Tweaked

by Katherine Holubitsky

Sixteen-year-old Gordie Jessup is a good kid but he's living a nightmare. His eighteen-year-old brother Chase's two-year addiction to crystal meth has left their family emotionally and financially drained. And just when Gordie thinks he can no longer stand the manipulating, the lying and the stealing, things get even worse. Chase is arrested for aggravated assault, released on bail and sent home to his family. But his dealers are after him and Chase appeals to Gordie for help. Gordie, disgusted with his brother and fully aware that it's a gamble, risks everything he has in the hope of bringing his family some peace.

Genres: Young Adult, Addiction, Fiction, Canada, Drugs, Teen, Contemporary

179 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Katherine Holubitsky's first novel, Alone at Ninety Foot, (Orca), won the CLA Book of the Year for Young Adults and the IODE Violet Downey Book Award. She has also written Last Summer in Agatha, The Hippie House and The Mountain that Walked, all published by Orca. Katherine lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/katherin...

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'Gordie, I need money.'

My stomach clenches at the sound of Chase's voice. Where does he get the nerve to call me at work? 'Not now, Chase. I'm busy.'

'But it's important.'

'It's always important. Does it ever occur to you that what I'm doing might also be important?'"

What a haunting book.

Tweaked is a book about a sixteen year old boy, named Gordie, who is practically living in hell. His older brother, Chase, is a drug addict, and Chase is bringing everybody down with him. Ever since Chase became addicted, he's been in and out of the house, wasting away, while stealing money and family belongings to purchase his meth. Gordie's family try to help him, but it is getting out of control.

Then Chase attacks a stranger and puts him in a critical condition in the hospital. Chase is arrested for assault, and if the man dies, it can turn into something far worse. For bail, Gordie's family must pay fifty-grand to bail Chase out, and his family just doesn't have that kind of money laying around.

When Chase comes back, his drug dealers are after him. He hasn't paid off his debts, and now the dealers are threatening to kill him if he doesn't pay them. Gordie's family is already struggling as it is, and now there's a new problem. In attempt to stop this madness, Gordie scrambles up two-thousand dollars, and gives it to his brother, hoping that once Chase pays off this debt, he can fix himself up and get back to living his life.

But then Chase runs away.

With Gordie's two-thousand dollars.

And nobody can find him.

Gordie is living in a nightmare as his life turns to mush. His parents are breaking down, their behavior different than usual. His grades are slipping, and he can't seem to find the motivation to pass his classes. Then his brother somehow steals and sells his prized possession, a beautiful bass guitar, and Gordie doesn't have the money to buy it back.

"'His drug dealers were after him,' my voices comes out muffled through my hands. 'I thought if I paid them off, it would be done. You and Mom wouldn't have to know about it. We could all go on from there.'

He sighs. Kneeling down next to me he squeezes my shoulder. 'You too, huh? How much did you lose?'"

Tweaked was such a twisted, neatly written story. I felt my chest breaking in the inside as I emphasized with Gordie, and I could almost feel the sweat building up from Chase's desperate situation. I felt so bad the whole time, because just as something bad would happen, it got worse.

It really proves that you can't change somebody, no matter how hard you try. People are controlling, and can take charge of your life if you give into it. Such a strong and riveting story. I really enjoyed it.

"I can't take it anymore,' I tell him, letting the backpack slide off my shoulder. 'He's ruined my life. He's ruined my parents' lives.' I am so close to blubbering. I take in a deep breath, keeping my eyes fixed on the graffiti on the concrete wall.

The detective puts his hand n my shoulder. 'Look, we'll get him. It didn't happen this time, but we will. Things will get better once we do.'

I turn away. 'Well, they sure as hell can't get any worse. He's taken everything. He's ruined everything. I don't know how they can get better. They'll never be the way they were.' My voice is hoarse."

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick read (less than 200 pages) and gives a realistic look into drug addiction, specifically meth. It’s a bit of a harsh reality kind of read... 4/5 ⭐️

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because it’s very interesting to read about an addict who does all these things to get his next fix.
The genre of tweaked could be a realistic fiction: Young adult drama.
The setting of the story is not exactly a specific location but. The parts of the setting are gordies town, house, school and where he works.
Gordy: he’s very angry at his brother for doing drugs and stealing from his parents. Gordy is a regular kid with an irregular life with a brother who would rather use his money for a fix than for school or go to rehab to get better.
Gordy’s a great kid he even a base player for a band called ‘’The Pogos.’’
It first starts out with a memory of two brothers who build a tepee but soon the memory begins fades. The person who was remembering was reminiscing about when his brother chase wasn’t a serious crystal methamphetamine user. Gordie Jessup hated the fact that his brother chase is a crystal meth head now because of crystal meth his brother broke a bottle over a man’s head and he died. The problem is resolved when chase died from overdose on crystal meth.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about a drug addict who steals from his parents has murdered an innocent man and brought nothing but misery to his family.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because my best friend read it for a health assignment and told me that this was a good book. So when I picked it up I was expecting something....well...really good.
To be honest, I would have to say that this book isn't the best but not the worst.
It portrays the life of a drug addict and how it affects him and the people around him.
But the thing I really liked about the book is that it isn't from the addicts point of view. It's from his brother. And his bro shared with us how he feels about his bros addiction and how he feels betrayed that his bro is stealing from them.

I would give this book a 3.5 or a 4 out of 5

[Ian Raffaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice reality play written to scare high school students about the dangers of meth. Everything that happened in this book was the worse case scenario for the characters involved. I'm not saying it was unrealistic, but the book moves from one depressing event after another. The only thing worse than watching Chase make every predictable wrong decision is his imbecilic family also making every predictable wrong decision. Admittedly, I can make no claim on how I would act if my brother or son used meth because I have never been put in such a situation. However, I can hypothesize. I would have cut the dead weight loose long ago and left town.

[Lauren.siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I was a bit suspicious of reading this book thinking it would be another one of those boring "class books". That's why I was so suprised when I started reading. All the tension you feel even though you aren't a part of the situation! I didnt think if was fair for Gordie to have to be dealing with all he did. Even though it was really sad when Chase died it's hard not to think he deserved it, with all the stress and pain he put on his family both emotionally and financially. Overall I give this book a 4/5 :)

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read that focuses not so much on the user of Crystal Meth, but rather the devastating impact of the user's addiction on his family. This is a Canadian novel, set in Vancouver.

[Kyle Jahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting book about a kid who gets addicted to meth and can't wait to get his next fix tearing apart his family and taking everything they have,

[Douglas Musselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. The book was very realistic which I think kept me reading it. It's also based in the north shore, which is cool. The book was kind of depressing, but turned out good. Would recommend.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read tweaked by Katherine Holubitsky. Tweaked is a book showing the real life dangers of drugs, specifically meth. The main character, Gordie Jessup, is a 16 year old highschool student that does normal teenager stuff such as playing a guitar and working a part time job. He grew up with both parents and his brother Chase, who is 2 years older than him. Chase is extremely addicted to meth. When Chase was 16, he started to hangout with the wrongs kids. Kids who drank and experimented with drugs. He eventually ended up trying meth and after one time, he was instantly addicted. The more he used it, the more he skipped classes. Skipping classes became skipping school. Then he would just disappear for days at a time. He lost so much weight you could see his ribs straight through his skin. Then he started stealing from his family. After a while of the same old Chase, the cops showed up to the Jessup’s house one day. They told them that chase had hit a man over the head with a glass bottle and that the man was in critical condition. Chase was arrested. Chase was released days after from bail. Chase tells Gordie about being in debt from buying drugs and how his dealers would kill him if he didn’t pay them soon. Gordie does everything he can to get enough money to pay the debt. The dealers end up jumping Gordie because they can’t find Chase. Chase runs away when his parents discover why the dealers jumped Gordie. Chase sneaks into a house which he thought was abandoned and passes out there. When he leaves in the morning the dealers are outside waiting for him and all jump him very bad. Chase is sent to the ER unconscious. He is in very critical condition and supposedly in a coma. The story peacefully ends but life for the Jessups will never be the same.

I personally enjoyed this book very much. Tweaked has opened up my eyes about what hard drugs can do not only to the user, but to the user’s family as well. The family was being stole from by their own son and he financially drained them. People look at the user’s brother as a bad kid even though he’s never once had a drug in him. Drugs can completely ruin a person’s life in a short amount of time. I prefer cliffhanger books that take longer to get to the climax then books that get straight to the point. It was a little too slow for my liking but once it started to get really interesting I started to get really interested. I would say this book just opened up my eyes about my family. Even though Chase, the user in the book, was addicted to meth his mom still fed him and made sure he had money. This makes me realize that my mom will always love and care for me no matter what I’m going through. Overall I would give this book about an 8 out of 10 and highly recommend it to teenagers 16-18 years old to read to take in the effects of drugs and families.

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tweaked is a book about a 16 year old teenager who has a drug addict brother. Jesse's Brother named Chase has a meth addiction and is charged with aggravated assault. Chase had attacked a random man in the back of the head with a bottle. Chases life has been on a downward spiral since his meth addiction and has taken down his family as well with him. The books main theme is that drug addiction does not only affect the addict but his/her loved ones as well. The author is able to develop the characters very well. Especially Jesse which the book is first person point of view. The reader gets to see what chases feelings towards his brother and his naive parents. You get to see Jesse grow to be a better person through all the hardships that he is facing with his family. I think the author was very effective in conveying his message that drugs are horrible and they will also ruin your family’s as well. The message is simple but this book could definitely sway people away from drug abuse. I recommend this book to other people. Although how Chase started doing meth is an unrealistic and his parents seem too naive to put up with Chase. Although the book is not completely realistic you can feel the tension as if you were in the story. Overall I would rate the book a ⅘ stars. The book is worthwhile reading and you will learn.

[Evi Varvouletos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book Tweaked was a really good book about the stress and issues of drugs. The main character Gordie has a brother who is facing a bad addiction to meth. Gordie and his brother used to be pretty close but the past 2 years have been going quickly downhill. His brother's addiction is making a huge hole in the family and is causing them to constantly fight and get into disagreements. Gordie is just trying to live his own life but he keeps getting sucked into his brother's life. I really liked this book because it really showed the cause and effect of illegal drug use. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a book that will keep them wanting more.

[Aleesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this type of book isn't my type of book that I like to read, because it wasn't bad. If you like drama and somewhat real life situations then you'd like this book. I thought it was just a little bit repetitive with what was happening, and that was something I didn't like but I still followed through and finished the book.

[Ava R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book overall. Bits and pieces did bother me, like the unnecessary romance that was completely irrelevant to the plot, but otherwise, this book was a very perspectival one. Drugs don’t just affect the users, but also those close to them. A very powerful book that I would recommend (if it wasn’t banned)

[Brett p · Rating 1 out of 5]

In my opinion I did not like theirs book like some parts made absolutely no sense like when his brother died it kept on saying he was alive but some at his grave. I recommend you find a different book to read.

[Liane Vaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the book, I was able to get into the characters after a while, although it was really short and could have used some more building up to events. I felt that everything happened really fast, but overall I liked it.

[Kaotickanadian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the location of this books setting. Growing up in BC, living and Visiting Vancouver over the years made this read very relatable. The concept of the book and the story did have me wanting to finish it to find out what happens
The characters were very likeable.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from a recovering addict who's brother and dad were both addicts, this book is extremely accurate and is simultaneously heartbreaking and "feel-good" im just happy everything worked out for Gordie...

[Veeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about drugs tend to overdo it. This is not one of those books. Amazingly written and with a great message. Definitely recommend.

[Deb Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistic

So sad that meth has become such an addiction. It destroys not only the addict ,but everyone in their lives

[Janelle Okougha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing I highly recommend to people into fiction about drug abuse. Would read anytime any day. I'm currently reading this again.

[April Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, short read that delves into the effects of heavy drug abuse on users and their families. An eye-opening fictitious account of meth addiction

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as my husband was an addict and I can relate. It was hard for me to read because it brought back so many memories, but it helped to never forget.

[Skyler Drier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book.

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it comes to the insights into the environments and struggles that drive one onto the path of addiction, the book does not offer much beyond a notion that no matter who you are, it only takes to try the drugs once, and that is the end for you. However, as the book is written from a perspective of a teen struggling to maintain a normal life in a messed-up situation, this position understandable. For what it is, the book is decent enough. It is really a 2.5-2.75 out of 5 material, but as I cannot choose that here and I feel generous, three stars it is.

[DEAF BANANA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tweaked is a gripping story about the trials and tribulations of a young teen (Gordie)while his brother has become influenced and addicted to drugs. Katherine does not refrain from using vivid imagery to depict the affects of drugs on Gordie's brother, Chase. Pg. 57 "He broke out in speed bumps- sores that oozed gross stuff as his body tried to get rid of the noxious chemicals. He'd scratch and pick at them even as you talked to him, never allowing them to heal..." This quote is one of many that clearly depicts the state of mind that Chase is currently in.Despite describing in very good detail the drug scene Katherine Holubitsky words it in such a way that it is appropriate for younger readers, without using any vulgar or colloquial language; while at the same time she is able to convey more than what is being read to older readers.
In the beginning of the book we are introduced to a young Chase and Gordie both children are innocent at this point, Chase has become fascinated with the idea of building a tepee and with this endeavor he had caused widespread destruction to the surrounding woodland. pg.3 " A family of beavers couldn't have destroyed so many trees in two weeks. Stripped of their bark, twenty or so trees stood lashed together around a central tripod in a new clearing. Chase was building the real thing". Within context of the continuing story (fastforwarded to the teen years of the boys) I feel that this short story has tremendous significance to the rest of the story. At first I felt as if this represented Chase's ignorance and innocence of "right" and "wrong", but upon further inspection I found a more thought provoking idea within it. The incident of Chase going after the tepee (methamphetamine) had indirectly cause immense damage to the surrounding trees/area (family), Chase is so focused on getting what he wants that he had indirectly caused harm to the surrounding area and I personally feel that this accurately reflects Chase's behaviour further along in the novel. I see this most evidently near the middle of the book where the family begins to struggle with their finances, posessions and emotions. I enjoy how Katherine Holubitsky has shown multiple sides of the drug addiction; from the perspective of Gordie we are in a sense allowed insight into the minds of both Mr. and Mrs. Jessup. Mr. Jessup displays a semi grounded attitude toward the situation whereas Mrs. Jessup *spoiler alert* who has been emotionally broken by her son's actions has been a contributing factor in continuing Chase's drug addiction and has submitted herself to his web of lies and deceit and because of this she has inadvertantly led to Chase's death.
All in all I have thoroughly enjoyed this book as unlike in media where everyone seems to have fun without any consequences with drugs, the dedicated author provides a deeper insight into the lives of an otherwise average family who have been plagued by a drug known as methamphetamine. As a reader I am more knowledgeable about the manipulation,theft and violence displayed by anybody who has become involved in drugs. Tweaked is a fantastic read and sheds more light onto an otherwise very overlooked subject.

[Jordan Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tweaked by Katherine holubitsky
Year of publication: January 1st 2008
Rate:7.5


Chases life had begun to take over the Jessup's lives. Gordie's brother Chase has been addicted to crystal meth for two years now. He had started to lie about where he was going, and tricked his family into giving him money for drugs and for paying people back the money he owe, which they thought was being used for other things such as food. Gordie’s parents thought that they had Chase under control until one day, Chase assaults a man because he was so high on drugs and had to much alcohol. The man’s is in critical condition at the hospital and is severely injured. After when things get to the breaking point and the boys parent’s kick Chase out of the house. Chase’s addiction begins to tear the family apart.

Gordie’s brothers with Chase is a great teenage boy, he always goes to school and he tries hard. He faithfully works at the grocery mart with his friend. Throughout this novel, Gordy struggles with many normal teenage issues, like love and multiple problems at home. One of Gordie’s biggest problems is trying to trust his brother, chance after chance He still fails to show Gordie he’s worth being trusted or that he can be trusted by family and friends. Chase has been addicted to drugs for two years and can’t stop. He has disappointed his family, lied to them and threatened them. He has hurt so many people, but his mom just won’t give up on him.

Gordie and Chase’s mom and dad army really mentioned in the book a lot. But In a way though, they are important in the story. Gordie’s dad gets very mad at Chase. He threatens to kick him out of the house and he does. The mother on the other hand is very forgiving of Chase which makes him think his mom will give him anything. She wants to believe that it isn’t Chase’s fault that he’s addicted to drugs and that if he asks for money for food, he really is spending it on food but he's not.

I would tell people that they should read this book because it does teach you a lot of what could happen if you start doing drugs. The book is pretty much about a boy and his family’s struggles , due to his brother’s addiction. The book talks about a very real and current topic.

I think the author of this novel wants to teach us about the effects of drugs. What drugs can do to us, the effects on others and how serious and life threatening taking drugs can be. (getting kicked out of the house, and could end up with you getting hurt)

This book is really depressing for some people either because the have been through the same thing, or they had friends or family in the position that chase was in. This would be a good life lesson for the young children in this world.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very compelling to read. I started at 7pm ad finished at 8:30pm. I could not put it down specifically because the author wrote it with so much suspense and intrigue

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

For the last two years, Gordie Jessup has been living a nightmare. His older brother Chase is addicted to crystal meth, and the ramifications of his actions are destroying his family both emotionally and financially. And just when Gordie thinks things can’t get any worse, an even greater tragedy strikes, and this time the consequences are permanent. In her latest novel, Katherine Holubitsky offers readers a gritty and realistic look at drug addiction from the younger brother of a crystal meth user. Drawing its title from the nickname for Crystal Meth, “tweaking” or “tweaked” is the term used to describe users who are looking for their next hit. Chase lies, cheats, steals and spirals completely out of control and Gordie, the narrator, never justifies, nor apologizes for his brother’s actions. He is completely blunt and unemotional in his telling, but not detached. He, like the other members of his family, has suffered and his tone is one of tired resignation mixed with sadness, frustration and anger. His life is crumbling around him, and desperate for normality, he clings to his hardware store job and his friendship with Jade – a girl who is also struggling with her own issues, and barely hanging on. With his family falling apart, and school seeming like an impossible triviality, the reader will be drawn to Gordie, and empathize with him as he struggles to make sense of everything around him. Particularly effective is the ending of the story, where Gordie encounters a former friend of his brother’s and another addict. Hope sparks in Gordie when it seems that he is on the road to recovery, but a request for money and a tell-tale swipe of his nose suggest otherwise, and the reader is left to draw his/her own conclusion about his fate. Tweaked is not easy to read in terms of subject, but it is a valuable one. While the portrait painted by the author is at times grim and disturbing, the novel is fast paced, compelling and highly readable, and should be used as an essential text for drug education in high schools.

Reviewed by Rachel Steen in Canadian Children's Book News
Summer 2008 VOL.31 NO.3

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tweaked is a book I picked up impulsively. I was attracted to the cover primarily and then to the well written summary that left me wanting more. It was also on display in the Canadian literature section at the library which I try to support when I can.

Although the summary does its job of reeling in a prospective reader, I still wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I have to say however that I am more than happy to have given Tweaked a chance. It's a fairly short book, not quite two hundred pages yet it packs such a powerful punch. The first few chapters lay down the foundation filling the reader in on a few occurrences dealing with Gordie's brother Chase and the lasting affects his actions have left on the Jessup family. From then on out Tweaked really picks up the speed and is one of those novels that you cannot put down. I was so eager to find out what was going to happen to Gordie and his family and how they would recover, if at all, from such a crippling few years.

I have never read a book that deals with drug addiction in the past and I enjoyed how such a concept was told through the eyes of the younger brother as he witnessed the destruction occurring around him. Tweaked is one of those novels where you become so invested in the lives of the characters. Seeing as you're being offered such a personal look into such a difficult situation, it's nearly impossible not to garner some form of attachment. There were so many times when I wanted to literally scream at the characters especially Chase who was beyond infuriating for this book's duration and the mother who although I could understand where she was coming from, still went about things in a frustrating way.

Overall: This is a fantastic read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's fast paced and filled with wonderfully developed characters as well as a wonderfully orchestrated plot. It's definitely worth a read.