Mark Heisey of The US Review of Books gave Jonathan LaPoma’s latest coming-of-age novel, HAMMOND, a positive review:
“Succeeds on many levels, LaPoma’s use of James, a mentally ill youth troubled by the destructive tendencies of his family, as the central character is laudable. His unique worldview gives the narrative an unforgettable flavor. Fans of Jim Carroll’s Basketball Diaries will find many similar themes in this book…These boys are dealing with everything from bullying to basketball, drugs, sex, faith and favoritism. Lapoma does a good job catching the bravado and fears of this age. In addition, he records the internal struggles and confusion of his protagonist in realistic and abundant detail…Readers who enjoy a coming-of-age tale with lots of introspection will likely find this book a good match.”
HAMMOND will be published by Almendro Arts on December 18, 2018