It's a good story, you always wonder what will happen, and it uses wonderful writing techniques and details.
5Q, 5P; No opinion on the cover art, due to lack of a cover.
Ths book is best suited for middleschoolers on up.
It was selected because it was completely black. Upon opening it and reading the letter on the first page, it was decided to be the perfect book.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
MS-AHS-NC

I liked this book a lot and found Justin to be a sympathetic believable character. I liked his unconventional relationship with Jemmie and her grandmother Nana Grace, the fact that his parents' rocky relationship was not romanticized, the introduction of the war in Iraq, and of course, Justin's discovery of his musical talents. Also found the natural flow of race relationships and youth/elderly relationships very refreshing. ( )

The Big Nothing is about a boy named Justin Riggs who isn't popular of athelic, he's not even that tall. And these days his world is falling apart faster than his sneakers. His best Friend Ben spends all his time with his new girlfriend. His dad has hit the road, maybe for good; His mom is having a hard staying vertical, and his older brother is being deployed to Iraq.There is nothing much left for Justiin to do but pot his brain in neutral and slide into the state he calls the "Big Nothing." ( )