Review - Labeled by Mark Salvatore

Labeled centers around a troubled teenager named Vinnie. He lives in New York with his Aunt Constance. He is a loner who is barely getting by in school, in which there is talk about putting him into a “special” school. To make things worse, Vinnie does not know how to talk or have a relationship with girls his own age. His only friends are two potheads, Brian and Pierce.

While getting high, Vinnie and his friends decide to hitchhike to California. They take rides from strangers, some are interesting and others are weird. They stay another Aunt of Vinnie’s. They take on odd jobs when they run out of money, which they mostly waste on alcohol and acid. The trio runs into hippies and other druggies.

Vinnie starts to realize that he has a problem and must make a major decision that will change his life forever.

Labeled is a coming-to-age story set in the carefree days of the 1970s. There is a lot of profanity and drug use throughout that gives the novel a more reality feel. As the reader, you will easily feel for the main character Vinnie as he struggles with the morals of life. I did not care for any of the supporting characters, besides the two Aunts. All of them were either losers or druggies. The plot is darker than most Young Adult novels. With all of the supernatural theme books out these days, I found Labeled to be a bit of fresh air.

*I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review.