Lawn Boys (Taboo Treat)

Product Information

Asbury, Nicole (November 23, 2021). "Fairfax schools will return two books to shelves after complaints over sexual content". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021 . Retrieved November 23, 2021. Lawn Boy was a book club book for October and I was uncertain how much I would like this. It was better then what I was expecting! I work at a staffing agency where we primarily work in the light industrial space. Through this, we encounter people from all walks of life and I have grown to respect the people I refer to as "my people". Here's an excerpt that really resonated with me:

I was a bit bothered by so many chapters ending with an "if I'd known then what I know now" kind of statement, but that's the only complaint of any sort I can think of, and a pretty harmless one, at that. In November 2021, Fairfax County Public Schools decided to return the two books to its high school libraries following a committee review. [11] Additional ALA Awards 2019". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021 . Retrieved September 29, 2021. Overall, this is a discussion piece. I think the parents should read this BEFORE their children. Be prepared to answer questions and also lead conversations. I think this is not an easy book to be on the sidelines with. You will either hate it or love it. BUT, here I am...giving it THREE stars. Well, for me, I judge a book on the enjoyment level of my reading experience, not just how technically it is written. I cringed a lot while reading this book. I was frustrated for the protagonist. I wished that there were people in his life that could give him the tools to overcome his situation (in the right way)...there are always people in our lives that find short cuts and ways to skip the line...that eventually lead to ultimate destruction.So many things I enjoyed! It was sweet yet sometimes sad and then sweet. Mike is a guy just trying to find his way in the world. He is 23, still living at home with his not-so-present mother, his older and highly autistic brother and early on, a guy name Freddy randomly is allowed to live in their shed. He has an interesting mish-mash of friends who are good but not the best. And he loves to do lawn work! I mean really has a passion for it - mowing and edging straight lines and he particularly loves working with bushes and shrubs - particularly if he is allowed to utilize his gift of creating amazing topiaries. My Grandmother is the kind of person who always thinks that no matter how bad things might seem, everything will always come out all right. Her hair could be on fire and she’d probably say, “Well, at least we have light to read by.” I watched the movie Freedom Writers on a plane one time...and it seemed ODD to me, to hear these ghetto kids saying fudge and sugar to their friends and teacher. It made no sense. He wasn’t all terrible; almost nobody is, deep down, once you strip away all the terror and trauma and neurosis and bad conditioning.” As for me? One-dimensional characters and a story that ties up with a pretty red bow – or in this case a pretty green topiary – was a far cry from the Evison I fell in love with.

We see early on in the story, that he has a tough home life. Single alcoholic parent. Has gone through many husbands/boyfriends. Money was always tight. Two kids and his best friend (who is annoying) who practically lives with them (bc of his own home life not being perfect). I desperately wanted this to be a 5-star read as the book has for several years been among the most often challenged/banned books in the country, but alas I found it awkward, overly sentimental, filled with contrived characters, and more intent on making points than on telling any naturally developing story. I don't generally read YA, and the only other Evison book I have read earned a 1-star review from me (I did not realize it was the same author until well into this book or I might not have read it.) I am the wrong reader for this. All that said, Evison clearly set out to make points regarding sexuality and gender, toxic, masculinity, economic disparity, disability, race, and the erosion of decency, and he makes them. I always consider in reviewing a book whether it appears the author accomplished what he was trying to accomplish, and Evison did that. That got me to a 2.5. In December 2021 Wake County (N.C.) Public Libraries responded to a patron complaint about Lawn Boy and Gender Queer. They let Lawn Boy remain on shelves but removed Gender Queer. [12] So, yes...there is a LOT of curse words. My wife and I do not curse (cuss) in general. Every once in a while...one slips through, but for the most part...we do not. BUT, I have read many books with these words in them...and whether we like it or not, they are in our society and they are used prolifically in certain parts of our society. Mike enjoys reading, has great passion for tree sculpting and landscaping, loves his family and is persistent… and despite his faults, you will love him too! A heartwarming story with many colorful characters – fun and entertaining, while at the same time bringing to light how ethnicity, education, money and perception all play a role in success. I highly recommend it!

The material, on the whole, "does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value." [17] Perkins, Christine. "Lawn Boy". Library Journal. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021 . Retrieved September 28, 2021. a b c d Natanson, Hannah (September 28, 2021). "Fairfax school system pulls two books from libraries after complaints over sexual content". Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021 . Retrieved September 29, 2021. Later in the month, on a meeting of the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, two other speakers, spurred by the Texas challenge, denounced Evison's book, alongside Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer: A Memoir, "for sexually explicit language, scenes and imagery including what one speaker called 'homoerotic' content." A third speaker also "seemed to critique the books for their LGBTQ story lines and themes." [9] In response, officials said the books would be removed from libraries and two committees would be created to assess if the books are appropriate for high school students. According to a Fairfax board member, several members of the board "have received messages promising physical violence or even death over their perceived support of the books." [9]

Ellis, Danika (September 16, 2021). "Instead of School Board, Leander Police Investigate Book Challenge". Book Riot. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021 . Retrieved September 28, 2021. His mother works fifty-five hours a week to support herself, Mike and Mike’s older brother Nate. Mike’s father left when Mike was 11-years-old. Nate has ‘issues’ with mental impairment and Mike has often been his caregiver while his mother worked. Their family is poor, despite being hard-working. One of the things that immediately endears you to Mike is that he truly enjoys being a landscaper — he has a real talent for topiary. He takes pride in a profession society sort of deems a job for folks on the lower-tier. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have big dreams — for instance, he plans to write the Great American Landscaping Novel. If you need another reason to like Mike: He's also an avid reader, getting recommendations from his new friend Andrew, a librarian at his local branch. (Andrew steers him clear of "MFA fiction" — Evison, a proud graduate of the "school of life," delights in pointing out how "MFA fiction" is overwrought and boring.) The book received a starred review by the Library Journal, which stated "Evison combines humor, honesty, and anger with an insightful commentary on class that's also an effective coming-of-age novel." [3] Writing for the School Library Journal, Mark Flowers called it a "readable and deeply thought-provoking" novel, and noted some of the themes explored in the book, such as "race, sexual identity, and the crushing weight of American capitalism." Flowers also commented on how "Evison's often infective enthusiasm for his preponderance of ideas weighs down the demands of the plot." [4] Story flowed well. Was sort of fun to read. But if you inspect the underlying themes it has nothing to offer and is probably an actual detriment. Follow the action (instead of the preaching) then this book says gambling makes you rich and violence solves problems.

Memmott, Carol (April 10, 2018). "Review | This lawn boy asks, 'Where's my part of the American Dream?' ". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022 . Retrieved September 28, 2021. The material "is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion" [17]

He loses jobs, gets jobs, loses them again and along the way meets others who SORT OF become mentors to him - good mentors or not...he is not really sure. Again, he's just trying to figure tout the world. Why do some people have money and he can't get ahead? Flowers, Mark. "Lawn Boy". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021 . Retrieved September 28, 2021.

We have an extensive spare parts department and if we do not have the part, we can get it fast as we are main dealers for most leading brands. Our showroom has a wide range of machinery such as lawnmowers, ride-on tractors, chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, shredders, hedge-trimmers, log splitters, scarifiers and accessories. A short book that took a while to catch me. The writing felt raw and the story quite linear. But it was Mike Muñoz realistic life that kept me reading. Multiple opportunities came by for the author to let Mike take a happier path. Just keep reading though. Wow. Fantastic through and through. This is the kind of book that makes me want to hug it to my chest in glee. It's gloriously honest, there's a clear respect for human beings and their flaws, and there is no elitism.