A Lonely Note - Softcover

Stevens, Kevin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1910411310 ISBN 13: 9781910411315

Publisher: Little Island Books, 2017

Synopsis

An black Iraq war veteran and an Iraqi-American Muslim teenager form an unlikely friendship through their shared love of John Coltrane. A supreme coming-of-age story of friendship, forgiveness ― and jazz.

Tariq is is a young Iraqi-American Muslim man, beset by danger on the streets and conflict at home. Music is his only consolation. When he forms a friendship with the volatile but intriguing record-store owner and Iraq war veteran, Jamal, Tariq discovers the world of jazz ― and the man he could become.

Jamal is exciting, eloquent, and troubled. He suffers from PTSD, is always on edge. Tariq wants to learn from Jamal's knowledge of music, but can he afford to get close to this volatile veteran?

About this title

About the Author

Kevin Stevens the author of several adult novels and one YA novel. His first book for young children was The Powers. Kevin also contributes regularly to The Irish Times and Dublin Review of Books. 

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

'Hey Freak – still on hunger strike?'

The question came from a cluster of kids at the entrance to the lunchroom. Though it wasn't really a question. Nasty laughter followed. Muttering. Tariq kept his head down. He walked up the foyer steps, past the trophy case, and underneath the flags of nation, state and school. He moved through the double doors beside the vice-principal's office. When they closed behind him it was like coming up for air after a long dive.

   He got his clarinet case from his locker and went back to the empty band room. He took a seat near the back and assembled his instrument. Pieced the joints and the bell together, carefully fitted the mouthpiece, moistened the reed and clamped it in place. He set up his music stand and played some scales. The routines soothed him, but the ugly nickame rang in his ears.

   He had recognised the voice. Brad Jorgensen. A muscular kid in faded jeans and a torn sweatshirt who lived on the west side. He had a tattoo of a lightning bolt on his neck. Gold earring, heavy stubble, a sneer on his full lips. In gym class on the first day back at school, two weeks ago, Mr Thiel had asked Tariq how to pronounce his name. Someone at the rear of the roll call ranks cried out, 'Rhymes with freak.' Since then Brad had whispered the word in passing, shouted it in the street. He seemed to enjoy its sound. Already it had stuck. And other names.Twice on his way home Tariq had been harassed by Brad's friends, who threw rocks at him from the vacant lot beside the Dairy Queen and called him 'raghead' and 'camel jockey'.

Edition details

• Publisher: Little Island Books
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1910411310
• ISBN 13: 9781910411315
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256