"Sydney is only a middle school student but she teaches her whole town a valuable lesson in the power of friendship, DIY, and tenacity. This book reminds us that punk is more than just good music and that one great show can change everything.” —Alice Bag, lead singer of The Bags and author of Violence Girl
“Vicious is My Middle Name is a compulsively readable novel with vivid storytelling and so much heart. It is impossible not to root for Sydney, even as she reveals her flaws and struggles to grow and become a better person. This is a powerful story about learning to be yourself and coping with change. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like a misfit and found solace in books and music.” —Jennifer Whiteford, author of Grrrl
“Sydney is funny, fierce, and fearless. She channels a punk rock attitude and do-it-yourself work ethic not only to cope with the daily horrors of middle school, but also to fight to save her community from the dangers of an asphalt plant. Sydney is a hero and a role model for all young people today, taking a stand and hoping to change the world. She definitely would not be holding anyone’s coat.” —Nancy Barile, author of I’m Not Holding Your Coat
“When a punk grrrl relocates from New York to rural North Carolina, she misses her friends, her music, and more. And then there are the mean girls [kids] to survive. The school power structure is also reflected in the town, however, and battle lines drawn on the first page will widen to put others at risk. But Sydney Vicious Talcott will find allies in unexpected places, a mission bigger than her problems, and will come to see that mountain folk have a punk attitude all their own! An energetic and absorbing read.” —Valerie Nieman, author of To the Bones
“In Vicious is My Middle Name, Sydney 'Vicious' Talcott is a girl to be reckoned with. When she moves from Rochester, NY to Beaver Dam, NC, she realizes the full meaning of Grrl Power as she takes on the company H.D. Dunkirk and the powers that be when they attempt to construct an asphalt plant close to her school. In her punk rock way, Sydney proves her fierce individual freedom in keeping true to herself and the 'big picture of life.' Kevin Dunn writes in beautiful, hard, measured prose that stays with us long after the last page.” —Mary Sullivan, author of High and Dear Blue Sky
“Sydney Vicious Talcott’s life is disrupted when her mom moves them from Rochester, New York to the small town of Beaver Dam, North Carolina. Readers will root for her as she encounters a bully, an unsympathetic teacher and an environmentally hazardous project backed by powerful and threatening community leaders. Her love of music and determination to take a stand and make a difference propels the reader through this timely story. Vicious is My Middle Name is written with skill and a perfect sense of timing, placement and character.” —Roxanne Doty, author of Out Stealing Water
“Kevin Dunn is a firm believer in the power of youth, and individuals banding together to improve their community. Vicious Is My Middle Name combines these two tenets in an accessible yet fierce paean to punk rock and the way that seemingly small actions can resonate far beyond intention.” —Michael T. Fournier, author of Swing State
"...Sydney’s distinct, often humorous first-person voice (interspersed with inspirational art and letters from Lite Brite’s lead singer) and her celebration of inclusive resistance make this a socially conscious read from Dunn." —Publishers Weekly
2022-09-14
Sydney Vicious Talcott—yes, that’s her real name—is pure punk, inside and out.
The ends of her hair are dyed bright red, her head is shaved on one side, and she’s named after bass player Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols, one of her late father’s favorite bands. Needless to say, when she moves to Beaver Dam, North Carolina, she stands out a lot more than she did in Rochester, New York. Ducking into the school library to avoid the mean clique, Sydney, who is assumed White, meets Guatemalan American Rita and Affrilachian Shawn, two other outcasts in the school hierarchy. They bond over a shared love of Harry Potter. When Sydney learns that an asphalt plant is going to be built near their school, she does some research and discovers what a health and environmental disaster that would be. Starting a punk-inspired movement to fight back against people with a vested interest in building the plant, Sydney learns that speaking up isn’t easy or safe for everyone. She unites and educates the community through the power of music; the history of protest rooted in various musical genres is explored in an interesting way. The author also attempts to engage with complex issues of race, but many subjects are overly simplified, Rita and Shawn take on the heavy lifting of educating Sydney about race in America, and this young, White outsider is ultimately framed as the community’s savior.
A book about social justice that falls short in representation. (Fiction. 9-13)
