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More copies of this ISBNKing Dorkby Frank Portman
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Tom Henderson (a.k.a. King Dork, Chi-mo, Hender-fag, and Sheepie) is a typical American high school loser until he discovers the book, The Catcher in the Rye, that will change the world as he knows it. When Tom discovers his deceased father's copy of the Salinger classic, he finds himself in the middle of several interlocking conspiracies and at least half a dozen mysteries involving dead people, naked people, fake people, ESP, blood, a secret code, guitars, monks, witchcraft, the Bible, girls, the Crusades, a devil head, and rock and roll. And it all looks like it's just the tip of a very odd iceberg of clues that may very well unravel the puzzle of his father's death and — oddly — reveal the secret to attracting semihot girls.
Being in a band could possibly be the secret to the girl thing — but good luck finding a drummer who can count to four. Review:"Told from the perspective of Tom, a 'brainy, freaky, oddball kid who reads too much, [and is] so bright that his genius is sometimes mistaken for just being retarded,' this debut novel expresses a cynical view of high-school life and a teen's passion for rock music. Much of the story focuses on a seemingly endless string of humiliations and tortures dished out by Tom's teachers and sadistic 'psychotic normal' classmates. A more compelling and subtly drawn subplot details mysteries that Tom is trying to solve: Was his father's death a few years earlier really an accident? What is the meaning of the coded messages found in his father's copy of The Catcher in the Rye? (The key role of Salinger's novel is hinted at by this book's telltale vintage burgundy cover, on which 'King Dork' is written over Salinger's title.) When he's not playing Sherlock Holmes or dodging bullies (the types who 'try to trip you anonymously and knock you over as you go by in the hallway'), Tom daydreams about the band he plans to form with his only friend Sam. Budding rock musicians and students with a grudge against the public-high-school scene will most relate to Tom's narrative. If the protagonist's battle with peers and a tyrannical associate principal grows a little tedious at times, the author's biting humor and skillful connection of events will keep pages turning. Ages 14-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:"It's easy to lampoon high school, but to set in motion an intricate and engrossing plot...is a feat, and it's one Portman engineers with the gleeful flourish of a born storyteller.....[A] terrific novel... (Grade: A)" Entertainment Weekly
Review:"A biting and witty high-school satire [that] explores cross-generation mysteries and music....[A] story richly flavored with 1960s cult novels and 1970s rock-and-roll." Kirkus Reviews
Review:"Original, heartfelt, and sparkling with wit and intelligence....The plot unfolds at a leisurely pace...but Tom is so engaging that most readers won't mind....This dazzling novel will linger long in readers' memories." School Library Journal
Review:"King Dork is the best novel I've ever read about high school....I love this book as much as I hated high school, and that's some of the highest praise I can possibly give." Michael Schaub, BookSlut
Review:"This book is for you if you're in a band or wish you were, if you loved or hated Catcher in the Rye, if you like girls or are one, if you've ever spoken Francais or Franglais, or if your high school has or had a dumb mascot. Basically, if you are a human being with even a vague grasp of the English language, King Dork will rock your world." John Green, author of Looking for Alaska
Review:"Mr. Portman juggles the romantic sub-plot with enormous skill, and his dry sense of humor is a delight...That kind of wit is definitely too good to be wasted on adults of tender years..." Clive Davis, Washington Times
Review:"There is a lot to love about this book: King Dork is smart, funny, occasionally raunchy and refreshingly clear about what it's like to be a geeky guy in high school...Young-adult writing is difficult, but, on his first try, Portman nails it." San Francisco Chronicle
Review:"The magic of King Dork lies in its cutting satire and narrative voice. It smartly skewers just about every aspect of the educational system. For readers who have suffered through a pep rally, detention or English class, Portman's arrival is cause for regal glee..." Cleveland Plain Dealer
Review:"King Dork...will appeal only to...teens with an interest in...oral sex..." VOYA
Review:"King Dork is well and away the best YA book I've read this year and Frank Portman is definitely someone to watch out for. It's inventive and sexy, it's fun to read and provides endless food for thought — everything I want from a book." Melvin Burgess, author of Doing It and Smack
About the AuthorFrank Portman (a.k.a. Dr. Frank) is the singer/songwriter and guitarist of the popular San Francisco based punk band, The Mr. T. Experience (MTX). Formed in the mid-1980's, MTX has recorded over twenty albums and has an incredibly large fanbase. The author lives in Oakland, California.
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