I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone

Synopsis:

A raw, edgy, emotional novel about growing up punk and living to tell.

The Clash. Social Distortion. Dead Kennedys. Patti Smith. The Ramones.

Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?

Review:
I loved it. I didn't want to put this book down from the minute I received it in the mail. When I finally did pick it up to read it, I finished it in one day it was that enthralling. What first attracted me to this book was the cover...the brightness surrounding the title with the guitar picks and the mystery and punk vibe from the girl on the cover immediately caught my eye when I first saw the book online.

What I liked most about the book was the plot. It wasn't your usual YA plot with the sappy love interest and the girly thoughts about what to do with all the drama in her life. Yes, there was drama in Emily's life, more than what you average teenager is handed, but she seemed to figure out her own problems in time. I really loved the fact that there was so much feminist inspiration woven into the book. Stephanie Kuehnert also addressed some sensitive issues in this book and I really commend her for doing so because a lot of people will turn away from this book just because of said issues.

When the character of Johnny was introduced I immediately didn't like him, thinking back to Emily's mothers past and underlying reason for leaving Emily and her father. Another aspect of the book that I loved was the fact that there was not one, but two stories within the paperback binding of this book; Emily's and her mothers. Both stories were so similar but yet so different is was easy to keep up with them.

Overall, this was an fantastic book. It has definitely become one of my favorites and I am currently trying to get all of my friends to read it! Stephanie Kuehnert did an excellent job writing this book and getting the reader to live right along with Emily and actually feel her wide variety of emotions. Not only was the plot capturing, but it was fierce. It has feminism, attitude, drama, girls with guitars and drumsticks, amazing friendships, and above all, life lessons.