“A tender, transformative novel for all who sometimes feel they don’t fit in. A terrific story.”
— Naomi Shihab Nye, Young People’s Poet Laureate of the United States (2021) and author of The Turtle of Oman.
Junior and his family live in a junkyard, where his father creates pieces of art from the junk surrounding them. When Junior’s father falls ill and dies, Junior and his mother are left with few resources, other than what his mother brings in from her job as a waitress. The junkyard is threatened by encroaching development, and just when Junior thinks all is lost, he finds that a tin man, gifted to him by his father, begins to speak to him. The junkman provides advice in the form of enigmas. Are they clues? Or is it nonsense? Junior and his best friend, Isaac, embark on a journey to find out. Can a man made of junk parts teach Junior about art and friendship and overcoming the loss of a loved one? Only if Junior believes it can.
Kevin Careyis Coordinator of Creative Writing at Salem State University. He’s written three books of poetry:
The One Fifteen to Penn Station,
Jesus Was a Homeboyand
Set in Stone, and three books of fiction,
The Beach People,
Murder in the Marsh, and
Junior Miles and the Junkman. Kevin is also a playwright and a filmmaker. Kevincareywriter.com
EXCELLENT FOR DISCUSSING LOSS AND GRIEF WITH MIDDLE GRADERS: Junior Miles loses his father and must find ways to cope with that loss. This book would make an excellent book for discussion the death of a parent and loss in general.
ACTION AND ADVENTURE: Junior and his best friend embark on a journey to find the answer to a mystery.
ART HOOK: Junior's father build sculptures out of junk, and Junior is destined to follow in his footsteps.
![Junior Miles The Junkman [TRADE PAPER ]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1646033671.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg "Junior Miles The Junkman [TRADE PAPER ]")