#SneakPeekSunday - King Dork by Frank Portman

Title: King Dork
Author: Frank Portman
Genre: YA Humor
Publication Date: April 11, 2006
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 344
Goodreads

Synopsis

The cult favorite from Frank Portman, aka Dr. Frank of the Mr. T. Experience, is a book like nothing ever done before--King Dork literally has something for everyone: At least a half-dozen mysteries, love, mistaken identity, girls, monks, books, blood, bubblegum, and rock and roll. This book is based on music--a passion most kids have--and it has original (hilarious) songs and song lyrics throughout.
   

When Tom Henderson finds his deceased father’s copy of J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, his world is turned upside down. Suddenly high school gets more complicated: Tom (aka King Dork) is in the middle of at least half a dozen mysteries involving dead people, naked people, fake people, a secret code, girls, and rock and roll. As he goes through sophomore year, he finds clues that may very well solve the puzzle of his father’s death and—oddly—reveal the secret to attracting semi-hot girls (the secret might be being in a band, if he can find a drummer who can count to four.
   

A brilliant story told in first person, King Dork includes a glossary and a bandography, which readers will find helpful and hilarious.

Sneak Peek Review

I received a copy of this sneak peek from Delacorte Press through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

I spent the entirety of this sneak peek trying to figure out what era this book is set in. I've ultimately decided that it's early 80s, but maybe it's late 70s, honestly it was rather difficult to peg it, but it does not have a timeless feeling, so I really want to know when it was set. I thought the synopsis would tell me (and I once again made the mistake of not reading that thing before starting the sneak peek), but as you can see, it doesn't. And frankly, this is kind of bugging me. 

Maybe it's because I spent so much time reading the book trying to figure out when it was set, but I just did not feel any sort of connection with the main character, the King Dork. He really just came across as a jerk who also happens to get picked on by the jocks. I guess maybe I'm supposed to feel sorry for him because he gets picked on, and I probably would if he didn't come across as such a tool. But it's kind of hard to feel sorry for a guy who is basically a self-avowed jerk. 

At this point, I don't feel any desire to even try to finish reading this book. If I had a full copy of the book instead of just the sneak peek, I might actually be fine DNF'ing it even, and I basically never DNF books. I am perfectly content to just be done with this book. And maybe it redeems itself in the next few chapters, but it just did not grab my attention and I will not be continuing it. - Katie 

Buy the Book

Amazon

About the Author

I am also known as Dr. Frank, and I write books and songs.

***The paperback edition of King Dork Approximately is out now, and includes a free download of the accompanying King Dork Approximately the Album. Basically if you want the book it comes with a free album and if you want the album it comes with a free book.***

I've put out a couple of solo records, and my band The Mr. T Experience (MTX) has released around a dozen albums or so over the years.  

King Dork is my first novel. Andromeda Klein is my second. King Dork Approximately is my third.

Behold, my web presence: frankportman.com
http://www.facebook.com/frankportman
http://doktorfrank.tumblr.com/
doktorfrank.com (blog)
Sounds Radical webstore: http://www.soundsradical.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

My interests include tomatoes, swords, guitars, calculators, movies, TV, and things made of vinyl, wood, and metal.