The Punk and the Professor - 2nd Edition by Billy Lawrence (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Somewhere in a college classroom, the ancient myth of Plato's Allegory of the Cave is being retold and someone is remembering their ascent out of the dark cave. The Punk and the Professor pieces together the story of a man who began his journey out of ignorance. In the suburban shadows of New York City, eighteen-year-old Jack Tortis crawls his way through atypical adolescent struggles. He's an introvert in search of home, but he's been branded as a punk on an island with little opportunity for redemption. Set in the 1980s and '90s with a soundtrack of great music in the background, Jack and his friends try to find their way through dysfunction and illusion. In a battle for survival, they must overcome the violence, drugs, and apathy that infects their Long Island town. As winter approaches, Jack finds himself alone at the crossroads and must choose his fate. This modern coming-of-age story is framed by an ancient tale of wisdom that reminds us that reality is not always what it seems.

Review Quotes

"If you want to read a book about the struggles of youth and the twist and turns of growing, this is the one." novelist Miriam Polli

"The Punk and the Professor is a must-read for those wanting to understand the problems experienced by the younger generations." author & attorney Jhon Sanchez

"Gritty Americana written honestly and insightfully." -author Ben Shaberman

"The metaphoric running is even more poignant: Jack is daily running from home, running from the prison of school, and ultimately running from himself-or rather, running TO try to find himself. A nicely crafted novel." novelist P. Lundberg

"I found myself wanting to take this kid in because I believed in him." Tanya Peterson, mental health counselor

"...an enjoyable character, capable of extracting good from bad like gold from rock. Lawrence deftly describes this time in Jack's life, always wonderfully weaving light and hope into his record of darkness and despair." novelist A.L. Kent

"A wonderful journey!" author Dana Vacca