedom in
keeping true to herself and the 'big picture of life.' Kevin Dunn
writes in beautiful, hard, measured prose that stays with us long
after the last page." --Mary Sullivan, author of High and Dear Blue
Sky
"Sydney is funny, fierce, and fearless. She channels a punk rock
attitude and do-it-yourself work ethic not only to cope with the
daily horrors of middle school, but also to fight to save her
community from the dangers of an asphalt plant. Sydney is a hero
and a role model for all young people today, taking a stand and
hoping to change the world. She definitely would not be holding
anyone's coat." --Nancy Barile, author of I'm Not Holding Your
Coat
"Sydney is only a middle school student but she teaches her whole
town a valuable lesson in the power of friendship, DIY, and
tenacity. This book reminds us that punk is more than just good
music and that one great show can change everything." --Alice Bag,
lead singer of The Bags and author of Violence Girl
"Sydney Vicious Talcott's life is disrupted when her mom moves them
from Rochester, New York to the small town of Beaver Dam, North
Carolina. Readers will root for her as she encounters a bully, an
unsympathetic teacher and an environmentally hazardous project
backed by powerful and threatening community leaders. Her love of
music and determination to take a stand and make a difference
propels the reader through this timely story. Vicious is My Middle
Name is written with skill and a perfect sense of timing, placement
and character." --Roxanne Doty, author of Out Stealing Water
"When a punk grrrl relocates from New York to rural North Carolina,
she misses her friends, her music, and more. And then there are the
mean girls [kids] to survive. The school power structure is also
reflected in the town, however, and battle lines drawn on the first
page will widen to put others at risk. But Sydney Vicious Talcott
will find allies in unexpected places, a mission bigger than her
problems, and will come to see that mountain folk have a punk
attitude all their own! An energetic and absorbing read." --Valerie
Nieman, author of To the Bones
"Kevin Dunn is a firm believer in the power of youth, and
individuals banding together to improve their community. Vicious Is
My Middle Name combines these two tenets in an accessible yet
fierce paean to punk rock and the way that seemingly small actions
can resonate far beyond intention." --Michael T. Fournier, author
of Swing State
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