What began as an assignment in a short story class at the North Carolina School of the Arts gradually grew into a world of its own; Meagan Brothers' debut novel, Debbie Harry Sings in French, had been in the works for about ten years, and just hit bookstores this week.
While the novel deals with some heavy issues, Brothers didn't set out with any kind of agenda for teens. She simply started writing “what I knew at the time – two kids talking about music.” From there the story grew organically, and Brothers incorporated other subjects and characters to round it out. Debbie Harry Sings in French combines gender identity and sexuality, alcohol and drug use, conflicts with parents, and trouble with peers for a high school experience that's not so formulaic.
Debbie Harry Sings in French starts out in Florida and follows Johnny McKenzie from age 12 through high school. Following his father's death in a car accident, Johnny falls in with the bad side of the local goth scene; he drinks to excess, acts out, and constantly fights with his mom. Brothers works the alcohol and drug use into the novel without exhausting it. The story clearly doesn't condone substance abuse: Johnny has a wake-up call early on after he takes an unidentified drug, wakes up in the hospital and goes to rehab. He learns from his mistakes, reconsiders his friendships, and comes to associate substances with a dark world he wants leave behind.
Brothers admits, “There's part of me that doesn't think I took it seriously enough,” and she was even encouraged to delve deeper into the rehab process. But Johnny's drug encounters serve more as a turning point. To maintain the book's explorative momentum, Brothers keeps the tone light. Instead of staying stuck, Johnny takes full advantage of surviving, and sets a realistic example without making the story too dark. The author sums up the tone of the novel: “This is a pop song, not an elegy.”
Her attitude also describes the turning point in Johnny's life. While sobering up, Johnny discovers New Wave pioneering band Blondie, and becomes fascinated with its lead singer Debbie Harry. Her polished image is worlds away from his former heroes in the Cure, vampire movies, and the industrial goth scene. Johnny finds comfort in her voice and beauty in her outfits, and begins to idolize her: “Listening to Debbie Harry sing the French part of 'Sunday Girl' was somehow more reassuring than anything the counselors had told me so far.”
After he finishes rehab, Johnny's mom still worries about his behavior and friends, and sends the angry teen to South Carolina for a fresh start: private school and a positive male influence in his Uncle Sam. Johnny initially resents her and feels more alienated than ever. But he warms up to his uncle and young cousin, finds a cool record shop, and even makes a few friends.
The author wants young readers to realize, “It's okay to say, 'I'm not going to do this...I don't need to prove myself through substance abuse.’” Instead, Johnny finds other ways to have fun and express himself; he has an evolving interest in music to fall back on, and a positive influence in new friend Maria, who accepts Johnny for who he is and for whatever he might be. And, of course, he has Debbie.
The central journey, though, is Johnny's search for himself. Brothers didn't want the story to be so much about the gender question as, “The way you naturally try on identities as a kid.” Johnny quickly goes through a lot of changes and learns a lot; and his relationship with Maria inspires his exploration as much as any of the obstacles he's faced. In his experimentation at this point, Johnny seems more positive and more focused on himself as an individual, rather than trying to get lost in drinking. As his relationship with Maria develops, so does his relationship with Debbie Harry. He starts to wonder if he'd rather be with her or be her. So he starts questioning all the “gay” taunts he's always garnered at school. He continues to face adversity from his peers, but Johnny eventually finds he is surrounded by unlikely heroes – and turns out to be one himself.
After an unexpected – to readers and Johnny alike! – road trip to a drag queen contest, Johnny makes up his mind about his sexual identity by the end of the novel. Still, it's not so clean-cut. His youth and personality suggest that anything is changeable, and that makes the resolution more realistic than a simple coming out.
Aside from all the growing pains, Johnny's relationship with music is central to the book, and Brothers is no different. She started playing viola at age 10, and then picked up guitar in college. Since then she has been playing in bands. Unlike Johnny, though, she was always supported by her parents in her musical explorations, and expanded from inherited musical interests to discovering bands on her own. The references to bands and venues are a great element that I could really relate to, and another way to encourage readers to explore their world and challenge the expected.
Debbie Harry Sings in French is a unique exploration of how trauma can change someone – and an inspiring message of how an individual has some say in the world. While it does deal with some serious topics, it's a fun, uplifting story. The music references, the romance, and Johnny's unusual challenge will appeal to the mature reader. But the story flows quickly, and makes this a more substantial summertime read.
Brothers has also dabbled in screen writing, and is a published poet and musician. She has two new novels on the way, and one will serve as a kind of prequel to Debbie Harry Sings in French, focusing on Maria's days in New York.—Andy Wass
Let us know what you thought about Debbie Harry Sings in French in the comments section, and don’t forget to start reading next week’s ELLEgirl Book Club picks:
June 4: Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling
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