In the U.S., Henry Holt published the novel in 1997 as Smack^[2] —another slang term for heroin.

Plot summary

The novel is told in the first person. At the beginning of the story, Gemma is spending time with Tar. Gemma despite having loving parents, decides to leave home and join Tar in Bristol.

In Bristol, Tar is introduced to Richard through Skolly. Richard is a nervous, vegan anarchist, and he and his friends Vonny, a motherly character, and Vonny's boyfriend Jerry break into an abandoned house to live there with Tar. Tar is eager for them to meet Gemma as she arrives in Bristol. Gemma and Tar experiment smoking marijuana. Tar phones his mother to let her know he's safe.

Richard holds a party in the abandoned house and Tar and Gemma meet Lily. Gemma and Tar leave to stay the night with Lily and her boyfriend Rob. While they are there, Lily and Rob encourage Gemma and Tar to smoke heroin with them, and they do, believing that only smoking it won't get them addicted.

Tar and Gemma live with Lily and Rob for a long time, their heroin smoking habit turning into long-term addiction. They are joined by Sally, another heroin addict. Lily becomes pregnant and this inspires them into attempting to quit by going cold turkey, however they fail after only a day. Lily continues to inject heroin while pregnant. Lily, Gemma and Sally work as prostitutes in a massage parlour to fund their addiction. After getting arrested, Tar is sent to a rehabilitation centre. Once out, he declares himself clean, but after going back to the flat with Gemma, Lily and Rob, he takes heroin again.

The catalyst comes after Tar and Gemma are found with heroin again; Tar takes the blame and this time is sent to prison. Gemma, now pregnant with Tar's baby, allows Vonny to get in touch with her mother, who asks Gemma to come home and have the baby with the help of her parents. She agrees, and after 3 and a half years she is back at home. Her story ends with her clean and heroin-free, bringing up the baby without Tar because she doesn't trust him to stay off the drugs. Tar, once out of prison, slowly weans himself off methadone and settles down with a girlfriend, visiting his and Gemma's daughter every few months.

Characters in Junk

• David "Tar" Lawson – protagonist. Abused by his father, he is never proud of taking drugs but becomes a heroin addict.
• Gemma Brogan – a rebellious 14-year-old, Tar's girlfriend, who runs away with him. She becomes a prostitute and a heroin addict.
• Richard – an anarchist and left-wing activist who helps Gemma and Tar find somewhere to live.
• Vonny – motherly anarchist figure who lives with Richard and Jerry, and helps Gemma along the path to rehabilitation.
• Jerry – boyfriend of Vonny, lives with Richard and Vonny
• Lily – 15-year-old junkie who takes a liking to Gemma. An irresponsible heroin user who becomes a prostitute to support her addiction.
• Rob – scruffy (16-year-old) boyfriend of Lily.
• Sal – one of the junkie friends of Lily and Rob.
• Mr & Mrs Brogan – Gemma's parents.
• Skolly; a tobacconist who introduces Tar to Richard
• Alan; Helen's boyfriend, both of them get arrested by the police

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

This novel has been adapted for the theatre by John Retallack (published by Methuen {{ISBN|0-413-73840-X}}).

It was made into a TV drama in 1999 as part of the BBC's Scene series for teenagers.

It has also been revised as of 2003 with the new title of Smack.

Often used as a thesis bases for drama (GCSE and A level) examinations {{citation needed |date=July 2012}}

See also

• Trainspotting, a 1993 novel
• Trainspotting, a 1996 film
• Homelessness in England

Notes

References

External links

• {{worldcat |oclc=37873825 |Junk }} —immediately, first edition
• {{worldcat |oclc=422719841 |Smack }} —immediately, first edition (US)
• {{IMDb title|id=0210133|title=Junk}}