Jimi & Me (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Everywhere I look, I trip over them, and land on more..." (more)
Key Phrases: Little Cool, Keith James, Diet Coke (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–Rendered penniless by the murder of his wealthy, record-producing father, 13-year-old biracial Keith and his mom are forced out of their fancy Brooklyn apartment to live with his father's sister in small-town Hollow Falls, OH. Once there, Keith enrolls in school where by day he fights off bullies and befriends Veronica, a popular and gorgeous blond who soon works her way into his affections. By night, he funnels his grief and frustrations into the Jimi Hendrix songs he plays on his guitar. But Keith's grief morphs into rage when his mom discovers that his father had another woman on the side and a son named Jimi, and he vows to track them down and make them pay. Written in line breaks with Hendrix's lyrics interspersed throughout, Adoff's novel features unique characterizations–especially Keith–whose mixed heritage and bright paisley '60s attire sets him apart from the other teens in his school and from many other characters in YA literature. However, the plot, although easy to follow, tends to drag, and the overly moralized conclusion seems too preemptive to be realistic. Teen readers will respect Keith for his individuality and drive to save himself and his mother from poverty, but will be rolling their eyes by the novel's forced finale.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. This verse novel carries Keith, a 13-year-old biracial boy, through the tumultuous first six months after his father's death. His dad, a music producer who called him "Little Cool" and shared his love for Jimi Hendrix's music, is shot to death in Brooklyn. Their money seems to be gone, so he and his mom move to Ohio to live with his aunt. Keith copes with a small town, a racist bully, and panic attacks, but he also meets a shy, beautiful blonde and plays his guitar fiercely. He uncovers the truth of his father's money losses, and he finds another Jimi who was in his father's life, so the title has a double meaning. The denouement, which takes place in Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, is melodramatic but effective. In language occasionally wry and often funny, Adoff captures the self-pity and self-centeredness of an eighth-grade boy as well as his very real pain and doubt. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (August 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786852143
• ISBN-13: 978-0786852147
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,145,880 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding Jimi, February 13, 2006

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

After a tragic event, Keith James suddenly finds that his life is turned upside down. His father, known by most people as MAJ, was murdered and now Keith is having to not only deal with the grief and loss, but also with all of the changes in his life. Despite his father's relatively successful career in the music industry, they were left with nothing but a lot of bills. Keith's mother, unable to maintain the household financially, sells off most of her husbands music equipment and other valuables and she and Keith move from New York City to live with Keith's aunt in a small town in Ohio. The move is unsettling for Keith, even more so when school starts and he doesn't exactly fit in. He is bi-racial, a musician -- he plays the guitar, a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix, and dresses a bit unconventionally -- at least on small town Ohio terms. For these reasons, he feels a bit alienated and doesn't even attempt to make friends. In spite of this, he befriends and develops a bit of a crush on a "super-fine girl with long blonde hair" named Veronica. Financial issues and grief are two things no one in Keith's home want to discuss, however, they are two things that cannot be ignored and cause a great deal of stress and unspoken tension. This intensifies when MAJ's deepest secrets are revealed, and rock Keith to the very core. With only one friend to rely on, Keith must make a journey that will help him discover the truth, and ultimately come to terms with his father's death.

JIMI AND ME is a fantastic read. Jaime Adoff has an uncanny ability to capture the thoughts, feelings and melodrama of early teens and put them into his characters. I felt as if Keith was someone I could have went to school with, and I am certain that young adult readers, especially boys will be able to relate to him. Adoff has a unique writing style that is a blend of poetry and prose. He tells a profound story, with such an economy for words, that you can't help but appreciate his ability as a writer. JIMI AND ME is poignant and at times humorous, but at its core it is a truthful account about growing beyond pain and hurt.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jimi & Me , April 11, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jimi & Me (Paperback)

Jimi and Me is about a young boy Keith, who through the magic music of Jimi Hendrix, overcomes the challenges,lies,struggles, and secrets of his family. Keith's family changes in many ways throughout the book, and he holds on through the love of music that both he and his father have.

The format of the book is interesting, written as if in song lyrics. Because of this, it can sometimes be hard to understand exactly where, when, or who is in the scene. This makes it hard to choose a specific scene that was my favorite, but the whole book because of the format, keeps you reading, and it is enjoyable.

I definetly recommend this book. It is a quick read, and pages are very short, due to the "songs" they are written in. The more you read into the book, the more Jimi Hendrix lyrics you will find. A great choice for any Hendrix fan. The story of Keith can easily be linked to many other people's personal stories as well, so all around, this is a great book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Legend, a Hippie, and a Long Lost Brother, October 19, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jimi & Me (Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Author (Awards)) (Hardcover)

Keith's family is full of secrets. Jimi & Me is the story of Keith, a biracial hippie who's life has been flipped upside down. His father was murdered and he must turn to Jimi Hendrix for hope, but there's another Jimi in his life. Keith finds out he has an older half brother who "stole" his name. This is a story full of surprises, bullying, love, and "face meltin' guitar solos."

My favorite component of this book was the style that it was written in. It was poetically composed and fun to read. The author used a lot of figurative language to shake up the vocabulary. Keith's hippie style also showed in the text because it was very laid back for most of the story. The style made this book exciting to read because it wasn't like most novels.

Keith made a extraordinary main character. He seemed unlike a lot of characters in stories like this. Most characters seem to either have horrible or perfect lives but Keith's life was like a roller coaster, it had good moments and bad moments that worked themselves out in time. If I was an author, I would want to write about a character like Keith.

The problems that Keith faced in this book can relate to almost anyone. Many families all over the world face finical difficulties, and Keith's was no exception. He also had to deal with heart ache and bullies, just like every other teenager. Keith seemed like someone I could just sit down with and have a long talk with about life; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I would recommend Jimi & Me to anyone that likes to read about real life problems. If you want to read about wizards, knights, or aliens then this isn't you're book. Jaime Adoff did an outstanding job and he deserves every award that he received for this book.

R. Martin