He had a steeper road to climb than the average kid, but he ends up learning something about personal power, friendship, first love, and how to fit in the world. Harry’s description of his life in his essay is both humorous and heart-wrenching. Harry discovered that playing music transported him out of his nightmare of a world, and he finally had something that compelled people to look beyond his physical appearance. The second defining moment: the day in eighth grade when the handsome, charismatic Johnny rescued him from the bullies and then made the startling suggestion that they start a band together. Harry was badly burned and has had to live with the physical and emotional scars, reactions from strangers, bullying, and loneliness that instantly became his everyday reality.

The first defining moment: the day the neighborhood goons tied him to a tree during a lightning storm when he was 8 years old, and the tree was struck and caught fire. In attempting to describe himself in his college application essay–to “help us to become acquainted with you beyond your courses, grades, and test scores”–Harbinger (Harry) Jones goes way beyond the 250-word limit and gives a full account of his life. The chords of a rock ‘n’ roll road trip in a coming-of-age novel that is a must-read story about finding your place in the world.

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos