SCAR GIRL

Through an interview format, the members of the Scar Boys recall from their own perspectives the events that take place leading up to the release of their first album in 1988.

The recollection begins where The Scar Boys (2014) left off; the band has completed its first packet tour, and frontman Johnny McKenna has been in a terrible accident in which he lost his leg. Immediately, readers will notice the ominous absence of Johnny’s voice; he is discussed only in the third person. As the title indicates, the narrative largely centers on bass player Cheyenne Bell. A painful loss, which she suffers in secret, sends her crashing down a dark spiral, unraveling her relationship with Johnny and spilling over into the band dynamic along the way. Even though it is apparent from the onset that tragedy is inevitable, when it strikes, readers will feel as blindsided as the band. Vlahos, a finalist for the Morris Award with The Scar Boys, has succeeded in creating a sequel every bit as compelling and emotionally charged as its predecessor. The pulsating energy formed by creating music is what bonds the band together. This current will pull readers in in hopes that each one of the Scar Boys will find his or her way to resilience through the darkest of times.

Like its predecessor, this novel will leave readers aching for an encore.