Tagged

by Diane C. Mullen

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Pub Date Mar 10 2015 | Archive Date Apr 30 2015

Description

Liam is a fourteen-year-old graffiti artist living in project housing in Minneapolis with his single mother and three younger siblings. When Liam’s estranged older brother coerces him to tag a graffiti symbol for a rival gang, Liam’s life is threatened. Due to his apathetic attitude in the classroom and on the baseball field, Liam’s private-school scholarship is also threatened. His mother decides to send him to Lake Michigan for the summer to live with her best friend, Kat, a sculptor and art teacher, Liam soon delves into the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pablo Picasso, and his own personal aesthetics. He’s encouraged to consider his art seriously and how it might contribute to a greater community. Having to decide between staying with Kat and returning home to his siblings who need him, Liam’s story inspires him to reinvent himself for the better.

Liam is a fourteen-year-old graffiti artist living in project housing in Minneapolis with his single mother and three younger siblings. When Liam’s estranged older brother coerces him to tag a...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781580895835
PRICE	$16.95 (USD)

Additional Information

Average rating from 6 members

Featured Reviews

Cindy M, Reviewer

Mullen, Diane C. Tagged, pgs. 274. Charlesbridge , 2015. $16.95 PG – Language: about 25-30 swears; Mature Content: PG13 (kids selling drugs, gun pointed at main character’s head)

I chose this book to review because I am an artist and art teacher. I wanted to learn more about graffiti art and what drives taggers. This book is about Liam, a 14 year old who lives in the JFK projects in Minneapolis with his mom and younger brothers and sister. He has always liked to draw. He was encouraged in art by his Aunt Kat, an artist, who gave him a “blackbook” which is what he calls his sketchbook. Liam writes his graffiti tag everywhere. He feels that his tag lets people, as well as himself, know he exists. He dreams of becoming a real graffiti writer and creating something beautiful and cool. Liam gets into trouble when his older brother, Kieran, an Irish Mafia gang member, coerces him to tag a shamrock over a rival gang’s symbol. A couple of Los Crooks see Liam as he is spraying the shamrock. They threaten to kill him because of his actions. This is when Liam’s mom sends him to live with his Aunt Kat in Lakeshore, Michigan. He starts learning about Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Bassquiat and Claes Oldenburg. His life and work expand but he still has a hard choice to make. Will he make the right decision?

MS / HS – ADVISABLE. Mary Jane Burton