Angel Dust Blues by Todd Strasser
"Angel Dust Blues" by Todd Strasser is a novel that explores the challenges of adolescence, particularly focusing on drug use and its consequences. The story revolves around Alex, a high school senior whose life spirals out of control after his arrest for selling drugs. Strasser employs a flashback technique to depict Alex's journey, beginning with his early experiences with drugs and the neglect he faces from his parents, who are preoccupied with their careers. As Alex's drug dealings escalate, he becomes entangled with Michael, a peer whose influence leads him deeper into a dangerous lifestyle.
The narrative highlights themes of friendship, rebellion, and the pressures of expectations, particularly through Alex's relationship with Ellen, who initially resists physical intimacy. Strasser's portrayal of Alex's gradual unraveling serves as a cautionary tale for readers, emphasizing the importance of supportive adult figures and the potential pitfalls of drug use among teenagers. The novel ultimately urges young readers to recognize the signs of drug abuse and seek healthier alternatives to cope with life's pressures. Through its frank depiction of the drug scene, "Angel Dust Blues" aims to provide valuable lessons about the serious consequences of poor decisions in adolescence.
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Subject Terms
Angel Dust Blues by Todd Strasser
First published: 1979
Type of work: Moral tale
Themes: Drugs and addiction, family, friendship, and sexual issues
Time of work: The late twentieth century
Recommended Ages: 15-18
Locale: New York City and its suburbs
Principal Characters:
Alex Lazar , a talented, bright boy, who turns to drugsMichael Martin , his dropout friend, who introduces Alex to drug dealingEllen Schapmann , Alex’s girlfriend, who plays “hard-to-get” until, out of rebellion, she gives in to him
The Story
Using the flashback technique, Todd Strasser begins Angel Dust Blues with Alex’s arrest for having sold drugs to an undercover policeman. The arrest has been a long time coming, as his drug use began in eighth grade but has gone undetected by his parents, who were too caught up in their own careers and who have retired to Florida prior to Alex’s senior year, leaving him alone with a housekeeper. Until his senior year, however, Alex has juggled his drug use and dealings alongside his sports activities; Alex, considered the best high school tennis player in the state until the effects of drug use and the stress of being the expected champion become too much, drops tennis altogether.
With his parents away, both his housekeeper, Lucille, and his principal, Mr. Seakamp, occasionally try to keep him in line, with little effect. The biggest influence on Alex’s behavior is Michael, whom Alex describes as exciting and dangerous; Alex is attracted to Michael because they both enjoy nonconformity. In turn, being a dropout and apparent bully, Michael desperately needs Alex’s friendship.
It is Michael who introduces Alex to the world of drug dealing. A trip to Brooklyn together to meet a contact, nicknamed “Chicken,” starts their illegal business dealings. Alex soon develops a reputation for himself as the main supplier at his high school, earning invitations to all the parties and ending up with more money than he expected. As a result, he often gives away drugs, which irritates Michael, who then starts associating less with Alex and more with Chicken.
Coincidentally, the day that Alex and Michael go to Brooklyn is also the day that Alex meets Ellen. Alex keeps his drug dealings a secret from her for quite a while until he feels more secure about their relationship. Even when he does divulge this side of himself, he does not make it a part of their lives. Of more concern to him is Ellen’s unwillingness to get physical; she insists that she wants to stay a virgin until she is in college. Yet Ellen quickly changes her mind when her father refuses to allow her to attend the University of Southern California. Probably out of rebellion, Ellen invites Alex to spend the night with her the first chance that her father is out of town on business. Before Alex has a chance to take advantage of Ellen’s invitation, however, he is arrested. Although the police try to convince Alex that his arrest is a result of Michael’s turning state’s evidence, Alex remains mum on any desired information about Michael’s drug dealings.
Learning of the arrest, Alex’s parents return home, shocked. They argue, but the only solution they offer is for Alex to see a psychiatrist. Alex then realizes that he has never had a good relationshp with his parents and is dependent upon them only for their money. After his parents return to Florida, believing there is nothing they can achieve by staying, Alex runs to Ellen to consummate their relationship.
When Alex’s lawyer finally convinces him that it was Michael who turned him in, Alex goes looking for Michael. Yet Alex arrives home one day to find Michael waiting; he is extremely ill and has tried to rob Alex’s house for drugs. Alex then realizes that the only solution to help them both is to turn Michael in to the police.
Context
Angel Dust Blues, Todd Strasser’s first novel, provides teenagers with a realistic lesson about drug abuse and the often unfortunate necessity for young adults to fend appropriately for themselves in the absence of supporting adults. With the growing use of drugs by teenagers in the United States, it is through novels such as these that they can experience the consequences of their possible poor decisions. Angel Dust Blues provides realistic characters and situations with which students can identify. As both Alex and Michael become more heavily involved in dealing, students should be able to recognize signs along the way at which their friends and adult acquaintances could have made a difference. In turn, students could transfer these suggestions to their own actions to save their classmates from the fate of Alex and Michael. Strasser’s use of the “Great Nothing in the Sky” is a workable symbol with young adults to help them recognize the role of drugs—to fill a void. Perhaps this realization will enable the readers to seek workable alternatives to help fill their own voids, thus, staying away from drug abuse.
Through Alex’s abandoning tennis despite his expectations to be the new state champion, teenagers can also recognize that it is normal to experience stress in the event of success—that the stress of expecting to continue to succeed can often be overwhelming. Yet again, turning to drugs is not the solution. In general, Strasser paints a frank picture of the drug scene. Even teens who are attracted to the novel because of its title alone should clearly see the lesson that Strasser promotes. This work is an important novel in helping teens of today see severe consequences to inappropriate decisions.