Guitar Boy

Guitar Boy

by MJ Auch

This past week I read the fiction book Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.  I thought this book was very compelling.  In the book, Travis Tacey doesn’t have it easy. His mom is in the hospital suffering from brain damage after a terrible car accident, and his father has kicked Travis out of the house.  Homeless, no money, and only 14 years old, Travis tries to make money from his guitar playing.  But when his cherished guitar is stolen Travis doesn’t know what to do.  With luck he gets a job a guitar maker’s shop.  With Travis’ love of music, devotion to his family, and kindness to others, he starts to make a new life for himself.

Scott Mckissask, the owner of the shop, and his friends, treat Travis well.  When Scott’s friend Clarence finds out that Travis has been kicked out of his house, he takes him in.  Travis tells Clarence that his mother had been in a car accident and is now recovering in a nursing home, but he doesn’t know where.  Clarence knows that Travis has lost a lot and tries to find the nursing home Travis’ mother is in. When Clarence finds the nursing home, Travis is overjoyed. 

            Travis borrows a new guitar from Scott, and since Travis knows his mom loves hearing him play the guitar, he decides to bring it with him on his visit to the nursing home.  At the nursing home, Travis plays the guitar for his mom. Travis’s mom has Aphasia a result of the car crash. As a result she can think of something to say,  but can’t actually say it. Even though his mom can’t speak, Travis’s guitar playing really perks her up.  Travis convinces Clarence to take him to the nursing home everyday and Travis’ guitar playing eventually leads to speed his mother’s recovery.