Customer Reviews

Born to Rock

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gordon Korman, the author of over fifty young adult novels, has written the story of Young Republican Leo Caraway, a high school senior destined for the Ivy League until a battle with a school administrator endangers his scholarship. Leo has none for years that his Dad is not his biological father, but a man named Marion McMurphy. In his senior year, Leo uncovers just who Marion X. McMurphy is--the infamous drug-addled, property-destroying lead single of pioneering punk rock band Purge. Dad McMurphy goes by the pseudonym King Maggot, and his antic have been ingrained in the nation's psyche for the last two decades.

With his scholarship withdrawn, Leo sees no option but to abandon his Young Republican ideals and seek out punk rock King Maggot for the tuition dollars. The novel centers on Leo's summer with "bio-Dad," on the tour with Leo working as a newbie roadie.

Korman's novel is a beach read, pure and simple. It's a fun, lighthearted read, and the end is the stuff of Cinderella. This isn't award-winning fiction, and any older teen reader could poke a few holes in the plot. The action is clearly aimed toward a middle school audience, despite the fact that the main character is a senior in high school. In this story, grownups did drugs back in the big, bad mid-eighties, but out high school heroes have no interest in breaking the law. We even have a token gay friend to round the character list out. Have fun reading this short and sweet novel!

I thought this book was great. Overall Gordon Korman is a wonderful author and knows how to add humor to his writing. The concept of Leo being a Harvard scholarship student and having a biological father who is the leader of the "Angriest Band in America" caught my attention. The relationship Leo made with the members of the band and the truth about who is real father was, was a key part of the book. My favortie character was Leo because he was the one who endured all of this chaos on the Concussed Tour with the band. In addition, he made a relationship with a girl he thought would always be his friend, and realized that the boy who ruined his Harvard scholarship wasn't such a bad guy. All students over the age of 11, READ THIS BOOK! Trust me, you'll enjoy it.

One good deed changes Leo's life forever.

When his best friend asks him to tutor her friend, Owen, in math, he can't turn her down. He discovers that Owen can relate his math issues to pinballs and understand. So, during a test, Leo sees Own panicking and whispers "pinballs."

In that moment, he's accused of cheating.

There goes his scholarship to Harvard, the one he's been counting on, since his family doesn't have enough money for college. Then comes another curveball--Leo finds out the identity of his biological father, the man who's currently making a come back: the King of Purge, the leader of the most popular punk band ever.

Leo meets his father and joins the reunion tour for the summer working as a stage hand. Can he bond with his father, survive the mess he's made of his life, and figure out where to go from here?

BORN TO ROCK focuses around music, standing up against bullies, and finding your strengths. I recommend this one to music lovers or anyone fighting the system.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

I thought this book was great. Overall Gordon Korman is a wonderful author and knows how to add humor to his writing. The concept of Leo being a Harvard scholarship student and having a biological father who is the leader of the "Angriest Band in America" caught my attention. The relationship Leo made with the members of the band and the truth about who is real father was, was a key part of the book. My favortie character was Leo because he was the one who endured all of this chaos on the Concussed Tour with the band. In addition, he made a relationship with a girl he thought would always be his friend, and realized that the boy who ruined his Harvard scholarship wasn't such a bad guy. All students over the age of 11, READ THIS BOOK! Trust me, you'll enjoy it.

This book was a huge let-down compared to the books Korman wrote in the past, such as The Twinkie Squad. I bought the audio book, and I didn't even make it through the first CD.
The book begins with the main character letting us know he had to have some kind of [...] exam, and that is supposed to pique our interest so that we'll read the rest of the book to find out why.
The plot, if there was one, dragged, and I gave up.
For those of you to whom this is important, Korman gives the impression of being liberal with regard to homosexuality.

Gr 7-10-Leo Caraway is a strait A student, president of the Young Republicans group, and is the biological son of a Punk Rock Star. He didn't know who his bio dad was until be stumbled upon a website that talked about Marion X. McMurphy who's name is listed on his birth certificate. When he is accused of cheating on a test, he loses his scholarship to Harvard. He then decides to try to meet his punk rock dad , aka King Maggot so that he can get closer to him to try to get him to pay for his college tuition. I thought this book was very interesting because it talks about punk rock and has a very good storyline. I would recommend this book to any rocker looking for a good story about punk rock or the difficulty of teenage life and being a roadie. I would recommend this book to the age group of 13 to 18 years. I thought it was the best book I ever read E V E R!!!

"I'd always blamed my McMurphy DNA for every weird urge and character flaw, but that was just neurotic. Never did I seriously believe that I'd turn out to be so spectacularly right! I mean, a dad in the entertainment industry would have been kind of cool, but this was more like terrorism than show business. The blood of a notorious lowlife flowed through my veins. I was Prince Maggot." Leo Caraway makes this statement in the book Born to Rock by Gordan Korman when he realizes that his true biological father is not who he thought he was. As he finds out it is really front-man of the famous punk-rock band Purge, Marion X. McMurphy. A.K.A. King Maggot.

Leo Caraway is a bright, 18 year-old, and president of the Young Republicans. Leo's life is going great for him. He is about to graduate high school and has a scholarship to Harvard. However, while taking a test he is accused of cheating and has his scholarship taken away. His family can't afford tuition and Leo can only think of one person to turn to. King Maggot. The only problem is, King doesn't know who Leo is. Leo is troubled when he is trying to figure out how he will come in contact with King Maggot so he throws a note to him during a press conference. But doesn't know if he will respond.

Born to Rock is an excellent story of a young boy trying to connect with his true father and makes you wonder, "what will happen next?" This book is way too exciting to put down. I loved reading about Leo's many adventures and problems while touring with the band Purge like losing a poodle in a nightclub and dealing with his grumpy roommate, Cam, all while discovering the true identity behind King Maggot and waiting for the DNA tests results to come back.

"I'd always blamed my McMurphy DNA for every weird urge and character flaw, but that was just neurotic. Never did I seriously believe that I'd turn out to be so spectacularly right! I mean, a dad in the entertainment industry would have been kind of cool, but this was more like terrorism than show business. The blood of a notorious lowlife flowed through my veins. I was Prince Maggot." Leo Caraway makes this statement in the book Born to Rock by Gordan Korman when he realizes that his true biological father is not who he thought he was. As he finds out it is really front-man of the famous punk-rock band Purge, Marion X. McMurphy. A.K.A. King Maggot.

Leo Caraway is a bright, 18 year-old, and president of the Young Republicans. Leo's life is going great for him. He is about to graduate high school and has a scholarship to Harvard. However, while taking a test he is accused of cheating and has his scholarship taken away. His family can't afford tuition and Leo can only think of one person to turn to. King Maggot. The only problem is, King doesn't know who Leo is.

Born to Rock is an excellent story of a young boy trying to connect with his true father and makes you wonder, "what will happen next?" This book is way too exciting to put down. I loved reading about Leo's many adventures and problems while touring with the band Purge and discovering the true identity behind King Maggot and the rest of Purge.

This is the kind of book that I'd like to do with my class. Funny...and about things that interest teens. It hooked me on page 1. When is the movie coming out?

This book made me laugh; it was great! Poor Leo's confusion, denial, and acceptance over his parentage was well-written and believable. The real eye-opener is when Leo "finds out" who his dad is. The poor boy is in shock.

Read the book to find out the rest.

I'd give this book 9 and 1/2 stars and would recommend this book to anyone.