Smack Paperback – May 1, 1999

"Smack" begins with main characters Tar, real name David, and Gemma. They are 16 and 14. They escape abusive, toxic homes by running away and joining a squat. At first, everything is great Freedom from rules, freedom to be together, freedom to be. Then, they join another squat, whose inhabitants all use heroin. It hardly needs explaining what happens from there. It is a story of lives pulled under, and then blown up, by the power of addiction. However, it isn't just "isn't everything awful?". We are taken inside each character's mind and heart as they try to make sense of what's going both inside and outside of themselves. The reader will fall in love with some, or all, of them, as their lives are laid out, bare and raw, nothing held back. But, there is joy, too. Babies are born. Bonds are broken and remade. Several years go by in all of their lives as they go from youngsters to worldly wise men and women. This is storytelling at its finest. Very strongly recommended.

This book is a great read. I myself was a heroin addict for three years, but have been clean since May 10th 2003, something I got into with my boyfriend. It was a quick descent into hell. Both of us became shells of our former selves. Only difference is that we came from loving, stable households. I could totally relate to Tar & Gemma, only difference is that I am American, not British. It was sort of difficult to read, because as a former addict, reading about drug use, especially heroin, makes me think about it, something I don't need to do. But as this book is recommended for young adults, hopefully it will make them realize what hell life as an addict is, and steer clear of all drugs. However, as the book is recommended for "young adults" 12 and over (I, for one, don't consider 12-year-olds to be young adults, maybe 15-16 y/o) I think this book is too much for young kids and a lot would go not understood or misunderstood by a 6th grader.

The first time I read this, I was in my early teens. It popped into my head sporadically one day a couple years ago, and I hunted it down on Amazon. I've read it a number of times since, and, though it's for young adults, it's as gripping to me now as it was then. The scenes described unfold in my mind as I read, and I develop and re-develop relationships with Tar and Gemma over and over until I feel almost empty when I reach the last page and have to say goodbye (temporarily). Even though I'm in my late twenties now, I feel like they've aged with me even though they're still the youths they've always been in the pages. Beautifully written, jarringly raw, and emotionally harrowing.

The author brings heroin addiction to life in this book. The characters are definitely realistic and believable. It is a rough life as a junkie and no holds are barred in this book. Not everyone makes it into recovery.

As a young adult (I'm about to be 24) I still love this book. I read it once before in high school and loved it but re-reading it after going through more life experiences just made the book better in my opinion. Without giving anything away, it touches both on the characters in the book and their lives/thought processes, while also being extremely realistic in the use of the drug and how it can affect how we live.

In an attempt to liven up the content of my classroom library, I have been reading several young adult novels this summer. When I started this one, I felt that the first person narration was a little slow. I worried that students might lose interest or become confused by the multiple narrative technique. As I continued to read my opinion changed. Characters started to come alive on the pages. The world of heroin addiction was depicted in an unforgetable manner. The images that will stick with me the longest are those of "Sunny" the innocent baby of Rob (maybe) and Lily. Gemma describes that the baby's eyes are "glassy" and the baby is already a "junkie". Lily uses heroin on the baby's gums when he's fussy or teething. Also, heroin is transferred to the baby through Lily's breastmilk. Gemma remarks that "Sunny is such a good and quiet baby." Of course he is! He is stoned!! All the other characters chose heroin, the baby did not. I believe that students can learn a lot from this novel (including English slang).

This is a cautionary tale of young love and drugs. How easy it is to fallow down the wrong path when your in love and innocent and looking for fun.

I enjoy reading a lot these days and from the reviews I read about this book before buying it I thought why not. So it was a slow start but finally about 1/2 thru got interesting.Without giving anything away each chapter is based on one of the characters from the book.Usually is will take me less then a week to read a really great book and the truth is I was happy when I finally finished last night.Would I suggest to read it maybe depending on the person but I have read much better books about drug addiction, etc.I want to end off by saying also some of the words you might not be familiar with because it is based from a different country so that takes a little time to get used to and there is a glossary in the back of the book for what the words mean.There is a chapter of another book in the back that Melvin Burgess also wrote and that seems like a better read. Hope this was helpful and happy reading to all!!

It was brilliant

Amazing book

The book itself is a fine read - I read it over ten years ago under the title 'Junk' I believed this was a different book by the same author along the same lines, however I was disappointed to find it was the same book under a different title.