The High Desert PDF Download Free

Attributes of The High Desert PDF

A formative coming-of-age graphic memoir by the creator of Afro-punk: a young man’s immersive reckoning with identity, racism, clumsy teen love and belonging in an isolated California desert, and a search for salvation and community through punk. The High Desert PDF

Apple Valley, California, in the late eighties, a thirsty, miserable desert.

Teenage James Spooner hates that he and his mom are back in town after years away. The one silver lining—new school, new you, right? But the few Black kids at school seem to be gangbanging, and the other kids fall on a spectrum of micro-aggressors to future Neo-Nazis. Mixed race, acutely aware of his Blackness, James doesn’t know where he fits until he meets Ty, a young Black punk who introduces him to the school outsiders—skaters, unhappy young rebels, caught up in the punk groundswell sweeping the country.

A haircut, a few Sex Pistols, Misfits and Black Flag records later: suddenly, James has friends, romantic prospects, and knows the difference between a bass and a guitar. But this desolate landscape hides brutal, building undercurrents: a classmate overdoses, a friend must prove himself to his white supremacist brother and the local Aryan brotherhood through a show of violence. Everything and everyone are set to collide at one of the year’s biggest shows in town…

Weaving in the Black roots of punk rock and a vivid interlude in the thriving eighties DIY scene in New York’s East Village, this is the memoir of a budding punk, artist, and activist.

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Illustrations of The High Desert PDF

As difficult as innovation is today. The High Desert pdf is a text that is present in the form of inspiration that will broaden the minds beyond what an artist or photographer can see. This is one of the masterpieces that is recommended by all the great artists to be changing their visualization of the world of today. In the minds of someone that truly appreciates what this text has to offer lies the secret of changing the way everyone lives in this world. Art is the most influential subject of today’s world and at all times has it been the foundation stone for change in this universe we live in. A must read and learn for all artist and especially photographers.

The Writers

JAMES SPOONER is an accomplished tattoo artist, illustrator, and filmmaker. He directed the seminal documentary Afro-Punk. Spooner is also the co-founder of the Afro-punk Festival. Spooner’s work has appeared in NPR, Vice, The Village Voice, The New Yorker, Vibe, Fader, MTV, NBC News, and Variety. He is an ongoing guest curator for the Broad Museum in Los Angeles, and previously programmed for the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Proportions of The High Desert PDF

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper (May 17, 2022)
  Language ‏ : ‎ English
  Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  International Standard Book Number-10 ‏ : ‎ 0358659116
  International Standard Book Number-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0358659112
  Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.35 x 9 inches
  Best Sellers Rank: #19,413 in Books

Reviews From Customers

H. Harper
Nostalgic view into finding punk in adolescence and trying to navigate life amid challenges
May 23, 2022

This book brought me back to my adolescent period, causing me to reflect on the challenges of finding an identity, feeling threatened, and trying to navigate through it all. Though I did not have the same challenges or same level of challenges experienced by James, I felt I could relate and empathize coming from the standpoint of a kid who found punk rock and skateboarding as a place where I could be myself and escape from other controlling and frustrating life experiences placed upon me.

If you found punk at an early age, this book is for you. I would assume most who were in this situation experienced some forms of isolation and ridicule.

James does such a great job navigating his own personal life experience with the music that he connected with, through the weaving of lyrics, bands and historical aspects and educational tidbits of punk and race mixed into the overarching story. Loved it!

Dani Kriatura
A starkly beautiful and deeply relatable Black punk rock coming of age story.
May 21, 2022

This gifted storyteller has spoken to aspects of my own lived, witnessed and experienced life story in ways that damn near close to nobody else ever has or ever could.

The High Desert is a starkly beautiful graphic novel, sharing the story of growing as an outcast Black biracial hardcore punk kid in Southern California in the early 1990s, navigating love, loneliness, contradictory types of socialization, finding one’s outlets through raw creativity, and searching for community where you are not forced to abandon any parts of yourself at the door, while dealing with microaggressions, blatant overt racism, invisibility, and the perpetual necessity of making something out of nothing.

It will never cease to bring me so much joy to see stories being told which encapsulate so much of my being, which were so seldom spoken out loud or acknowledged when I was coming up.

It takes great courage to share one’s stories like this, as well as a level of vulnerability many people live whole lives never reaching.

Absolutely essential reading for anyone raising teenagers, still healing from wounds from one’s youth, struggling to place experiences in perspective, and who gives a damn about transforming the social landscape into one where Black children and youth can live care free fulfilled and joyous lives.
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Jesse Lambert
Highly recommended for fans of graphic memoir and punk culture.
May 18, 2022

Having discovered James Spooner’s work on Instagram, I preordered this memoir. It came on release day and I was pleasantly surprised that it was longer than I thought it would be. A pet peeve of mine is when graphic memoirs feel too short. Well, that wasn’t the case here, AND I was totally engrossed by the story. It held my attention all the way through. It hit so many themes: coming of age, music, complicated family, racism, identity, and belonging. It was so good and I will be going back to reread and savor. The NYC visit sequence especially resonated, bringing back the feel of early 90s East Village – the time and place of my college years. I recognized some city blocks in the background of panels. I was pleased to see the Kimya Dawson (one of my favorite singer/songwriters) blurb on the inside flap. Highly recommended for fans of graphic memoir and punk culture.

Mother of Kakids
Captures Precious Moments Once Lost To Time
June 4, 2022

This book opens the doors into a dreamworld where a once lost, true-life journey is retold by the author, James Spooner. Spooner’s meticulous detail shows through his illustrations and his storytelling. The Author relives his teenage years through this truthful and candid graphic novel, offering the reader glimpses into what some of Spooner’s real life challenges were growing up in Apple Valley, CA, during the early 1990’s. Spooner’s graphic novel speaks to the reader as if they are being told a first hand account of the challenges he faced as a mixed-race Black teen while trying to integrate into a sub-culture that was historically declared ‘white’ by some…all while playing in a band and falling in love.

Those early experiences lead the way for Spooner to become one of modern DIY Punk Counter Culture’s most inventive and inspiring artists & filmmakers, notably creating the 2003 documentary, Afro-Punk.

(Yes, I cried at the end.)

Freedom tripodi
Can’t wait to read it!!!
May 21, 2022

Stoked my copy of High Desert finally arrived!!! I’ve known Razzle(James)for a long ass time. I was aware of him prior to meeting him through mutual friends & from his shenanigans at 13 Stitches shows. We didn’t actually meet for awhile. Once we did(probably at Recon or ABC),I was glad I did. Razzle has always been a creative force & voice for subculture. A sincere, positive energy in a cynical world. I look forward to reading the origins of someone I call a comrade & an inspiration. Congrats on another successful endeavor dude. ✊ BTW, this trade is beautiful & not just because I posed for some character studies.

InfiniteSpace
Powerful and punk af
May 20, 2022

Besides being a touching look into the formative years of black punk, artist and activist, James Spooner, the artwork, the punk culture references, the honesty and relatability make this a must-read coming-of-age story that you won’t be able to put down!

Adrienne Robillard
Authentic and Compelling
June 7, 2022

I grew up around the same time in a different inland valley in California, and this book captures so much of that time and the adolescent experience vividly. But it’s not just about the past. It’s relatable to teens today, to anyone searching for belonging, identity, and direction. The illustrations are amazing and complement the real-life photographs of the author that are included in the book. Highly recommend to today’s teens and anyone who has ever searched for something and persevered through thick and thin.

Kristina Robbins
Superb
May 20, 2022

Fantastic book. Feels like you just watched a movie. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

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