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Tanker 10
Tanker 10 opens in Brockton, MA, in 1976, where a bashful and overweight 10-year-old Jimmy just wants to read his books and toss the ball with his best friend Ben. Unfortunately, Jimmy is an entertaining victim for his older brother Cliff and his buddies. When Jimmy tries to stand up to Cliff, the verbal abuse turns physical and an accident sends Jimmy to the hospital with an injury that changes the trajectory of his life. Tanker 10 depicts the story of Jimmy during his pre-teen and teenage years as he struggles to mend his physical and psychological injuries. Finding salvation through baseball, he dedicates himself to a strict regimen, taking him from intramurals baseball to Little League. By the time he reaches high school, Jimmy is no longer the fat kid throwing a ball against a wall but an up-and-coming right fielder on the freshman baseball team. Yet despite his successful recovery, Jimmy remains ill at ease with himself. He longs for emotional and physical intimacy and grapples with finding his place in his family, among his friends, and with his brother Cliff. Jonathan Curelop, a lifelong baseball fan who was bullied as a child for being overweight, has written a poignant fictional account of a character in search of himself. His debut novel, Tanker 10, is a funny and heart-wrenching coming-of-age journey toward self-acceptance in the wake of trauma. Centered around baseball, the story deals with the serious ramifications of identity and acceptance.
- GenresYoung Adult
282 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2013
About the author
Jonathan Curelop
2 books4 followersJonathan Curelop's fiction and non-fiction have appeared in various publications, including Solstice, Amarillo Bay, Liquid Imagination, UMass Amherst Magazine, apt, Raging Face, The Melic Review, The American Book Review and Aura. Originally from Massachusetts, he now lives in New York City with his wife. His first novel, TANKER 10, is now available.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 19, 2014
“Tanker 10, is a funny and heart-wrenching coming-of-age journey toward self-acceptance in the wake of trauma. Centered around baseball, the story deals with the serious ramifications of identity and acceptance.”
Although I found it difficult to get into this book to begin with I have given it a 5 out of 5 star rating, because this was nothing to do with how it was written it was more to do with the fact that I had a lot going off in my family life, and I will recommend the book to others personally and via my blog.
I loved the main character Jimmy, the antagonist, as I really identified with him because I was bullied at school as a child and have always loved books and reading. His love for Baseball and his best friend Ben was enduring throughout the book. The love he had for his best friend Ben was particularly when he was killed in the accident and funeral because it was clear that he couldn’t bear to be without him.
Cliff, the protagonist, Jimmy’s older Brother was an interesting character because although he was a bully and in many ways the worst kind of bully, sibling bully you could also see some kind, gentle and loving side to him as well. You could see the better side to him more and more after the incident where he caused his brother injury which inevitably led to Jimmy being even more uncertain of him self than he already was.
Ben, Jimmy’s best friend was a kind, gentle person who wasn’t particularly academically minded person but loved Swimming and swam for a local swim team. You could see from things that happened on the story that he was a grate friend that supported him in every way he can.
It was interesting seeing how Jimmy developed through out the book especially from the accident involving his brother. It was particularly interesting how he went from a non sporty book worm to an avid sportsperson, baseball player, to the point of getting a base ball scholarship to go to college.
I absolutely loved this book and cant wait to read anymore books written by Jonathan.
Although I found it difficult to get into this book to begin with I have given it a 5 out of 5 star rating, because this was nothing to do with how it was written it was more to do with the fact that I had a lot going off in my family life, and I will recommend the book to others personally and via my blog.
I loved the main character Jimmy, the antagonist, as I really identified with him because I was bullied at school as a child and have always loved books and reading. His love for Baseball and his best friend Ben was enduring throughout the book. The love he had for his best friend Ben was particularly when he was killed in the accident and funeral because it was clear that he couldn’t bear to be without him.
Cliff, the protagonist, Jimmy’s older Brother was an interesting character because although he was a bully and in many ways the worst kind of bully, sibling bully you could also see some kind, gentle and loving side to him as well. You could see the better side to him more and more after the incident where he caused his brother injury which inevitably led to Jimmy being even more uncertain of him self than he already was.
Ben, Jimmy’s best friend was a kind, gentle person who wasn’t particularly academically minded person but loved Swimming and swam for a local swim team. You could see from things that happened on the story that he was a grate friend that supported him in every way he can.
It was interesting seeing how Jimmy developed through out the book especially from the accident involving his brother. It was particularly interesting how he went from a non sporty book worm to an avid sportsperson, baseball player, to the point of getting a base ball scholarship to go to college.
I absolutely loved this book and cant wait to read anymore books written by Jonathan.
February 13, 2014
Tanker Ten is a great read with accessible issues for teens, young adults. Quite smartly written, love the voice and humour. The book is honest and courageous, fills the reader with memories and emotions of one’s own youth. I found myself in a simpatico relationship with Jimmy at times.
Jimmy struggles through his days with the universal existential anxieties and dilemmas that we all have in life. Who am I, Where am I going, and How do I get there?
Baseball, books, family, and friends mean the world to Jimmy. He’s figuring it all out, sense of self worth, image, family, sex, and dealing with the horrific tragic loss of his best friend.
Jimmy finds himself making ground through the black hole of self doubt, loss of his best friend, gets physically fit, exceeds in the sport of baseball, makes peace with his older brother, but still struggles with his sexual issues. Jimmy seems to be still missing something, he’s not at ease, a void exists and he’s still not content.
Tanker 10 is a moving story which is at times distressing, tragic at the same time very tender, funny, and very real. As Jimmy makes his way through living out his youth, breaks into his early teens to make his way through things that will possibly be just fine for his future has a young adult.
Curelop’s writer voice is fantastic! When I put the book down after I finished reading. I just wanted to know more about Jimmy and where he’d be a few years down the track. I could not help linking JC’s writing to the late great John Updike’s novels Rabbit, Run and Rabbit Redux, Rabbit Is Rich, and Rabbit At Rest. Yes, Tanker 10 is a must read!
Jimmy struggles through his days with the universal existential anxieties and dilemmas that we all have in life. Who am I, Where am I going, and How do I get there?
Baseball, books, family, and friends mean the world to Jimmy. He’s figuring it all out, sense of self worth, image, family, sex, and dealing with the horrific tragic loss of his best friend.
Jimmy finds himself making ground through the black hole of self doubt, loss of his best friend, gets physically fit, exceeds in the sport of baseball, makes peace with his older brother, but still struggles with his sexual issues. Jimmy seems to be still missing something, he’s not at ease, a void exists and he’s still not content.
Tanker 10 is a moving story which is at times distressing, tragic at the same time very tender, funny, and very real. As Jimmy makes his way through living out his youth, breaks into his early teens to make his way through things that will possibly be just fine for his future has a young adult.
Curelop’s writer voice is fantastic! When I put the book down after I finished reading. I just wanted to know more about Jimmy and where he’d be a few years down the track. I could not help linking JC’s writing to the late great John Updike’s novels Rabbit, Run and Rabbit Redux, Rabbit Is Rich, and Rabbit At Rest. Yes, Tanker 10 is a must read!
April 9, 2014
I don't think I've read a more honest and real book than this one. It was emotional and funny - an intimate coming of age story. One of courage, forgiveness and survival.
My heart went out to Jimmy the second I met him. Overweight and struggling to fit in, Jimmy's life became even more of a struggle with the accident that changed him forever. I wanted to dislike Cliff, but as the story progressed, the changes I saw in each character showed tremendous growth and maturity. It didn't excuse the bullying or the abuse, but I was happy that Jimmy was able to forgive and move forward.
I say this book was honest and real because I'm sure every boy, in fact, girls too, would be able relate to Jimmy's feelings and fears. He may have been a little different, but at a time when our bodies wreak havoc on us emotionally and physically, self-doubt and self-esteem issues are at their highest for just about every teen.
Jimmy was a fighter. With so much going on in his life he still LIVED. He didn't allow his problem to stifle his love for baseball, he didn't allow it to turn him into the hermit he feared he'd become. He may have distanced himself from girls, but he was willing to give it a try; unfortunately for him it didn't end very well most of the time. I was just happy to see him happy. To have him be passionate about something, and to excel in the one thing that took his mind off of the curveballs life had thrown at him (no pun intended).
This story touched my heart, even broke it a little. It was a fantastic read!
My heart went out to Jimmy the second I met him. Overweight and struggling to fit in, Jimmy's life became even more of a struggle with the accident that changed him forever. I wanted to dislike Cliff, but as the story progressed, the changes I saw in each character showed tremendous growth and maturity. It didn't excuse the bullying or the abuse, but I was happy that Jimmy was able to forgive and move forward.
I say this book was honest and real because I'm sure every boy, in fact, girls too, would be able relate to Jimmy's feelings and fears. He may have been a little different, but at a time when our bodies wreak havoc on us emotionally and physically, self-doubt and self-esteem issues are at their highest for just about every teen.
Jimmy was a fighter. With so much going on in his life he still LIVED. He didn't allow his problem to stifle his love for baseball, he didn't allow it to turn him into the hermit he feared he'd become. He may have distanced himself from girls, but he was willing to give it a try; unfortunately for him it didn't end very well most of the time. I was just happy to see him happy. To have him be passionate about something, and to excel in the one thing that took his mind off of the curveballs life had thrown at him (no pun intended).
This story touched my heart, even broke it a little. It was a fantastic read!
June 13, 2014
A very well-written and compelling story of a young boy's coming of age in Massachusetts in the 1970s (and 80s by the time the novel ends). 10-year-old Jimmy loves baseball, but has few friends and feels awkward because he is overweight. His older brother Cliff and his friends constantly bully him, culminating in a physical incident that has lasting repercussions and makes Jimmy's adolescence even more awkward than the average boys, as he tries to navigate the world of girls and sex at the same time that he develops into a well-regarded high school and then college ballplayer.
Jonathan Curelop nails Jimmy's first-person narration; I really felt for Jimmy and could relate to his struggles and insecurities. And some of the minor characters surprised me by being more than meets the eye at first. A truthful and thought-provoking coming of age story and an impressive debut.
Jonathan Curelop nails Jimmy's first-person narration; I really felt for Jimmy and could relate to his struggles and insecurities. And some of the minor characters surprised me by being more than meets the eye at first. A truthful and thought-provoking coming of age story and an impressive debut.
February 12, 2014
Tanker 10 is an entertaining, thoughtful book about being the fat kid. Jimmy is sweet and baseball obsessed, but he is also tormented by his older brother because he's fat. What's he supposed to do? He doesn't want to be a tattletale . . . but he's tired of being a victim. Playing ball -- even just bouncing it off the side of the house -- is his refuge. But it cannot protect him and when he tries to fight back, everything changes. Jimmy's story is one anyone can relate to. Today bullying has become big news, but in reality, it has always been with us, and often the ones who should love us are the biggest culprits. Sometimes just knowing you aren't alone can make all the difference.
February 24, 2014
I definitely enjoyed this coming of age story, where the overweight ugly duckling becomes the professional baseball "swan." The story read well and seemed pretty realistic. I think my favorite parts were the reconciliation of Jimmy and his brother and Jimmy with Ben's memory. I also found Jimmy's struggles with being a "real man" after the accident to be quite compelling.
That said, because of the explicit nature of the injury and the follow issues it brings, I would not read this book in class with students. While the subject matter is understandable, identifiable, and compelling, I don't think students could maturely discuss in class. However, I think it would be a great title to recommend to high school students as independent or summer reading.
That said, because of the explicit nature of the injury and the follow issues it brings, I would not read this book in class with students. While the subject matter is understandable, identifiable, and compelling, I don't think students could maturely discuss in class. However, I think it would be a great title to recommend to high school students as independent or summer reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2013
This was a wonderful read. Tanker 10 takes you back to childhood / young adulthood and allows you to think about your own experience as well as those who were around you. It was a time I'd long ago forgotten and it was really nice to re-visit. Jonathan Curelop is clearly a gifted writer in so many ways. He is human, candid and extremely amusing at times. The book flows and it was one that I simply didn't want to get to the end. But I did, and I loved it. I look forward to the next one by Curelop.
December 31, 2013
FINALLY A TRUE TEEN HERO! In this age of overhyped teen fantasy novels, TANKER 10 spins a classic coming of age tale through good old fashion story telling. Curelop’s overweight, bullied teen, Jimmy, wins over daunting physical and emotional challenges through his passion for baseball. A great read for all teens. Can’t recommend it enough. Sean Grover. LCSW
November 20, 2013
I too am from brockton and I enjoyed the references to areas of the city. The story drew me in and I read thru in a weekend. The author captured the stages of adolescent boys with precise detail. I look forward to his next book
March 23, 2014
Loved this book....it is a cross between The Wonder Years and Moneyball...loved the references to Brockton Ma..was not happy with the ending but hopefully it is setting up a sequel....;)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews