The Agony of Bun O’Keefe

A Book Talk by Ms Malloy

 Title:
The Agony of Bun O’Keefe

Author:

Picture of Heather Smith

Publisher:
Book Penguin Random House

Copyright Date:
2019
Summary

This book surprised me in it’s power of emotion. The main

character is only 14 yrs old but fairly wise due to her life
circumstances. She has a mom who is a hoarder, and after
her dad leaves, her mom never sends her to school. At 14 yrs
old her mom tells her to get out. She goes to St John’s Nfld
where she meets “Busker Boy” and all the characters she
meets through him are described by her p.o.v you never
know a real name. Chef, Big Eyes...they all live in a boarding
house and have personal obstacles to overcome in their own
lives, together they get through it. Bun learns she needs
people in her life who care about her.
 Setting

Where did it happen? When did it happen?

St John”s, Newfoundland It takes place in the 1980’s

Canada Over the course of about a

year. When she leaves
Sometimes in the street, if
home it is fall and when
they are busking,
they return it is fall again.
otherwise in a small
rooming house.
 Main Characters

Bun O’Keefe Busker Boy Rooming house Her mom/dad

mates/owner
She is a young fourteen He takes her in and Interesting lot of Her mom is a hoarder
in terms of street smarts watches out for her. He characters living here to who can’t handle life and
and wise in terms of teaches her about life get away from homes neglects her, and
general knowledge she and family/relationships who aren’t accepting of eventually kicks her out
reads constantly. She is he is a big brother for their differences. of the house at 14 yrs
very observant of people her. He is sad in his own old. Her dad leaves her
and it shows in her way. He seems to need at age five. We do see
description of other her as much. him again...interesting!
characters. She gives
them names based on
her observations.
 Conflict
Bun must learn who to trust and
who not to trust on the streets and
within the rooming house.
Type the type of conflicts She also needs to decide what she
here: is going to do with herself and her
Character vs. Character own life as an abandoned person.
Character vs Self The reason they are all in the
Character vs Society rooming house is because they
have been judged or handed a
tough circumstance in their life in
which to deal.
 Quote

“What are you afraid

of Nishim?”
That he will want me
Busker Boy shows her she can
back….that he won’t have it all, in that she can be true to
want me back.” herself and still play a part in her
dad’s life.
‘I want to say hi then
come back to you.”
“Then that is what you
will do.”
 Theme

Every character she meets has

some obstacle to overcome in their
Resilience life. She must push through her
abandonment and decide how to be
positive and make a great life for
herself. She learns that friends are
essential in making it through hard
times without family support.
 Review

Would you recommend this book?

I would recommend this book to both male and female

readers of this age group. It is mature read and there are
some gritty realities, but amazing resolution to problems.