Back in 1997 I saw the film, "Junior's Groove," based on Virginia Hamilton's book, "The Planet of Junior Brown." I loved the movie. Loved it, loved it, loved it. It remains one of my all time favorite movies. When I saw the trailer for it I saw that it was about this kid who was a piano prodigy, practicing on a piano with the strings cut out. This is kind of what I used to do when I had to practice piano in the house and either the electricity was off or people were around: I would practice on a keyboard with the power off--I knew the notes and how to play, just didn't have any sound.Well, the movie and the book are two almost completely different things--as most adaptions tend to be.Why did I rank the book so much lower than the movie? I'll get to that later. The differences between the book and the movie are quite big. First of all, the movie contains a lot of characters that don't appear in the book, but these characters flesh out the story and fill in a lot of details about Junior Brown and his best friend, Buddy Clark. The book briefly goes into the past of Buddy Clark but the movie expands on his life a lot more. The movie even gives him a love interest in the part of a girl named Butter--a girl with a mysterious nightlife and who holds her affections at bay. One thing about the book and movie is that it illustrates Junior being great at piano. However, in the book you never get a chance to see or hear him play the piano--he only plays the silent piano with the cut-out strings. In the movie, multiple people talk about how great a piano player Junior really is. There's an introduction to a character named Sandra who works at her father's piano store. Junior goes into the piano store on occasion but is restricted to play any of the pianos. Junior goes to his piano lessons but his piano teacher is a bit nuts and won't let him play her piano. Junior goes home to practice on a piano but the strings are cut out. The book never actually lets you see Junior's playing ability affect his friends in such a way; the movie, however, let's you go the entire length of the film and then right at the end shows Junior playing a Chopin piece while his friends gather around and listen. It's an incredibly powerful scene that never appears in the book. The movie also has some of my other favorite scenes. There's a part where Buddy arranges for Sandra to come hang out with him, Junior and Butter. In that scene Junior talks about his relationship with Buddy and how Buddy never called him fat. It was an extremely sad scene as you get this sense that Junior is constantly picked on by people but Buddy is his friend for all the right reasons. Junior then goes on talking with Sandra and, almost out of no where, blurts out "I'm fat" to Sandra. She pauses and says, "I know." What was said is one thing, what was not said is that she knows he's fat but she's with him and hanging out with him anyway. She doesn't care that he's fat, she admires him for the beauty that he sees in people and his talent as a musician. The book mainly focuses on the relationship between Buddy and Junior as well as how they integrate their lives with Mr. Pool, a school janitor. It deals with "plants" that are basically youth shelters sponsored by elder members of the quasi-homeless society. I would love to rate this book higher but where it loses me is the philosophical corruption that is espoused as virtue.The book goes on to claim that people should live for themselves--that's great, I agree with that. But then the planets support their youths by stealing--essentially living off of other people. The book concludes with the realization that we, as people, are interdependent, that we should live off of one another and beholden to each other. And, instead of bringing Junior to a medical facility where he can receive professional help, Buddy opts to remove him from advanced society and place him in an isolated group of homeless people...where he magically begins to overcome his mental problems. There's also parts where Buddy laments about how hard it was growing up in his neighborhood but goes on to say how he would run away from Protective Services, thus, thwarting the one opportunity he had at have a normal living environment. The book is just filled with backwards thinking and flawed logic. I still love the movie but the book is just another tool to promote the nonsensical idea that people can't exist for themselves alone.
Genre: Contemporary Realism/Newbery HonorThis is the story of a group of friends living in a difficult urban environment. Junior Brown is an obese adolescent who is mentally disturbed and Buddy is a homeless buy who helps other kids trying to survive on the margin. It is a story about friendship.ThemesThe themes discussed in this book can be very difficult topics to address with young students. The book looks at mental illness, homelessness, obesity, and other problems that are commonly associated with urban areas. The author lightens some of this dark content with main character’s friendship and humor. On page 192, Mr. Pool and Buddy are talking about Junior and his “monster,” in a way that shows they are trying to find levity and laughter in the challenges they are all struggling with. This story would be an effective tool for lessons on mental illness, homelessness, and the struggles associated with people in poverty. Because of the difficult themes in this book, this would be best suited for older students, 6th grade and above.
Do You like book The Planet Of Junior Brown (2006)?
Honor Book 1972This powerful story is beautifully written, and that would normally earn a higher rating for me. But the darkness never let up and let any light in for me, so it was not an enjoyable read. I appreciated it, but I didn't enjoy it. The characters will stick with me for a while, though.Junior Brown and Buddy Clark are best friends. They need each other, and come to realize that more and more as their very delicate world falls apart. Both boys carry much more on their young shoulders than a child should have to carry: mental illness, homelessness, and surviving not just for themselves, but for others who depend on them. The few adults in their lives who care are not capable of providing much support. This is a gritty novel that doesn't rely on sex or drugs to provide the edge, and still conveys a lot of heart.
—Jen
Blog URL: http://readinggrace.blogspot.com/2012...I reckon this is probably the type of literature that I instantaneously get bored with it, however gradually grow to like it! Frankly, if you asked me what do I think about this book, I would reckon the title should named The Planet of Buddy Clark or perhaps Tomorrow Billy instead of Junior Brown.Well, because the stories were mostly revolving around Junior's best friend, Buddy Clark(And I actually enjoy reading Buddy's part than Junior's). Buddy was tough, brave and street smart(a profoundly survival) while Junior was a typical mama's boy, though at time he can be really calm and helpful, especially when his maw(mom) under asthma attack.I rated this book 2.5 stars out of 5, probably because the 1st half of the book kept me dragging, the pace was rather slow.Description:The story is about two black American boys , Buddy Clark a.k.a Tomorrow Billy and Junior Brown. Both the 8ve graders were gifted. Buddy the street boy was a prodigy in Math and Science while Junior the 300kg fat, skittish and awful looking boy was talented in playing piano. Despite their high academic achievement at school, they tend to break the Compulsory Education Law, and played hookies with the school Janitor, Mr Pool(an ex teacher). They hid in the basement room of the school, building their friendship and trusts.Although Junior came from a well- to- do family, he had very low self-esteem and constantly under depression(to the extend he started to hallucinate the thing...). His mom was a self- centered, sickly woman, who despised his friendship with his best friend Buddy. Whilst his dad was always away and seldom came home for them.Buddy in the other hand, was a independent homeless boy. A boy who couldn't open up to anyone, not even his friends. He was working at a newsstand, earning meager money and building shelters for other homeless black kids(like Franklin the little thief and Nightman the poor hungry boy). Imagine open a new bottle of water was a ritual that cheer the boys, and owing a pillow is like a dream come true!Together the boys create their future with believes and dreams...Note: I received the ARC of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.This entry was posted on Sunday, February 12, 20
—Alice Law
Two eighth graders have been ditching their classes for almost two months. Technically, they have been "in" school, just not where they're supposed to be. Buddy Clark and Junior Brown sneak into the basement every day of the week where the janitor,Mr. Pool teaches them about astronomy. Buddy Clark is a street genius who's been own his own for a while, now. He watches over Junior Brown, a 300 lb. boy who is delusional at times and takes care of his "sickly " mother and has already saved her life several times and it seems to be nothing. One day the school cracks down on them and gets suspicious. The boys, along with Mr. Pool, have to stick together to get through it. This book shows that you need to stick together when things get tough. When Buddy got real close to Junior, he realized that Junior had a serious problem. Only when Mr. Pool said so was when Buddy realized that they had to get him serious help. While Junior is talking to an imaginary figure, Mr. Pool and Buddy were making a plan to get him help. The problem was that Buddy thought that the doctors would try to fix his weight problem, so he didn't agree. He later finds out that Mr. Pool only wants the best for him, and also that they need to stick together and be there for each other. This book has a great morale to it, and can teach someone something important about life.
—Anton Moore
