Jonathan Evison is a new author to me and I intend to read others now.

Never read a book about a 22 year old Lawn Boy, Mike Munoz, hence the title, who lives with his single, overworked divorced three times, mom, divorced. Mike was always looking after his 26 year old developmentally disabled brother Nate, and he was good at it too. Mike is a good kid but has aspirations to be more than a lawn boy. He really wants to be a landscaper, sculpting bushes, etc. and to be creative. He get fired, which is fine with him, since he sort of hated the job, and starts looking for something, anything, really.

Mike is also trying to write a book though he's bad at it but he keeps trying as with jobs. He's sure an optimist in life and keeps going.

I was rooting for him the whole time in everything he did. Then there was Freddy, a big black guy who was a bouncer/security guard where his mother worked and he moved in. He was wonderful with Nate who got out of control a lot due to his developmental disability.

This book was sometimes written in first person, sometimes not.

Mike finally found himself in more ways than one.

Someone called the ending weak, I found it charming and it came full circle from the beginning of the book. ( )

I read this one as it is a commonly banned book. I can see why parents are uncomfortable with this book, though I do not support it being banned. There are more than 100 F words and numerous references to the sucking of d*ck.

There were some really solid morals to this story and the levels in which the main character learned them were believable and well done. I do think it could have been done without the overabundance of cursing and d*ck references.

Let kids read within age appropriate guidelines, and have open discussions with them about the topics included. ( )

This is a great coming-of-age story. I read it to begin my "Challenged Books Challenge," as it was the 7th most challenged book in the United States and the most challenged book in the state of Arizona for its "sexually explicit" LGBTQ content. As someone who values intellectual freedom and the freedom to read, I hate the idea of the quality story in this book being inaccessible to teens and adolescents who need to hear it because some fascists have decided that LGBTQ content is inappropriate for everyone. I would never restrict my child from reading this book, in fact, I would recommend this book for anyone who finds themselves stuck in a transitional period in life. Fuck the fascists, read Lawn Boy! ( )

Ok book and story. Characters are not black and white but each has their own issues.
Stupid that some states in the US are banning this book. ( )

Twenty-two year old Mike Munoz, the narrator of Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, rarely catches a break. A young man from a lower class family, he doesn't lack talent, but he does lack credentials and capital. The opportunities that do present themselves to him are fraught with obstacles. Mike often finds himself down to his last few dollars. Still, he seeks to improve himself and his lot in life, and he finds love with a dentally-challenged library assistant.

On ALA's most challenged book list for 2022, Lawn Boy came in seventh. This engaging, humane novel doesn't deserve that dubious distinction. There's sexuality, but it is for the most part tastefully handled. Perhaps the real "issue" with this book is its anti-capitalist examination of the lives of poorly paid wait staff, landscapers, and others who aspire to, but often miss out on, the American Dream. ( )