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A Map of the Edge: Coming of Age in the Sixties
Amidst the psychedelic haze and sexual revolution of Southern California in the Sixties, a young soul navigates the edge of innocence and self-discovery. In the sun-soaked dream of 1960s Southern California, A Map of the Edge tells the poignant coming-of-age story of 15-year-old Rick, grappling with family secrets, heartache, and the treacherous underbelly of the counterculture. Abandoned by his mother and trapped in an abusive household, Rick uncovers the truth about his siblings' parentage, shattering his already fragile world. Rick's attempt to shield a friend from trouble leads to his arrest for marijuana possession and a stint in Juvenile Hall. When he gets out, he finds an unlikely ally in the spirited Lincoln, a 16-year-old with messianic aspirations. Together, Rick and Linc set out to do their part to forge the new world they believe is on the horizon. They learn along the way that not everyone is intent on the betterment of humanity, and they descend unwittingly into the dark side of the California drug scene, culminating in a violent confrontation that leaves them both scarred. Emerging from the ashes of tragedy and alienation, Rick is determined to reclaim his life and find the love he needs. If you want to experience-or relive-the sexual freedom of the Sixties in full psychedelic fashion, join Rick on his journey. And don't forget to pack your head-because you're going on a trip!
345 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2023
19 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 12, 2023
A very good coming of age story without the YA hold ups and over censorship.
Loses one star because some of the drug descriptions dragged a little.
Sex, drugs and rock and roll in 1969 CA. Recommended.
Loses one star because some of the drug descriptions dragged a little.
Sex, drugs and rock and roll in 1969 CA. Recommended.
July 9, 2023
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started reading A Map of the Edge but this book far exceeded my view of what this book could be.
Telling the story of Rick, this book is an exploration of his teenage years and the trials and rites of passage experiences that being at that age entails. Add to this the fact that it is set in one of the most liberated times in American history, the 1960s, and you know that this book is going to be a hotbed of looseness, experimentation and soul searching, perhaps leading to enlightenment in some cases and tragedy in others.
Rick comes from a fractured family with a dad who is less concerned about his son than he is about himself and a mother who has left with his two siblings with no forwarding address. Rick's relationship with his dad is taut, like his dad's impatience - ready to snap at any instant. It feels from the start of the book that Rick is being set up to fail at life, after a stint at juvenile prison and the threat of military school; however, there is a sense that Rick may conquer his circumstances throughout the book.
Told in the first person, we view everything from Rick's viewpoint and despite obvious obstacles and his exposure to a hedonistic lifestyle which promises much, delivers much but can also snatch everything gained away in an instant, he is doing pretty well at life. He has some strangely positive influences in his friend, Linc and his probation officer, Leo as well as with the other people, boys and girls, who he meets when he has to change high school.
It is quite obvious that Rick is no ordinary kid. We are told that he reads a lot and whilst he is not sexually mature at the start of the novel, he is astute, intelligent and potentially gifted. He has a sensitivity rather than the crassness that teenage boys can display and is intuitive, all of which comes across in the narrative without making him seem less attractive - the girls love this and I liked him very much as a character.
A great read, truly which feels very real - but prepare yourself to be exposed to the world of 1960s teen California and all that that might involve in all its glorious technicolour and freeness.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
Telling the story of Rick, this book is an exploration of his teenage years and the trials and rites of passage experiences that being at that age entails. Add to this the fact that it is set in one of the most liberated times in American history, the 1960s, and you know that this book is going to be a hotbed of looseness, experimentation and soul searching, perhaps leading to enlightenment in some cases and tragedy in others.
Rick comes from a fractured family with a dad who is less concerned about his son than he is about himself and a mother who has left with his two siblings with no forwarding address. Rick's relationship with his dad is taut, like his dad's impatience - ready to snap at any instant. It feels from the start of the book that Rick is being set up to fail at life, after a stint at juvenile prison and the threat of military school; however, there is a sense that Rick may conquer his circumstances throughout the book.
Told in the first person, we view everything from Rick's viewpoint and despite obvious obstacles and his exposure to a hedonistic lifestyle which promises much, delivers much but can also snatch everything gained away in an instant, he is doing pretty well at life. He has some strangely positive influences in his friend, Linc and his probation officer, Leo as well as with the other people, boys and girls, who he meets when he has to change high school.
It is quite obvious that Rick is no ordinary kid. We are told that he reads a lot and whilst he is not sexually mature at the start of the novel, he is astute, intelligent and potentially gifted. He has a sensitivity rather than the crassness that teenage boys can display and is intuitive, all of which comes across in the narrative without making him seem less attractive - the girls love this and I liked him very much as a character.
A great read, truly which feels very real - but prepare yourself to be exposed to the world of 1960s teen California and all that that might involve in all its glorious technicolour and freeness.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
June 17, 2023
3.5 stars actually. This one is difficult to rate for me. On the one hand, I wanted to like this coming-of-age novel much more than I actually did, but on the other hand, I can't say that I didn't like it. If that makes any sense. For someone who was 15 in 1974 (the age of the main character in the novel), and where this takes place in 1969, the timing resonated with me. Much like in the novel, drugs were everywhere during that time. Pot, hash, acid, uppers/downers. At times I felt like the only person in my high school NOT doing drugs. So, that aspect of the novel was believable for me. What I felt was a bit overly done was the amount of sex within the story. I mean, it was a bit overly done. Practically every other chapter featured a rather graphic sex scene in it. And, it wasn't just that, but the writer made the main character overly precocious on an intellectual basis as well. Oh well, but, all in all, it was an enjoyable read. It was nice to see some realism appear in the plot about 80% through and the story came with a nice denouement. Anyway, so I enjoyed the book, but can't really say I'd recommend it.
June 1, 2023
A Map of the Edge: Coming of Age in the Sixties (The Isaak Collection) is a coming-of-age novel about a 15-year-old boy named Ricky, during the psychedelic times in Southern California in the sixties. It's an amazing story of self-discovery, friendship and family. As it is the sixties of course the existence and introduction of drugs is there. It's not a very unique story but it's still one hell of a great plot. I miss the days when people make movies just like this story. Not everyone you think your friends are really your friends and then you also find joy in the most unlikely places. It has some sad dramatic parts in it, which I think a troubled teen would have experienced during those times, even now, so some YA will still be able to relate. I like this story for the entertainment value of it and It should be turned into a movie with great costumes and a trippy soundtrack.
June 2, 2023
This is a powerful and really moving coming-of-age tale in which family, secrets, heartbreak, and the counterculture are all explored through the eyes of the protagonist, Rick, a 15-year-old boy. The book looks into the difficulties Rick encounters growing up in a violent home and how learning the truth about his brothers' parentage further shatters his already shaky reality.
As Rick and his friend Linc become involved in the California drug scene and experience violent altercations that leave permanent wounds, the narrative appears to take a dark turn. The work does; however, seem to convey a message of resiliency and the strength of the human spirit between tragedy and loneliness.
Rick’s attempts to get his life back achieving self-actualization are for me, the best part of this story.
As Rick and his friend Linc become involved in the California drug scene and experience violent altercations that leave permanent wounds, the narrative appears to take a dark turn. The work does; however, seem to convey a message of resiliency and the strength of the human spirit between tragedy and loneliness.
Rick’s attempts to get his life back achieving self-actualization are for me, the best part of this story.
June 2, 2023
A Map of the Edge takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through the psychedelic landscape of 1960s Southern California. This poignant coming-of-age tale follows fifteen-year-old Rick as he grapples with a troubled family, heartache, and the hidden underbelly of the counterculture. Abandoned and trapped in an abusive household, Rick's world shatters when he uncovers the truth about his siblings. Through a series of events, including an arrest for marijuana possession, Rick finds an unexpected ally in the spirited Lincoln. Together, they navigate the dark side of the California drug scene, facing violence and scars. From tragedy and alienation, Rick emerges determined to reclaim his life and find love. A Map of the Edge is a powerful exploration of resilience, redemption, and the complexities of the human spirit.
May 31, 2023
Great book
I really enjoyed reading A Map of the Edge. The storyline isn't much different from other coming of age books I've read: rebellious and intelligent kid from a troubled family and an abusive father figures out how to navigate the world and survive, all while making interesting friends and having lots of drugs and sexual experiences. But what I liked here was the writing style, the interesting twists and turns of words, the new way of looking at something or learning something new, the smart friend who teaches you about drugs and life, along with some physics and literature. It's like a typical coming of age story, but with some richness and depth. I'd be interested in reading other books by this author, who sounds like he was an interesting person himself.
I really enjoyed reading A Map of the Edge. The storyline isn't much different from other coming of age books I've read: rebellious and intelligent kid from a troubled family and an abusive father figures out how to navigate the world and survive, all while making interesting friends and having lots of drugs and sexual experiences. But what I liked here was the writing style, the interesting twists and turns of words, the new way of looking at something or learning something new, the smart friend who teaches you about drugs and life, along with some physics and literature. It's like a typical coming of age story, but with some richness and depth. I'd be interested in reading other books by this author, who sounds like he was an interesting person himself.
August 5, 2023
Riveting coming of age story!
The story takes place mostly in the summer of 1969 in sleepy, rural Yucaipa, California. Fifteen year old Rick’s loss of “innocence” mirrors the hippie era’s loss of innocence as well. The witty, intelligent, damaged main characters try to navigate their lives mostly without any parental involvement and copious amounts of drugs, sex, and rock’n roll. Sometimes hilariously, sometimes scary, harshly, sad and poignant. David Isaak’s prose style shows the time and place vividly and populates it with unforgettable fully realized characters. Two thumbs up! ☮️✌️
The story takes place mostly in the summer of 1969 in sleepy, rural Yucaipa, California. Fifteen year old Rick’s loss of “innocence” mirrors the hippie era’s loss of innocence as well. The witty, intelligent, damaged main characters try to navigate their lives mostly without any parental involvement and copious amounts of drugs, sex, and rock’n roll. Sometimes hilariously, sometimes scary, harshly, sad and poignant. David Isaak’s prose style shows the time and place vividly and populates it with unforgettable fully realized characters. Two thumbs up! ☮️✌️
May 31, 2023
''A Map of the Edge: Coming of Age in the Sixties'' is part of The Isaak Collection, written by author David T Isaak. In this novel, you will find the story of Rick, a boy in the sixties who runs away from his house looking for a different life after his family broke up, and embarks on an adventure that leads him on a spiral of moments that make him stronger. This book captivated me from the beginning, the narrative that the author has is impressive and his ability to describe moments is also great. Without a doubt, this is such a good book that you must read it. You will not regret it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews