Adios, Nirvana (Paperback)
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Description
Jonathan barely survives the death of his twin in this gritty novel with an unforgettable voice.
When you piss off a bridge into a snowstorm, it feels like you’re connecting with eternal things . . . But who? The Druids? Walt Whitman? No, I pay homage to one person only, my brother, my twin. In life. In death. Telemachus. Since the death of his brother, Jonathan’s been losing his grip on reality. Last year’s Best Young Poet is now Taft High School’s resident tortured artist, when he bothers to show up. But his English teacher, his principal, and his crew of friends won’t sit back and let him fail.About the Author
Conrad Wesselhoeft lives with his three children and a big, grinning poodle named Django, in West Seattle. "Much of Adios, Nirvana," he writes, "was inspired by my son, Kit, and his many friends, who tromp through my kitchen, jam on guitars, and leave behind a trail of laughter, crumbs, and ketchup stains."
Praise for Adios, Nirvana…
A 2011 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
"Wesselhoeft offers a psychologically complex debut that will intrigue heavy-metal aficionados and drama junkies alike. Peopled with the elderly and infirm, crazy parents, caring educators, and poignant teens trying desperately to overcome death's pull, it mixes real and fictional musicians and historical events to create a moving picture of struggling adolescents and the adults who reach out with helping hands. Adios, Nirvana targets an audience of YAs who rarely see themselves in print."—Booklist
"Homage to poetry, music, friendship, and youth, this brash, hip story should attract its share of skater dudes and guitar jammers."—School Library Journal
"Jonathan's narration is all about style, moving between clipped, one-line sentences and heavily imagistic rhapsodies influenced by his heroes Charles Bukowski and Walt Whitman, soaring often into descriptions of his music and the atmospheric West Seattle milieu that colors his sensibilities and returning frequently to Homeric allusion."—The Bulletin
"A wonderful blend of contemporary, historical, and literary fiction. [Wesselhoeft's] use of figurative language makes each page dance with images of raw realism....This is a poignant piece for older teens."—VOYA
