The Agony of Bun O'Keefe by Heather Smith

Pages: 216

Intended Audience: Mature tweens and teens

Genre: Real life / Contemporary

Notes for Parents: Contains some coarse language and a couple of very mature scenes.

The Inside Cover

Fourteen-year-old Bun O’Keefe has lived a solitary life in an unsafe, unsanitary house. Her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and Bun has had little contact with the outside world. What she’s learned about life comes from the random books and old VHS tapes that she finds in the boxes and bags her mother brings home. Bun and her mother rarely talk, so when Bun’s mother tells Bun to leave one day, she does. Hitchhiking out of town, Bun ends up on the streets of St. John’s. Fortunately, the first person she meets is Busker Boy, a street musician who senses her naivety and takes her in. Together they live in a house with an eclectic cast of characters: Chef, a hotel dishwasher with culinary dreams; Cher, a drag queen with a tragic past; Big Eyes, a Catholic school girl desperately trying to reinvent herself; and The Landlord, a man who bun is told to avoid at all cost. Through her experiences with her new roommates, and their sometimes tragic revelations, Bun learns about the world beyond the walls of her mother’s house and discovers the joy of being part of a new family.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The story is set in 1980s Newfoundland.

What’s good?

Bun O’Keefe is an unsophisticated 14-year-old girl who is at the heart of this beautiful character study. She is unwanted, leaves her stifling home, and stumbles upon Busker Boy, a young indigenous man who takes her in. She introduces the eclectic band of characters with her naïve eyes. Bun has no understanding of stereotypes and prejudice as she narrates the tragedies and triumphs that shape each person and their relationships with each other. The pace is steady and moves quickly with witty dialogue and strong characterization. The storytelling is raw and simple. Themes include abandonment, grief, prejudice, kindness, forgiveness, and community. The story is, at times upsetting, but in the end, is very heartwarming.

Best Part: Bun’s “narrator script” that she uses to comfort herself.

What isn’t good?

Bun O’Keefe is smart and clever, yet doesn’t grasp the concept of sarcasm, she takes everything literally, and has no understanding of common idioms or most pop culture references. This can get really annoying. However, it suggests that Bun may be autistic or otherwise developmentally delayed, adding another layer of mystery to her already unconventional personality.

Worst part: Pop Girl.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

This is a strange and fascinating story about a neglected girl who finds her tribe. It’s about people, and is populated with characters that you can’t help but care about. The author somehow avoids the usual literary tropes and creates a story that is tragic, uplifting, and very unique. It’s important to note that while the story never gets graphic, the subject matter does get heavy a couple of times. Ultimately this is a story about love, healing, and what constitutes a family. Definitely recommended.

Smith, Heather. The Agony of Bun O’Keefe. [Toronto]: Penguin, 2017. (Hardcover)