Snow Job, written by Charles Beniot, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: This book starts in 1977. Nick is in his senior high school and he is reevaluating what he
wants in life. He makes a list inspired by a book that he has been rereading. His list is: Stand Up, Stand Out, Stand By and Stand Fast. He feels that throughout the course of high school he sort of settled for the group he hangs out with, the music he has been listening to, his family life and his job. Nick is pretty smart, but he has not put a lot of effort into this future. Nick is tired of spending weekends drinking cheap beer and getting high. His most meaningful relationship is with Karla and they are just friends, but Nick starts to want more. Nick testified as a witness to a crime he saw and put away someone who was older than him, but ran in the same circles and went to the same school. When he was released from prison, he started to pull Nick into the drug world. He also meets Dawn, who reminds him of Joan Jett, and gets involved with drug-running and witnesses physical abuse and prostitution.

Straight Talk for Librarians: I would say this book is definitely a fast-paced psychological thriller. It skirts the edge of mature YA and adult worlds. Nick is definitely not a perfect character. But as a teenager about to graduate from high school, you can see him maturing and really taking to heart his list and trying to become a better person. Who, by the way, is inspired by the main character in a book that he keeps checking out from the library. 💙💗 Nick does not do drugs and does not let himself be cheated. He really has a pretty solid moral compass. The drug-running is a gray area because he is trying to better his life, but desperate times do call for desperate measures. I was too young to remember the 70’s and it’s a time period that does not dominate the YA world, so I think this decade is somewhat refreshing in this book. It gives some insight into when Disco Fever was a thing, eight-tracks were in cars, Pintos and Gremlins were on the road and it was easy to be underage and buy beer at local stores. It seems like a different world without cameras everywhere and cell phones that dictate your social life. I also love the references to Joan Jett and the Ramones. It might inspire a new generation of readers to discover their music. The twist at the ending is huge. I would say that it is consistent with the noir feel and that there is not a “happy” ending, but it is a satisfying ending.

After I finished the book, I really appreciated the book cover. There is a triple meaning (I think.  At least that is what I got out of it). It refers to people getting snowed (conned), white power in a baggie (cocaine) and a lot of the story is set in the winter while it is snowing. It’s really quite clever, but also quite mature. This book is definitely for high school students. It’s a good independent reading choice. It is also perfect for those students who want to know what it was like to grow up in the 1970s.