Whew - what an emotional read! I didn't really know what to expect with this one and was surprised to learn how emotional it was. I thought it would be focused more on the breakup/romance, but I like how it added a new spin with throwing an old friendship in there - I'm a fan of this trope! The character voices came through strong in this one, and I plan on looking at Acker's other books...the writing is angry, raw, and real. On top of all of this, I loved the songs for each chapter - I felt like I was opening back up my own angsty teenage years. I recommend picking this one up!

Actual rating 4.5 stars.

Sometimes, rawness is all I need in a book. James Acker’s debut, The Long Run, was moody, dark, but above all raw. His sophomore book, Teenage Dirtbags, has the same rough feeling. And for those who loved The Long Run, Bash and Sandro make an appearance too!
 
After reading James’ author’s note about growing up as a nasty, spiteful dirtbag while feeling not worth the trouble, a brick already settled itself in my stomach. Then I found the table of contents, and my heart jumped up. A dual narrative, multiple flashbacks, chapters like songs on cassette tapes with an A and a B side, and those song titles! From My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and many more. Intense, unpolished, harsh songs. But also tender, craving, and sweet. I hadn’t even started reading yet and was already in love.

Phil and Jackson (or Philip and Jacks) couldn’t be more different, and still, they were best friends once. Phil, the troublemaker, the punk, the heated one. Jacks, the class president, the worker, the quiet one. I loved both of their voices. Phil’s anger splashed off the pages, and Jacks struggles to be enough were tangible between every sentence.

If you’re just like me and love raw, honest stories that make you feel all the feels, I urge you to pick up this amazing book. And if you’ve read The Long Run and found it too rough, I believe this one is a bit sweeter (but still rough around the edges).