Lawn Boys (Taboo Treat)

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Lawn Boy is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel written by Jonathan Evison and published in 2018 by Algonquin Books. It tells the story of Mike Muñoz, a young adult Mexican American who has faced hardship ever since his childhood and is now going through a phase of self-discovery. 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 2022, Lawn Boy was listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, “Sensitive Materials In Schools." [14] Forty-two percent of removed books “feature LBGTQ+ characters and or themes.” [15] [16] Many of the books were removed because they were considered to contain pornographic material according to the new law, which defines pornography using the following criteria: Academic financial principles make relevant chapter titles for Lawn Boy, a story that's typical of Gary Paulsen in the later years of his career. His novels very generally fit into two categories: contemplative studies of life, often set in nature ( Dogsong, Hatchet, The Island) and zany comedies that test the limits of believability ( Masters of Disaster, Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day, Mudshark), and Lawn Boy belongs to the latter category. Madcap moneymaking antics are the name of the game when a twelve-year-old kid's summer job mowing lawns blooms into a small-town conglomerate with the potential to lift the boy and his family out of financial mediocrity and into affluence. It's not the sort of summer most kids seriously plan on, but who wouldn't jump at that opportunity? 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). Lawn Boy has regularly been the target of controversy and censorship in the United States. In 2022, the American Library Association reported it was the seventh-most-banned and challenged book in the country due to its inclusion of LGBT+ content and being considered sexually explicit. [6] Another quote that I loved was when one of his somewhat of a mentor / teachers is explaining to him about Walmart and is comparing COST to VALUE. He is talking about the local independent merchant and yes, the COST is more, but look at the value of the local small business owner:Some of the passages in the book were considered to be depictions of pedophilia by the parents who spoke at the meetings in both Texas and Virginia. [8] Evison, responding to the allegations, explained that the scene in the book "involves an adult man recalling a sexual encounter he had with another fourth-grader when he was in fourth grade." [9] Evison said that after news began spreading about the challenge at the Texas school district, he started to receive death threats. [9] [10] The difference between the haves and have nots, the privileged and not, is never more in stark contrast than Evison sets them in this novel. If you're a Mike Munoz — born without a silver spoon and unwilling to compromise your morals — is the willingness to work hard really enough to make 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] 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. 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.)

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. 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. 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. There’s also an examination of work and a person’s motivation behind what they do for money. In the beginning, Mike is desperate for a job and money. By the end, he ends up turning down "opportunities" for work as he challenges the idea that he has to do work that other people think is worthwhile. He loves landscaping and topiary, he owns it, and that is ultimately what he goes after.

Cho, Aimee (September 24, 2021). "Fairfax County Mother Complains of Sexual Books in Public School Library". NBC News4 Washington. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021 . Retrieved September 29, 2021. Flowers, Mark. "Lawn Boy". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021 . Retrieved September 28, 2021.

If you read this book, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it. I wouldn't have minded my kids reading it in school, though I and my wife would have read it BEFORE hand. We were very involved in what they read. Never banning books, but we did postpone books that we felt were not age appropriate. I reread (re-listen audio) per seeing it as #2 on the 'Most Challenged' top 10 books in the new 2023 Almanac. I was glad for this ending, as Mike has a good heart. Yea, there are some 'penis' references here that get books like this on banned lists, but that is not the crux of this story. Surely you want Mike in your community. Lawn Boy Farm Services has been a family run business providing expert service to Downham Market, most of Norfolk and surrounding counties since 1969. We are suppliers of garden machinery from top manufacturers including Ariens, Arbortec, Briggs & Stratton, Cub Cadet, Hayter, Honda, Husqvarna, Stihl, Tanaka, & Toro. We believe that our children have become better citizens because they learned to find their way through books, and now are approaching their lives in the same way. We continue to have "good" discussions with them...even to this very day. 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.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. Another thing I loved? The book doesn’t pretend that people don’t have flaws, but those imperfections are obviously only one small part of a complex human being who has other qualities. Mike’s mom smokes a lot, but she works 50+ hour weeks to support her kids. His best friend says bigoted shit but begs his smug boss to give Mike a job. His mom’s boyfriend lets his junk hang out but is really good with his special needs brother. Mike’s boyfriend has big metal braces and his efforts at activism sometimes go really wrong but he tries really hard to live the best life he can. The imperfections are there more as part of a complete portrait than anything else, and I love how forgiving Mike and the book are in this regard.