Junk (novel)

For the William S. Burroughs novel, also known as Junk, see Junkie.

Junk (released as Smack in America) is a 1996 novel by Melvin Burgess. The book is about the experiences of a group of teenagers who fall into heroin addiction and anarchism on the streets of Bristol, England. It is both critically and financially the best received of Melvin Burgess's books.

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Plot introduction

Tar loves Gemma, but Gemma doesn't want to be tied down--not to anyone or anything. Gemma wants to fly. But no one can fly forever. One day, somehow, finally, you have to come down. After the pair runaway, In Bristol they are offered shelter in a squat. They meet two heroin addicts and are themselves soon hooked, while Gemma is forced into prostitution to pay for the drug. The two decide to kick their heroin habit, but it doesn't work out as expected. They are soon just trying to hold on to their lives and grasp something real.

Characters in "Junk"

• David "Tar" Lawson – protagonist.
• Gemma Brogan – a rebellious 14-year-old, Tar's girlfriend who runs away with him.
• Skolly – tobacconist who takes a liking to Tar in Bristol.
• Richard – a slightly unusual anarchist who takes Tar in.
• Vonny – motherly figure who lives with Richard and Jerry.
• Jerry – stoner who tags along with Richard and Vonny.
• Lily – 16 year old junkie who takes a liking to Gemma.
• Rob – scruffy (much older) boyfriend of Lily.

The novel is told in the first person from various points of view; much of the narration is by Gemma and Tar, and takes place over the course of a few years in their lives. Tar, the subject of physical abuse at the hands of his father, is forced to run away from home. Joining him is his hedonistic girlfriend Gemma, who is the catalyst that leads this shy boy down his path of destruction, taking herself along as well. They 'elope' to Bristol, where they end up in a squat with mentors Richard and Vonny. When Gemma meets waifish druggie Lily she is fascinated by her and her exotic and dangerous life; soon she and Tar are living with Lily and a group of friends. The novel plots trajectory of their involvement with drugs: addiction, attempts to get sober, relapses, prostitution, and prisons. The entire crew of misfits try their best to survive and continue living by squatting.

Awards and nominations

The book won the 1996 Carnegie Medal. In 2007 it was selected by judges of the CILIP Carnegie Medal for children's literature as one of the ten most important children's novels of the past 70 years.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

This novel has been adapted for the theatre by Retallack, John and published by Methuen ISBN 0-413-73840-X

Also made into a TV drama for UK television in 1999.

It has also been revised as of 2003 with the new title of Smack.