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My Chemical Mountain

by Corina Vacco (Goodreads Author)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 21 ratings · 8 reviews

Rocked by his father's recent death and his mother's sudden compulsion to overeat, Jason lashes out by breaking into the abandoned mills and factories that plague his run-down town. Always by his side are his two best friends, Charlie, a fearless thrill junkie, and Cornpup, a geek inventor whose back is covered with cysts. The boys rage against the noxious pollution that s...more

Hardcover, 192 pages

Expected publication: June 11th 2013 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

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On My June 2013 List

11th out of 29 books — 16 voters

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

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270th out of 272 books — 510 voters

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Feb 04, 2013 Lisa rated it 2 of 5 stars

What's the What: Jason and his friends Charlie and Cornpup live in what most of us would consider a horrifying nightmare. With their houses situated next to giant industrial complexes, their world is rife with chemical sludge choking their creek, cavernous abandoned factories and immense mountains of waste. And while they rail against the BIG BAD CHEMICAL COMPANY that Jason feels is responsible for his father's death, he and his friends share a fierce connection with the toxic environment that h...more What's the What: Jason and his friends Charlie and Cornpup live in what most of us would consider a horrifying nightmare. With their houses situated next to giant industrial complexes, their world is rife with chemical sludge choking their creek, cavernous abandoned factories and immense mountains of waste. And while they rail against the BIG BAD CHEMICAL COMPANY that Jason feels is responsible for his father's death, he and his friends share a fierce connection with the toxic environment that has been part of their day-to-day existence for so long.

Opening Sentence: THE WIND CARRIES SULFUR AND HARD RAIN.

The Good: Each boy is not without his admirable characteristics. Jason uses this hell to fuel his creativity, conjuring fantastic monsters and stories that are the culprits of its very creation. Charlie, in his own covert and peculiar way, is extraordinarily generous. Cornpup is the voice of reason in this story. It's his staunch grasp on the reality of the situation, the true monsters responsible for it, and his plan to bring them down that shine a little bit of light into this pitch black story.

The Not So Good: Not having been exposed to this type of environment, I'm not certain I can buy the boys', especially Charlie's, cavalier attitude toward the deadlier trappings of their world. There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity, and that line in this story is not only crossed but obliterated off the face of the Earth. Case in point: "Me and Charlie walk to the shores of Two Mile, because we need to get our clothes muddy. We need to cut our hands open on sharp rocks. Maybe Charlie will even swallow a mouthful of creek water, because it's a shocking thing to do, and because he knows I've more cough drops in my pocket. I know how good it feels, gulping that sharp water, making your throat burn on purpose, never giving in to the tug of fear."

Swoon Factor: Not a whisper of a swoon.

The Verdict: While there is a lyrical beauty to the way Vacco brings life to her wasteland, I still can't wrap my head around something like this being accepted, ignored and even embraced (by some). It's logical that people need their jobs, and the BIG BAD CHEMICAL COMPANY is their means of fiscal survival, but their CHILDREN are in danger for heaven's sake! Their conspiracy of silence before the events in this novel is simply unforgivable.

(Review based on advance reader copy. Expected publication of My Chemical Mountain is June 11, 2013)(less)

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Mar 22, 2013 Stephanie Diaz rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is really different, in a good way. The world is so vivid and the characters are brilliantly distinct and unusual. Highly recommended!

1 like · like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Shannon Boudreau rated it 5 of 5 stars

SUMMARY: Three boys repress their fear and dive head-first into the thrills of landfill culture: breaking into abandoned buildings, speeding down landfills on their dirt bikes, and worse. Jason, the main character, blames a chemical company for his father’s death, and seeks revenge, but what can he really do against such a powerful enemy? The boys cope and lash out in surprising ways—Jason through his artwork, Charlie through upping the stakes of toxic exposure, and Cornpup through trying to ign...more SUMMARY: Three boys repress their fear and dive head-first into the thrills of landfill culture: breaking into abandoned buildings, speeding down landfills on their dirt bikes, and worse. Jason, the main character, blames a chemical company for his father’s death, and seeks revenge, but what can he really do against such a powerful enemy? The boys cope and lash out in surprising ways—Jason through his artwork, Charlie through upping the stakes of toxic exposure, and Cornpup through trying to ignite change in the community. Change does occur, but at a terrible price.

WHAT I LOVED:
-- The author uses literary, beautiful language to describe the most grotesque stuff.
“We walk along a trail of deep, glossy puddles, bright green water during the day, and deep, forest-green water at night. Cornpup doesn’t step in these puddles because to him they’re dangerous chemical landmines. I don’t step in the puddles because I have to keep my shoes looking clean and new for as long as possible; Mom won’t take me shopping till my toes pop out, and even then it’s a battle. Charlie, though, he steps in the puddles. He tries to splash us.”
-- The characters stuck with me. They are so flawed and alive. The friendship between them is really strong. Jason’s voice was haunting in its realness.
-- Toxic tours through the industrial yards and a Freak Museum full of weird stuff found at the polluted creek. The chemical descriptions made me feel like I was really there (and afraid to breathe): "Hidden within the industrial zone are secret places only me and my friends know about: a trail of green puddles that never dry up; a rusty railcar full of weird, smelly rocks; and a perfect square of earth where you can dig for hours without seeing a single insect, not even a worm. My favorite thing to look at is the cluster of trees that turned black and died for no reason. When I draw sludge demons in my sketchbook, I usually put those trees in the background.”
-- This book is hate letter to the chemical industry for sure. But there’s a twist: the boys aren’t so sure they want the pollution cleaned up. It’s become a part of their home, their recreation, their identity. As I watched them expose themselves to who knows what, I cringed for them, and it made for a unique and emotional reading experience.

OVERALL : I strongly recommend this book, especially to guys. It’s raw, gritty, and full of shocking images and intensity. Also, I hunted down the book’s website www.mychemicalmountain.com, and there’s a page called Your Chemical Mountain where you can read articles about toxic towns I never even knew existed.

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Mar 13, 2013 Joyce Sweeney rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a powerful dystopia with a strong theme of friendship and loyalty. This book won the Delacorte Prize and it's no wonder. Corina Vacco has an amazing capacity to build a world that is too frighteningly like our own and to show us the human side of our destruction of the environment.

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Jan 14, 2013 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Three boys come of age in a town that has been destroyed by the local chemical company where everyone works. Tragic events happen that convince the boys that they need to fight back and save their town from the devastating effects (not only natural but family life) of the chemical company.

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Mar 12, 2013 Zoe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: eco-cool

This book is unusual, dark, surprising, and very cool. Highly recommend!

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Feb 07, 2013 Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars

"We live by the best landfill ever. I flipped my dirt bike there once. Plus I've got a sketchbook full of uranium monsters. My friend Cornpup likes to show off the bumps on his back for a dollar. And Charlie, he'll drink red creek water on a dare." Shocking book, very intense. The characters explode off the page.

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Feb 26, 2013 Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: school-library-journal

I actually really, really enjoyed this. Worth reading.

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About Corina Vacco

Corina Vacco felt compelled to write about toxic towns after reading an article alleging that hundreds of thousands of children and teens throughout the United States attend schools built on or near dangerously polluted sites. She found the inspiration for this book while living in Western New York, where she heard teachers speak out against a landfill adjacent to an elementary school. A city girl...more

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