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Are You Experienced?
Rich is fifteen and plays guitar. When his girlfriend asks him to perform at protest rally, he jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, the police show up, and so does Rich’s dad. He’s in big trouble. Again. To make matters worse, this happens near the anniversary of his uncle’s death from a drug overdose years ago. Rich’s dad always gets depressed this time of year, but whenever Rich asks questions about his late uncle, his dad shuts down.
Frustrated by his dad’s silence, Rich sneaks into his office and breaks into a locked cabinet that holds his dad’s prized possession: an electric guitar signed by Jimi Hendrix. Before he knows it, Rich is transported to the side of a road in Upstate New York with a beautiful girl bending over him. It will take him a while to realize it’s 1969, he’s at Woodstock, and the girl’s band of friends includes his fifteen-year-old dad and his uncle, who’s still alive. What Rich learns, who he meets, and what he does could change his life forever.
Frustrated by his dad’s silence, Rich sneaks into his office and breaks into a locked cabinet that holds his dad’s prized possession: an electric guitar signed by Jimi Hendrix. Before he knows it, Rich is transported to the side of a road in Upstate New York with a beautiful girl bending over him. It will take him a while to realize it’s 1969, he’s at Woodstock, and the girl’s band of friends includes his fifteen-year-old dad and his uncle, who’s still alive. What Rich learns, who he meets, and what he does could change his life forever.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2013
22 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Sonnenblick
31 books930 followersI am the author of seven books for children and young adults, including Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. So if youʼre looking for info about some other guy named Jordan Sonnenblick, youʼve got the wrong website.
Anyway, I know a lot of people are looking for stuff they can use in reports for school, so Iʼll just get this out of the way right up front:
My favorite color is blue.
I have a wife and two kids.
The best pet I ever had was a garter snake I caught when I was eight by a lake in Pennsylvania. I named the snake Hector. Then it gave birth to 20 baby snakes, so I changed its name to Hectoria.
My all-time favorite band is the Beatles, although I like a ton of different music.
My hobbies are playing the drums, guitar, and bass; riding my bicycle at least 50 miles a week; hanging out with my wife and kids; and reading.
Speaking of reading, I read a lot of different genres. As a kid, though, I mostly read fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. When I was in fourth grade, a fantasy novel called The Dark is Rising inspired me to become a novelist someday.
My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to go to Yankees games and throw open ketchup packets off the upper deck. Donʼt try that at home, kids!
Anyway, I know a lot of people are looking for stuff they can use in reports for school, so Iʼll just get this out of the way right up front:
My favorite color is blue.
I have a wife and two kids.
The best pet I ever had was a garter snake I caught when I was eight by a lake in Pennsylvania. I named the snake Hector. Then it gave birth to 20 baby snakes, so I changed its name to Hectoria.
My all-time favorite band is the Beatles, although I like a ton of different music.
My hobbies are playing the drums, guitar, and bass; riding my bicycle at least 50 miles a week; hanging out with my wife and kids; and reading.
Speaking of reading, I read a lot of different genres. As a kid, though, I mostly read fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. When I was in fourth grade, a fantasy novel called The Dark is Rising inspired me to become a novelist someday.
My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to go to Yankees games and throw open ketchup packets off the upper deck. Donʼt try that at home, kids!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
June 13, 2022
In 60’s vernacular: Heavy, man.
I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down…
The number one rule in all time-travel books is that the traveler absolutely cannot change anything from the past without wrecking the future, usually that persons’ own. But young Richie has a problem with following that rule. He’s been transported somehow back to the summer of 69’ and the Woodstock Music Festival. He meets his future dad, and his uncle, who was dead long before Richie was born. Richie knows his uncle died of a heroine overdose, but that’s all he knows about him, and Richie’s father refuses to speak of it. At the festival, Richie finds out why his father has been a bitter, overprotective person for his son’s whole life. Despite that time-travel rule, Richie desperately wants to fix his uncle’s past mistakes and perhaps help his father to have a different outlook on life in the future. Accomplishing this could possibly eliminate Richie’s very existence, however…
This is not your mother’s time travel book! (She would probably be quite shocked by some parts, unless she actually was at Woodstock.) Because the setting is mainly 1969 at that famous concert, there is the presence in this book of a lot of drugs, rock&roll, and “free love”,(though not in graphic detail). I think mature Y.A. readers would really enjoy this one, but with some adult guidance for the aforementioned subjects.
Side note: I was born on August 12, 1969, so I grew up hearing about Woodstock from my twelve-years-older brother, who wanted to go to it. Always said he didn’t want to miss his baby sisters’ birth, though, so he stayed put in Texas. (Ok, everyone: “Awwwwwww!”)
I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down…
The number one rule in all time-travel books is that the traveler absolutely cannot change anything from the past without wrecking the future, usually that persons’ own. But young Richie has a problem with following that rule. He’s been transported somehow back to the summer of 69’ and the Woodstock Music Festival. He meets his future dad, and his uncle, who was dead long before Richie was born. Richie knows his uncle died of a heroine overdose, but that’s all he knows about him, and Richie’s father refuses to speak of it. At the festival, Richie finds out why his father has been a bitter, overprotective person for his son’s whole life. Despite that time-travel rule, Richie desperately wants to fix his uncle’s past mistakes and perhaps help his father to have a different outlook on life in the future. Accomplishing this could possibly eliminate Richie’s very existence, however…
This is not your mother’s time travel book! (She would probably be quite shocked by some parts, unless she actually was at Woodstock.) Because the setting is mainly 1969 at that famous concert, there is the presence in this book of a lot of drugs, rock&roll, and “free love”,(though not in graphic detail). I think mature Y.A. readers would really enjoy this one, but with some adult guidance for the aforementioned subjects.
Side note: I was born on August 12, 1969, so I grew up hearing about Woodstock from my twelve-years-older brother, who wanted to go to it. Always said he didn’t want to miss his baby sisters’ birth, though, so he stayed put in Texas. (Ok, everyone: “Awwwwwww!”)
May 28, 2016
Favorite writer for a reason :) From starting to finishing I just loved it. Its about Woodstock, Music, family bonding and yes Time travel.
July 5, 2014
When I found out that this novel involved time travel, I thought, oh boy, not sure I’m gonna like this. Time travel in books and movies always confuses me. As much as I enjoyed Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the time traveling back and forth just had me asking question after question to a few friends who had read it. I think I drove them a little crazy with, “So what did it mean when?” and “So how were they able to……?” I finally just gave up trying to have it all make sense and just enjoyed the book for what it was.
Rich’s parents are older than the parents of all his friends. They are also a whole lot stricter. They are very anti-drug and anti-alcohol and rule every aspect of his life. His dad is pretty much a hard ass and rides him constantly about everything. The only thing they have in common is playing the guitar. Rich knows that his uncle Michael died when he and his dad were both teenagers, but that’s all he knows. His dad never talks about his brother and shuts down completely whenever Rich tries to ask anything about him. Every year on the anniversary of Michael’s death he locks himself in his basement music room all night and plays his guitar. But somehow this year his father forgot to lock the closet that holds the guitars. Curious, Rich looks inside and finds Jimi Hendrix’s signed guitar. He knows he shouldn’t, but he can’t help himself. He takes out the guitar and plugs it into the amplifier. The next thing he knows, he’s lying on the ground with a group of people looking down on him. Oh, and it’s August of 1969 and he’s at Woodstock! And who are the people looking down at him? Oh, that would be his fifteen year old dad David, his eighteen year old uncle Michael, and Michael’s girlfriend Willow. Okay, I’m not going to try to figure out how all that happened, because like I said, all that time travel stuff just messes with my head. I’m just gonna go with it, and boy oh boy, am I glad I did, because what an incredible story this was.
During those three days at Woodstock Rich sees his dad in a whole new light. His fifteen year old dad is a happy, fun loving kid who, shock of all shocks, drinks alcohol, smokes dope, and yikes, makes out with a girl he just met! He and Rich (called Gabriel at Woodstock) hang out with two girls they just met, take off their clothes and swim naked in the pond (Rich wonders if they invented skinny-dipping when they did that), eat pot brownies, and spend hours standing in the rain and the mud with blankets around them, listening to the music. So what happened to his dad? How did he turn into such a strict, controlling dad who is always on Rich’s case about something? Why do they have such a lousy relationship with each other? Rich found out from his mom just before he went down to the basement music room that his uncle Mike died from a heroin overdose. She said that things started to go bad for him the weekend of Woodstock. Can Rich change the course of history for his dad and uncle, and possibly himself? Is that why he’s there? How can he fix things so his uncle doesn’t die? Can he keep him from using heroin? If his uncle doesn’t die, will he and his dad have a better relationship? Will his dad still marry his mom? If he doesn’t marry her then Rich most likely will not be born.
Over those three days at Woodstock Rich’s uncle Mike clues him in on some painful family history that helps him understand his dad better and why he’s the way he is. Mike also lets slip a secret about himself and begs Rich not to tell David. Can Rich do that, or will telling him maybe change the way things worked out for them in the future? Rich does all he is able to do and tries as hard as he can to change the course of history and make things better for his family in the future.
In 1969 I was 18, the same age as Rich’s brother Michael. I felt like I really missed something by not being at Woodstock. I had to settle for listening to the concert album that was put out later. I couldn’t get enough of listening to that Woodstock album. I played it so much I almost wore out the grooves on the record. I sure would have loved to have been there. What an unbelievable event that was. Oh, to have been in that audience and hear Richie Havens sing “Freedom”, Jimi Hendrix play “The Star Spangled Banner, Janis Joplin sing “Piece of My Heart”, or to sing “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die” along with Country Joe McDonald and 500,000 others. That would have been the ultimate experience for me. I wouldn’t have been doing any of the drugs; that wasn’t my thing, but to be there with all that incredible music and be surrounded by thousands of young people who were into peace and love and sharing and togetherness, wow, that would have been like we said back in 1969, Groovy! Yes, there were some bad drug trips and some people got injured, but there was no violence. Even though the Vietnam War and the fear of being drafted was looming over so many of the young men, it was a peaceful time with everyone coming together to share the beauty of the moment. I don’t know if something like that could happen today.
One of the most incredible things about this book was how the author was able to make me feel like I was actually at Woodstock. I didn’t feel like I was watching the events from the sidelines. I really felt like I was there. I walked barefoot and felt the mud squish between my toes, smelled the pot and patchouli oil all around me, lifted back my head and opened my mouth and felt the rain fall on my face and in my mouth, and best of all, heard all that beautiful and wonderful music at an event that changed the course of history.
Rich’s parents are older than the parents of all his friends. They are also a whole lot stricter. They are very anti-drug and anti-alcohol and rule every aspect of his life. His dad is pretty much a hard ass and rides him constantly about everything. The only thing they have in common is playing the guitar. Rich knows that his uncle Michael died when he and his dad were both teenagers, but that’s all he knows. His dad never talks about his brother and shuts down completely whenever Rich tries to ask anything about him. Every year on the anniversary of Michael’s death he locks himself in his basement music room all night and plays his guitar. But somehow this year his father forgot to lock the closet that holds the guitars. Curious, Rich looks inside and finds Jimi Hendrix’s signed guitar. He knows he shouldn’t, but he can’t help himself. He takes out the guitar and plugs it into the amplifier. The next thing he knows, he’s lying on the ground with a group of people looking down on him. Oh, and it’s August of 1969 and he’s at Woodstock! And who are the people looking down at him? Oh, that would be his fifteen year old dad David, his eighteen year old uncle Michael, and Michael’s girlfriend Willow. Okay, I’m not going to try to figure out how all that happened, because like I said, all that time travel stuff just messes with my head. I’m just gonna go with it, and boy oh boy, am I glad I did, because what an incredible story this was.
During those three days at Woodstock Rich sees his dad in a whole new light. His fifteen year old dad is a happy, fun loving kid who, shock of all shocks, drinks alcohol, smokes dope, and yikes, makes out with a girl he just met! He and Rich (called Gabriel at Woodstock) hang out with two girls they just met, take off their clothes and swim naked in the pond (Rich wonders if they invented skinny-dipping when they did that), eat pot brownies, and spend hours standing in the rain and the mud with blankets around them, listening to the music. So what happened to his dad? How did he turn into such a strict, controlling dad who is always on Rich’s case about something? Why do they have such a lousy relationship with each other? Rich found out from his mom just before he went down to the basement music room that his uncle Mike died from a heroin overdose. She said that things started to go bad for him the weekend of Woodstock. Can Rich change the course of history for his dad and uncle, and possibly himself? Is that why he’s there? How can he fix things so his uncle doesn’t die? Can he keep him from using heroin? If his uncle doesn’t die, will he and his dad have a better relationship? Will his dad still marry his mom? If he doesn’t marry her then Rich most likely will not be born.
Over those three days at Woodstock Rich’s uncle Mike clues him in on some painful family history that helps him understand his dad better and why he’s the way he is. Mike also lets slip a secret about himself and begs Rich not to tell David. Can Rich do that, or will telling him maybe change the way things worked out for them in the future? Rich does all he is able to do and tries as hard as he can to change the course of history and make things better for his family in the future.
In 1969 I was 18, the same age as Rich’s brother Michael. I felt like I really missed something by not being at Woodstock. I had to settle for listening to the concert album that was put out later. I couldn’t get enough of listening to that Woodstock album. I played it so much I almost wore out the grooves on the record. I sure would have loved to have been there. What an unbelievable event that was. Oh, to have been in that audience and hear Richie Havens sing “Freedom”, Jimi Hendrix play “The Star Spangled Banner, Janis Joplin sing “Piece of My Heart”, or to sing “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die” along with Country Joe McDonald and 500,000 others. That would have been the ultimate experience for me. I wouldn’t have been doing any of the drugs; that wasn’t my thing, but to be there with all that incredible music and be surrounded by thousands of young people who were into peace and love and sharing and togetherness, wow, that would have been like we said back in 1969, Groovy! Yes, there were some bad drug trips and some people got injured, but there was no violence. Even though the Vietnam War and the fear of being drafted was looming over so many of the young men, it was a peaceful time with everyone coming together to share the beauty of the moment. I don’t know if something like that could happen today.
One of the most incredible things about this book was how the author was able to make me feel like I was actually at Woodstock. I didn’t feel like I was watching the events from the sidelines. I really felt like I was there. I walked barefoot and felt the mud squish between my toes, smelled the pot and patchouli oil all around me, lifted back my head and opened my mouth and felt the rain fall on my face and in my mouth, and best of all, heard all that beautiful and wonderful music at an event that changed the course of history.
June 3, 2013
I'm a huge fan of Jordan Sonnenblick, but not a fan of time-travel books. I was not old enough to attend Woodstock, but remember the big deal it was. I also love the music of the 60's and 70's, but am not a scholar. This time-travel book worked for me. Featuring a likable main character, an instructive recreation of a weekend that changed the world and some truly laugh out loud moments, I raced through this book.
July 26, 2013
Richie's Picks: ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? by Jordan Sonnenblick, Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, September 2013, 304p., ISBN: 978-1-250-02564-7
"Then things got freaky. A flash of lightning illuminated the entire field. There was David, still on his back, still grinning. Michael and Willow, together, peering up at the sky in awe. Debbie, her mouth opened in mid-syllable.
"And Tina, shrieking, 'Here it is! Ten! Nine! Eight!'
"She only got down to three before the skies opened up and a pelting storm engulfed us. It didn't last super-long, but by the time it ended, we were six mud-encrusted citizens of a swamped city.
"In the eerie, dark silence that followed, Tina turned to David and said, 'Told you.' Then she threw up on his lap, lay down in the mud, and fell asleep."
Welcome to Woodstock!
"Why must every generation think their folks are square?
And no matter where their head's are, they know mom's ain't there"
-- John Sebastian, "Younger Generation," the closing number in his Saturday morning (3:30 a.m. - 3:55 a.m.) performance at Woodstock
I don't wish that I was at Woodstock in 1969. Maybe I once did -- like, about, four decades ago. It is one thing to be comfortable with your age, but when you're inching your way toward sixty candles, believe me, ya ain't sitting around wishing that you'd already had a few more trips around the sun just so you could say that you were part of the multitude who can't remember that weekend in Bethel NY. (Remember that old bumper sticker?: "If you remember Woodstock, you weren't there!!!") And besides. If I was old enough for Woodstock back then, I would have also had to deal with being of draft age, and that means I'd possibly be speaking Canadian now instead of northern Californian.
But, thanks to Jordan Sonnenblick, here we are at Woodstock (which, of course, actually took place in Bethel. And there is a mystery here, for sure. What has propelled twenty-first century teenager Richard Gabriel Barber from his home in 2014 back into the past and caused him to materialize -- in front of his adolescent future father and uncle -- in August 1969, as they are heading, with a sea of hippies, for Yasgur's Farm?
"The three of them got me into the backseat of the car, where I proceeded to give in to a massive case of the shakes. David--Dad--got in right next to me, while Michael ran around to the driver's side and fired up the engine and Willow threw herself into the passenger seat. 'Come on, Michael,' she said. 'We have to get to the festival. Maybe there'll be a doctor there or something. I think Gabriel might be in shock.'
"In shock, I thought. Why would I be in shock? It's thirty years before I was born, and I'm sitting next to my fifteen-year-old dad, in a car full of illegal drugs. Oh, and the driver is my dead uncle. Who just ran me over. Stop me when we get to the shocking part."
"Lady finger dipped in moonlight
Writing 'What for?' across the morning sky
Sunlight splatters dawn with answers
Darkness shrugs and bids the day goodbye"
-- from "Saint Stephen" (Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia) the opening song in the Grateful Dead's Saturday night (10:30 p.m. - 12:05 a.m.) set at Woodstock. While, technically, Jerry Garcia's official cause of death was heart attack, not heroin, there is no question about the extent to which that drug contributed so heavily to his body giving out at age 53.
Guitar-wielding author Jordan Sonnenblick, (who happened to be six weeks old when Jimi took the stage at Woodstock and played that mind-blowing version of our national anthem), takes us on a time-traveling romp to Yasgur's Farm where we get to savor the joyful sea of chaos and humanity that was Woodstock.
But in the process, Sonnenblick exposes us to what, to me, is one of the darkest sides of the music scene and the world of us sixties kids: the illicit use of heroin. And that, logically, leads my mind to a more general discussion of what are the common causes of young people experiencing despair and wanting so badly to escape into hard drugs. That, in turn, prompts the question of how might today's society seek to mitigate those root causes of drug abuse through counseling, intervention, and other services.
"Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself."
-- "Reason to Believe" made famous by Rod Stewart but written by and performed at Woodstock by Tim Hardin, who died of a heroin overdose at age 39.
I can go on and on about the famous and anonymous victims of heroin addiction. In fact, I was just recalling an amazing publisher party in NYC eleven years ago where the entertainment was provided by Tom Tom Club and Dee Dee Ramone's band. That show is one of my most memorable experiences being in the world of publishing, bookselling, and librarianship. Unfortunately, it was Dee Dee's last ever performance. He OD'd on smack the next month.
There are so many mind-boggling questions that arise from reading this story. How and to what degree have the promises of the Summer of Love and Woodstock come to fruition? How have they withered and died? There is also a lot of discussion of destiny here. This was 1969, when Woodstock performer Arlo Guthrie did not yet know whether or not he would be a victim of Huntington's Disease and die the same unimaginable death that his father endured, or whether he would have a longer life. And Hendrix, who is one of several famous musicians to make an appearance as a character in the story...well, I can't tell you more than the fact that he is a character here in a scene relating to fate that just really shook me to my core. (I still have a vivid memory of the day they reported that Jimi'd died.)
In fact, I've had quite an amazing couple of days, immersed in the long strange trip that is ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? It is a tale that really touched me deeply. There is just so much here with abusive parents and alcohol and drugs and famous characters who we know are going to die and the stupidity of war.
Finding myself sitting on muddy blankets with six young people amidst a sea of joy and brotherhood at the most famous rock concert in history, Jordan Sonnenblick has me thinking about the complicated issues surrounding the mind-altering substances -- including alcohol, pot, psychedelics, and heroin -- that continue to be an ever-presence in our twenty-first century world. It also has me dreaming about how we might once again capture and employ the love and innocence of those magical days in making a better world today.
This book is quite the powerful experience.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"Then things got freaky. A flash of lightning illuminated the entire field. There was David, still on his back, still grinning. Michael and Willow, together, peering up at the sky in awe. Debbie, her mouth opened in mid-syllable.
"And Tina, shrieking, 'Here it is! Ten! Nine! Eight!'
"She only got down to three before the skies opened up and a pelting storm engulfed us. It didn't last super-long, but by the time it ended, we were six mud-encrusted citizens of a swamped city.
"In the eerie, dark silence that followed, Tina turned to David and said, 'Told you.' Then she threw up on his lap, lay down in the mud, and fell asleep."
Welcome to Woodstock!
"Why must every generation think their folks are square?
And no matter where their head's are, they know mom's ain't there"
-- John Sebastian, "Younger Generation," the closing number in his Saturday morning (3:30 a.m. - 3:55 a.m.) performance at Woodstock
I don't wish that I was at Woodstock in 1969. Maybe I once did -- like, about, four decades ago. It is one thing to be comfortable with your age, but when you're inching your way toward sixty candles, believe me, ya ain't sitting around wishing that you'd already had a few more trips around the sun just so you could say that you were part of the multitude who can't remember that weekend in Bethel NY. (Remember that old bumper sticker?: "If you remember Woodstock, you weren't there!!!") And besides. If I was old enough for Woodstock back then, I would have also had to deal with being of draft age, and that means I'd possibly be speaking Canadian now instead of northern Californian.
But, thanks to Jordan Sonnenblick, here we are at Woodstock (which, of course, actually took place in Bethel. And there is a mystery here, for sure. What has propelled twenty-first century teenager Richard Gabriel Barber from his home in 2014 back into the past and caused him to materialize -- in front of his adolescent future father and uncle -- in August 1969, as they are heading, with a sea of hippies, for Yasgur's Farm?
"The three of them got me into the backseat of the car, where I proceeded to give in to a massive case of the shakes. David--Dad--got in right next to me, while Michael ran around to the driver's side and fired up the engine and Willow threw herself into the passenger seat. 'Come on, Michael,' she said. 'We have to get to the festival. Maybe there'll be a doctor there or something. I think Gabriel might be in shock.'
"In shock, I thought. Why would I be in shock? It's thirty years before I was born, and I'm sitting next to my fifteen-year-old dad, in a car full of illegal drugs. Oh, and the driver is my dead uncle. Who just ran me over. Stop me when we get to the shocking part."
"Lady finger dipped in moonlight
Writing 'What for?' across the morning sky
Sunlight splatters dawn with answers
Darkness shrugs and bids the day goodbye"
-- from "Saint Stephen" (Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia) the opening song in the Grateful Dead's Saturday night (10:30 p.m. - 12:05 a.m.) set at Woodstock. While, technically, Jerry Garcia's official cause of death was heart attack, not heroin, there is no question about the extent to which that drug contributed so heavily to his body giving out at age 53.
Guitar-wielding author Jordan Sonnenblick, (who happened to be six weeks old when Jimi took the stage at Woodstock and played that mind-blowing version of our national anthem), takes us on a time-traveling romp to Yasgur's Farm where we get to savor the joyful sea of chaos and humanity that was Woodstock.
But in the process, Sonnenblick exposes us to what, to me, is one of the darkest sides of the music scene and the world of us sixties kids: the illicit use of heroin. And that, logically, leads my mind to a more general discussion of what are the common causes of young people experiencing despair and wanting so badly to escape into hard drugs. That, in turn, prompts the question of how might today's society seek to mitigate those root causes of drug abuse through counseling, intervention, and other services.
"Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself."
-- "Reason to Believe" made famous by Rod Stewart but written by and performed at Woodstock by Tim Hardin, who died of a heroin overdose at age 39.
I can go on and on about the famous and anonymous victims of heroin addiction. In fact, I was just recalling an amazing publisher party in NYC eleven years ago where the entertainment was provided by Tom Tom Club and Dee Dee Ramone's band. That show is one of my most memorable experiences being in the world of publishing, bookselling, and librarianship. Unfortunately, it was Dee Dee's last ever performance. He OD'd on smack the next month.
There are so many mind-boggling questions that arise from reading this story. How and to what degree have the promises of the Summer of Love and Woodstock come to fruition? How have they withered and died? There is also a lot of discussion of destiny here. This was 1969, when Woodstock performer Arlo Guthrie did not yet know whether or not he would be a victim of Huntington's Disease and die the same unimaginable death that his father endured, or whether he would have a longer life. And Hendrix, who is one of several famous musicians to make an appearance as a character in the story...well, I can't tell you more than the fact that he is a character here in a scene relating to fate that just really shook me to my core. (I still have a vivid memory of the day they reported that Jimi'd died.)
In fact, I've had quite an amazing couple of days, immersed in the long strange trip that is ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? It is a tale that really touched me deeply. There is just so much here with abusive parents and alcohol and drugs and famous characters who we know are going to die and the stupidity of war.
Finding myself sitting on muddy blankets with six young people amidst a sea of joy and brotherhood at the most famous rock concert in history, Jordan Sonnenblick has me thinking about the complicated issues surrounding the mind-altering substances -- including alcohol, pot, psychedelics, and heroin -- that continue to be an ever-presence in our twenty-first century world. It also has me dreaming about how we might once again capture and employ the love and innocence of those magical days in making a better world today.
This book is quite the powerful experience.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
June 8, 2015
I really did not know what to make of this book going into it, and even when I was halfway through it. The concept of the book is that Rich, a teenager with overprotective parents, gets transported back in time to Woodstock, 1969. The first people he meets while he is there is his father as a 15 year old and his Uncle Mike as an 18 year old - who Rich has never met because Mike died at the age of 18. Rich knows that Mike died just a couple of weeks after Woodstock, and that events at the concert led to his ultimate death. Rich spends the novel trying to figure out if there's a way to prevent his uncle's death, as well as deal with meeting his 15 year old father, a couple of girls, and plenty of drugs.
The storyline was so bizarre to me that I had a hard time getting into it, but once I did I really enjoyed it. It was well paced and things stayed interesting throughout. As someone who has an appreciation of anything historical, I was interested to learn about the 1960's through Rich's eyes. I didn't know much about Woodstock going into it, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying it, and I hope it appeals to kids as well even if they aren't familiar with Woodstock.
While a lot of the story is fun, there are definitely a couple of very heavy themes throughout. It deals with death, war, drugs, and alcoholic/neglectful parents. There are some stories and events that happen throughout the really tug at the heart string and can be a bit difficult to read.
I will admit that I was hesitant since the book deals with time travel, but I thought it was actually fairly well done. There are a couple of things that just seem a little unbelievable, but overall I could buy into it. That was the only real element of science fiction in the book, and in fact I would describe it more as historical fiction due to the setting. So don't let the time travel concept scare you off. The characters were pretty well rounded and I felt invested in them. That's a good things because it makes it difficult for us since we know the fates of some of them.
The thing that confuses me a little bit about this book is what audience it is geared toward. The level of the writing seems to be about on a middle grade level, but the content might be too advanced for them. The free love, drugs, and alcohol of the 60's are very present throughout. On the other hand, it touches on things that might be a little too inappropriate, but doesn't go into them in detail the way a lot of YA books do. We're told the character "goes further" with a girl than he has before, but that's where it's left at. The other main characters take a variety of drugs while Rich usually declines - though he does end up accidentally eating some trippy brownies. I'm doing this book as a book discussion with high school students so I'll be curious to see their reactions to it.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to discussing it. I would recommend it for any kids interested in music or the 1960's, probably in about 7-9 grade or reluctant readers. A good one for boys especially.
The storyline was so bizarre to me that I had a hard time getting into it, but once I did I really enjoyed it. It was well paced and things stayed interesting throughout. As someone who has an appreciation of anything historical, I was interested to learn about the 1960's through Rich's eyes. I didn't know much about Woodstock going into it, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying it, and I hope it appeals to kids as well even if they aren't familiar with Woodstock.
While a lot of the story is fun, there are definitely a couple of very heavy themes throughout. It deals with death, war, drugs, and alcoholic/neglectful parents. There are some stories and events that happen throughout the really tug at the heart string and can be a bit difficult to read.
I will admit that I was hesitant since the book deals with time travel, but I thought it was actually fairly well done. There are a couple of things that just seem a little unbelievable, but overall I could buy into it. That was the only real element of science fiction in the book, and in fact I would describe it more as historical fiction due to the setting. So don't let the time travel concept scare you off. The characters were pretty well rounded and I felt invested in them. That's a good things because it makes it difficult for us since we know the fates of some of them.
The thing that confuses me a little bit about this book is what audience it is geared toward. The level of the writing seems to be about on a middle grade level, but the content might be too advanced for them. The free love, drugs, and alcohol of the 60's are very present throughout. On the other hand, it touches on things that might be a little too inappropriate, but doesn't go into them in detail the way a lot of YA books do. We're told the character "goes further" with a girl than he has before, but that's where it's left at. The other main characters take a variety of drugs while Rich usually declines - though he does end up accidentally eating some trippy brownies. I'm doing this book as a book discussion with high school students so I'll be curious to see their reactions to it.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to discussing it. I would recommend it for any kids interested in music or the 1960's, probably in about 7-9 grade or reluctant readers. A good one for boys especially.
March 27, 2016
This book was amazing. Not only did it include time travel, it included Woodstock, familial strife, drama, and edgy situations.
This book is about Richard. Richard is trying to have a better relationship with his strict parents and his mourning dad. He loves music and wants to make it as a musician one day.
At a particularly difficult time, on the anniversary of when his uncle died, Richard plays at a rally in which his girlfriend is protesting. His dad finds out and gets upset. They are both arrested and something happens that night that changes everything.
This is a great book, but I suggest reading with an iPod or music streaming service. I looked up a lot of the bands that were referenced in the book. Lots of twists, turns, and surprises.
This book is about Richard. Richard is trying to have a better relationship with his strict parents and his mourning dad. He loves music and wants to make it as a musician one day.
At a particularly difficult time, on the anniversary of when his uncle died, Richard plays at a rally in which his girlfriend is protesting. His dad finds out and gets upset. They are both arrested and something happens that night that changes everything.
This is a great book, but I suggest reading with an iPod or music streaming service. I looked up a lot of the bands that were referenced in the book. Lots of twists, turns, and surprises.
October 10, 2018
I love any book with time travel. Rich plays a magical guitar that he finds in his basement and is transported back to Woodstock. He runs into his father and uncle (who he never met). Rich, who is now blond and known in 1969 as Gabriel, knows that his uncle dies a week later and needs to find a way to stop that from happening. I really enjoyed the information about Woodstock. There are descriptions of the music and even encounters with the musicians.
Available in our library F Sonnenblick.
Available in our library F Sonnenblick.
September 22, 2021
This was a great book! I liked learning about a historical event through fiction. The only thing was that the beginning was super confusing.
June 4, 2023
4.5 stars
Are You Experienced? Written by the author of one of my all time favorite books, DRUMS GIRLS AND DANGEROUS PIE, Jordan Sonnenblick creates an amazingly fun time travel tale. And of course with the main character being transported back to 1969 at the infamous Woodstock festival, I had such a blast reading it! It was a lot of fun to read, hilarious moments and dialogue, great character moments, a good blend of fun and somber moments, and of course, the classic rock references were wonderful. My only real complaint is that it was a bit predictable and some of the story points and details were a bit too on the nose. But overall, I loved this book! And it shows that Sonnenblick is truly one of my all time favorite authors. This was a great EXPERIENCE! Ba-dum tss!
Are You Experienced? Written by the author of one of my all time favorite books, DRUMS GIRLS AND DANGEROUS PIE, Jordan Sonnenblick creates an amazingly fun time travel tale. And of course with the main character being transported back to 1969 at the infamous Woodstock festival, I had such a blast reading it! It was a lot of fun to read, hilarious moments and dialogue, great character moments, a good blend of fun and somber moments, and of course, the classic rock references were wonderful. My only real complaint is that it was a bit predictable and some of the story points and details were a bit too on the nose. But overall, I loved this book! And it shows that Sonnenblick is truly one of my all time favorite authors. This was a great EXPERIENCE! Ba-dum tss!
January 18, 2018
The book is definitely heartbreaking at points one of the reasons I wanted to read this was because I love Jordan Sonnenblick and I think this has become my favorite book of his.
April 18, 2018
A unique book that was both funny and solemn
April 17, 2018
This book was awesome it is very creative and unique
April 17, 2018
This book was funny, and it taught me about Woodstock. It also talks about the seriousness of herion and other opioid drugs.
April 17, 2018
A SPECTACULAR book that shows the effects of drugs and how even if you try to change the future it won't have any affect.
April 18, 2018
It was a really good, and well written book.
October 4, 2017
Are You Experienced was a majestic book! Filled with heart-breaking and drastic moments, Jordan Sonnenblick really is experienced! (Referring to the title.)
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October 17, 2017Really good book. I highly recommend it for lovers of classic rock and the 1969 woodstock.
May 10, 2016
Jordan Sonnenblick did a outstanding job on writing this book, it is now one of my favorites. The book Are you experienced ? is about a 15 year old boy named rich he has a big passion for music and playing the guitar he was pretty much a pro at playing it. His girlfriend knew he was good at it and asked he could play at a protest rally, He takes any opportunity to play the guitar so he took it. But his girlfriend let out a few details. It was a protest rally too marijuana legalization. He had no idea but he ended up getting a arrested for it. Things just kept going down hill and his dad was angry. Will he ever make it up too his dad? Or will something else happen ?
Its really easy to tell what the theme of this book is, Jordan Sonnenblick is trying to tell his readers that people change for the better and also change for a reason. Rich's father use to be a big time hippy playing music but he also changed a whole lot when as he got older and he was strict on rich because he did not want him to have the same lifestyle as he did when he was younger. But it is not a all serious there is a lot of humor with in the book too the quote "In the eerie, dark silence that followed, Tina turned to David and said, 'Told you.' Then she threw up on his lap, lay down in the mud, and fell asleep."shows that the book does indeed have humor in it. The book over all has a great combination of seriousness and humor.
Jordan sonnenblick style is very narrative but he also loves to give his readers some emotion. The father in the Book Are you experienced? Gives a lot of emotion. The father's brother died from a drug overdose and he always gets depressed the same time of the year it happened. He always shows a lot of anger in the book also towards rich because he gets in trouble. “ My dad recognized me as Gabriel at this point? How would he react? Would the shock drive him insane? Would he keel over a heart attack?” this quote shows that rich never knew how his father would react because his father is always all over with emotions. This book will always have you hooked with all the humor and the emotions.
This Book is one of my favorites by Jordan Sonnenblick I give it 10/10 not only because it is so well written but because every time i'd pick up the book i couldn't get enough of it. I knew from the start I was gonna love this book. I recommend this book to anymore that loves music or just wants a book that is gonna make them laugh. I promise if you read this book you will regret it
Its really easy to tell what the theme of this book is, Jordan Sonnenblick is trying to tell his readers that people change for the better and also change for a reason. Rich's father use to be a big time hippy playing music but he also changed a whole lot when as he got older and he was strict on rich because he did not want him to have the same lifestyle as he did when he was younger. But it is not a all serious there is a lot of humor with in the book too the quote "In the eerie, dark silence that followed, Tina turned to David and said, 'Told you.' Then she threw up on his lap, lay down in the mud, and fell asleep."shows that the book does indeed have humor in it. The book over all has a great combination of seriousness and humor.
Jordan sonnenblick style is very narrative but he also loves to give his readers some emotion. The father in the Book Are you experienced? Gives a lot of emotion. The father's brother died from a drug overdose and he always gets depressed the same time of the year it happened. He always shows a lot of anger in the book also towards rich because he gets in trouble. “ My dad recognized me as Gabriel at this point? How would he react? Would the shock drive him insane? Would he keel over a heart attack?” this quote shows that rich never knew how his father would react because his father is always all over with emotions. This book will always have you hooked with all the humor and the emotions.
This Book is one of my favorites by Jordan Sonnenblick I give it 10/10 not only because it is so well written but because every time i'd pick up the book i couldn't get enough of it. I knew from the start I was gonna love this book. I recommend this book to anymore that loves music or just wants a book that is gonna make them laugh. I promise if you read this book you will regret it
June 2, 2014
Have you ever heard stories about your parent’s pasts and just shook your head and thought “no way, they could never behave in such a manner?” Ever wondered as you where growing up where they came up with such ridiculous rules and strict ideas? Rich was fortunate enough to experience just exactly what his stern father was like as a 15-year old teen as he time travels from 2014 to 1969 as his father is headed off to Woodstock. Just thinking about the time that Rich spends with David (his father), his Uncle Michael and Willow (Michael’s girlfriend) puts a smile on my face as the trio relives this monumental event. Rich, 15, being a guitar buff knows a lot about this event but his lack of the social scene with its drugs, slang, and carefree lifestyle will take some getting used to. Rich’s reaction to his father partaking in the drug scene and his father’s change in personality made this section of the book hilarious. As they celebrate a birthday and get out the birthday brownies, I remembered that this was Woodstock and the year was 1969. These are not your typical brownies, oh no. But what’s Rich to do? Join in with his father or just take in everything that’s happening around him and watch? The author writes with such warmth and style about their time at the concert, it’s as if I am with Rich as he goes back in time to this great event. The unstructured planning of such a huge event yet the profound togetherness of all the individuals who came; it’s something that just amazes me. Blame it on the drugs, blame it on the people who attended, it doesn’t really matter where you point the finger – it’s the thought that all these people who came together to celebrate without many issues. Rich had another thought in the back of his mind when he met up with his father. Rich knows that after the concert is over and everyone goes back to their own lives, something occurs in his father’s family that changes everything. It’s this incident that Rich feels he has the opportunity to change. It’s a trip back through time and with every trip, I laughed my way through part of the journey and I got emotional as the story became powerful as the characters stories got dynamic.
July 7, 2016
The beautiful thing about this book was the music. It's a sort of thing that hits you even if you're not into Woodstock or the bands and people that played there - if you're into any sort of music that's not the 'right now' music, or fans of any bands or people that aren't around anymore, it has the same effect.
I mean, of course this focuses on Woodstock, but the feeling's still there. And I really like how the music and how the people were handled. I thought it was very hard-hitting and very emotional and honestly I mostly teared up because of the music and stuff referenced. And the time period. Because I love books that take place between like, '55-'99, ish, and '69 is kind of a time period that I love reading about. And the way everything was portrayed was so cool, especially with a more modern narrator.
I've read another book by Sonnenblick a long time ago, and I wasn't the biggest fan. But I got this because of the time period and the music, because I always love it when books focus on other time periods mentioned above and music. Because I just absolutely love when books focus on music, have a focus on music... I just really love that. A lot.
Honestly, though, the image of someone going back to a time period with music they love and hanging out with their dad was kind of the coolest thing. Like this book kind of struck an emotional, personal cord with me - my taste in music is, for the most part '90s grunge (+a couple of other things, but that's the main one), and that was my mom's thing in high school and stuff, so that was kind of a cool thing that I could relate to a little bit. And that was super cool. I know that this review isn't much of a review and is mostly just me gushing about things that have nothing to do with plot, character, writing style, whatever, but honestly, this is just kind of an outpouring of feelings and that's kind of what this book elicited in me. So that's cool.
I mean, of course this focuses on Woodstock, but the feeling's still there. And I really like how the music and how the people were handled. I thought it was very hard-hitting and very emotional and honestly I mostly teared up because of the music and stuff referenced. And the time period. Because I love books that take place between like, '55-'99, ish, and '69 is kind of a time period that I love reading about. And the way everything was portrayed was so cool, especially with a more modern narrator.
I've read another book by Sonnenblick a long time ago, and I wasn't the biggest fan. But I got this because of the time period and the music, because I always love it when books focus on other time periods mentioned above and music. Because I just absolutely love when books focus on music, have a focus on music... I just really love that. A lot.
Honestly, though, the image of someone going back to a time period with music they love and hanging out with their dad was kind of the coolest thing. Like this book kind of struck an emotional, personal cord with me - my taste in music is, for the most part '90s grunge (+a couple of other things, but that's the main one), and that was my mom's thing in high school and stuff, so that was kind of a cool thing that I could relate to a little bit. And that was super cool. I know that this review isn't much of a review and is mostly just me gushing about things that have nothing to do with plot, character, writing style, whatever, but honestly, this is just kind of an outpouring of feelings and that's kind of what this book elicited in me. So that's cool.
August 21, 2017
I read this during the anniversary of Woodstock. And why not? This book made me realize how the events in Woodstock can be so relevant to what is happening today. And to think that Woodstock actually happened almost fifty years ago!
The beginning of this book was quite confusing. But it's just the beginning. Everything will totally make sense as you progress in the book. And I actually like the way the book flows.
I've been reading Jordan Sonnenblick since I was a teenager. And this is such a different side of his writing. Though not that far, it amazes me how he can be so flexible. He still writes his usual troupe like family, friendship, a little dash of romance, and most of all music! But it's so refreshing to read his thoughts about drugs, politics, and human rights. Which, of course, we don't see in his middle grade books. And the way he wrote it is so beautiful! He did not disappoint at all!
The book is very enriching! It is obvious that the author did a lot of research about Woodstock. And not just that, i think he also studied the personalities of the famous people that were mentioned in the book.
I love the characters. Broken yet it built them to their unique selves. The friendship in this book is just so powerful. And I can definitely say that Gabriel, Michael, and David celebrated their brotherhood really well. And not because of the drugs, and the girls. I love how Gabriel still sticks to his modern world because it definitely let's him be more understandable to the youth and the intended readers of this book.
I am amazed how this book turned out. It's beautiful because of how the author shared Woodstock to readers. I love the way it ended. How the closure is not an overkill of a happy ending is just beautiful.
Truly, this book is one of the reasons why i want to explore music in that time more.
The beginning of this book was quite confusing. But it's just the beginning. Everything will totally make sense as you progress in the book. And I actually like the way the book flows.
I've been reading Jordan Sonnenblick since I was a teenager. And this is such a different side of his writing. Though not that far, it amazes me how he can be so flexible. He still writes his usual troupe like family, friendship, a little dash of romance, and most of all music! But it's so refreshing to read his thoughts about drugs, politics, and human rights. Which, of course, we don't see in his middle grade books. And the way he wrote it is so beautiful! He did not disappoint at all!
The book is very enriching! It is obvious that the author did a lot of research about Woodstock. And not just that, i think he also studied the personalities of the famous people that were mentioned in the book.
I love the characters. Broken yet it built them to their unique selves. The friendship in this book is just so powerful. And I can definitely say that Gabriel, Michael, and David celebrated their brotherhood really well. And not because of the drugs, and the girls. I love how Gabriel still sticks to his modern world because it definitely let's him be more understandable to the youth and the intended readers of this book.
I am amazed how this book turned out. It's beautiful because of how the author shared Woodstock to readers. I love the way it ended. How the closure is not an overkill of a happy ending is just beautiful.
Truly, this book is one of the reasons why i want to explore music in that time more.
April 3, 2017
Can you imagine going back in time to 45 years ago? This is exactly what fifteen year old Rich did in Are You Experienced? By Jordan Sonnenblick. This an excellent example of a science fiction book. It's 2014 and Rich is a 15 year old boy with overprotective parents, a goth girlfriend, and a passion for music. When Rich’s girlfriend asks him to play at a protest he says yes. But when things go wrong, and the police show up Rich is in big trouble with his parents. Rich gets angry, and he gets into a fight with his father. Later that night, something happens that will change Rich’s life forever. Rich is transported into the year 1969. The character faces lots of conflict in the book. An example of internal conflict is character vs. self. Rich thinks that his life isn't fair and that his parents basically hold him as a prisoner. He thinks that he needs to change things and make his life better but he doesn't know how to. An example of external conflict is character vs. nature. Rich is living in a different area, and he has to find out a way to get back to how things were before, while not changing the course of history too much.
I enjoyed this book because it kept me turning the page. The author had lots of action that kept me entertained. The author also kept the book moving, but slowed down on important details. I think that girls and boys in middle school and high school would enjoy this book. It is a good story for mature students and it will definitely keep the students interested.
I enjoyed this book because it kept me turning the page. The author had lots of action that kept me entertained. The author also kept the book moving, but slowed down on important details. I think that girls and boys in middle school and high school would enjoy this book. It is a good story for mature students and it will definitely keep the students interested.
March 2, 2018
This is unlike most of the other Sonnenblick books I've read. It has the heart and the humor and the family angle, but the content is aimed more at high school than middle school. Fifteen year old Richard is struggling with his overprotective, super high maintenance parents and all their rules. He sneaks out to play his guitar at a protest to legalize marijuana and ends up arrested. His dad FLIPS OUT! So what's a teenager to do when he's already in trouble? Sneak into his dad's secret closet and find the guitar played by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, of course! One chord played on that guitar and Richard is mysteriously transported back in time to Woodstock where he hangs with no other than his fifteen-year-old dad David, his eighteen-year-old uncle Mike, and Mike's girlfriend Willow! His goal is to try to change the past so that his uncle Mike won't overdose on heroin and turn his dad into the grumpy overprotective parent he is in the present. Laced with cameos from musicians of the past, and including many references to drugs and hippies, this more mature book from Sonnenblick will have adult fans reminiscing about that 1969 concert and have the teen fans rooting for Richie's success.
November 22, 2014
I can always count on Jordan Sonnenblick for compelling and well-written novels with authentic-sounding teen characters, stories with values I espouse and have no hesitation recommending to the kids I teach, and memorable, moving themes. This contemporary fantasy and coming-of-age story introduces a teenage musician who defies his emotionally distant father by playing a forbidden magical guitar that transports him back to Woodstock, where he meets and attends the concert with his then teenage father and his friends, and his concert/camping experience reveals hidden family truths that awaken empathy and respect for his dad--and a new bond upon his return to reality. Kind of like "Back to the Future" set at Woodstock, and I found the book to be a reading EXPERIENCE that was surprisingly nostalgic just because I knew the music and the artist that the narrator encounters. Funny, historically enlightening for today's kids to whom Woodstock artists are legends, ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? will appeal especially to music-savvy teens, as well as their parents!
March 21, 2014
I just finished this amazing book five minutes ago and it had me surprised. Before this book I knew very little about Woodstock or what it meant to be a teenager in the 70s. After this book, I even felt like I was there. This book had a great balance of funny and sad. Rich is hilarious, kind, and considerate. I was laughing. Literally LAUGHING so loud at his jokes that people now avoid me at school. I just love the fact that I could relate to him and he actually spoke like he was 15. He was naive about drugs and just enjoyed being the only person in his generation to actually see those bands live. Most of all I love the transformation he goes through. His raw heart and wish to save Michael and better his father's life shined through and punched me in the heart in the best way possible. It's an incredible coming of age story and really shows that we don't last forever. Soon, we will all be history but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the ride.
May 29, 2013
I've never read a book by Jordan Sonnenblick, but have heard nothing but raves about his stuff. I was pretty excited to see Are You Experienced? on netgalley.com and thankful to get an eARC of it. This was one really different and fun ride. Being too young to have experienced the 60s, this time in U.S. history has always intrigued me. I do have a friend who was at Woodstock and it was neat to talk to her about this book and find that her memories of it were pretty much online with what Sonnenblick has recreated here. But this isn't an historical fiction piece, it's a time-travel deal. Even though it is fantasy, time-travel, it reads very realistically and the characters are extremely likable. It's a pretty long book, but I read it quickly because it kept my interest throughout. I can't wait to get a copy and I know I'll be able to recommend it to many folks of all ages.
December 16, 2015
This book is awesome! Rich is a teenager that struggles connecting with his older-than-average parents. They have strict rules and his dad doesn't' seem to like that Rich has a lot in common with his dad's older brother who died young. Rich plays his dad's Jim Hendrix autographed guitar and is transported back in tome to Woodstock with his father and uncle. This leads him on a journey of discovery as he learns about his dad's past and more about himself.
I love Hendrix, so I was sold at the outset. It is a fun read with a good moral in the end. There are sex and drugs in the book that you want to be aware of when giving this book to students. This would be good when teaching the power of setting in creative writing. This would also be a good intro into time period fiction because it's a modern observer to the past.
I love Hendrix, so I was sold at the outset. It is a fun read with a good moral in the end. There are sex and drugs in the book that you want to be aware of when giving this book to students. This would be good when teaching the power of setting in creative writing. This would also be a good intro into time period fiction because it's a modern observer to the past.
August 14, 2014
Really liked this book. Rich's parents- especially his father are very overprotective and never allow Rich to have any freedom. When Rich gets arrested for playing guitar at a pro medical marijuana rally, he is grounded for life. "Stuff" happens and Rich is suddenly transported back in time to 1969- on the road to Woodstock- where he meets his dad (now a teenager), his Uncle Michael, and Willow- his uncle's girlfriend. For 3 days, Rich gets to hang out with his father and uncle, meet some famous musicians, and try to change the past.
When I heard about this book, my 1st thought was that's a little weird- how's it going to work (the time travel aspect) -it does. But I'm not sure if teens will love it like I did. Do they even know what Woodstock is? Some drug use (it's Woodstock!)
When I heard about this book, my 1st thought was that's a little weird- how's it going to work (the time travel aspect) -it does. But I'm not sure if teens will love it like I did. Do they even know what Woodstock is? Some drug use (it's Woodstock!)
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