Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    The Agony of Bun O'Keefe
    Unavailable
    The Agony of Bun O'Keefe
    Unavailable
    The Agony of Bun O'Keefe
    Audiobook3 hours

    The Agony of Bun O'Keefe

    Written by Heather Smith

    Narrated by Amanda Arcuri

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Little Miss Sunshine meets Room in this quirky, heartwarming story of friendship, loyalty and discovery.

    It's Newfoundland, 1986. Fourteen-year-old Bun O'Keefe has lived a solitary life in an unsafe, unsanitary house. Her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and Bun has had little contact with the outside world. What she's learned about life comes from the random books and old VHS tapes that she finds in the boxes and bags her mother brings home. Bun and her mother rarely talk, so when Bun's mother tells Bun to leave one day, she does. Hitchhiking out of town, Bun ends up on the streets of St. John's, Newfoundland. Fortunately, the first person she meets is Busker Boy, a street musician who senses her naivety and takes her in. Together they live in a house with an eclectic cast of characters: Chef, a hotel dishwasher with culinary dreams; Cher, a drag queen with a tragic past; Big Eyes, a Catholic school girl desperately trying to reinvent herself; and The Landlord, a man who Bun is told to avoid at all cost. Through her experiences with her new roommates, and their sometimes tragic revelations, Bun learns that the world extends beyond the walls of her mother's house and discovers the joy of being part of a new family — a family of friends who care.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateOct 24, 2017
    ISBN9780735264588
    Unavailable
    The Agony of Bun O'Keefe
    Author

    Heather Smith

    Heather Smith is the author of several picture books, including the award-winning The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden. Her middle-grade novel Ebb and Flow was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award, and her YA novel The Agony of Bun O'Keefe won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award and the OLA Forest of Reading White Pine Award, and was shortlisted for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. Originally from Newfoundland, Heather now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her family.

    Related to The Agony of Bun O'Keefe

    Related audiobooks

    YA Social Themes For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      TV & REVIEWS

      Jun 27, 2023

      TV & REVIEWS
      4 min read

    • Article

      On The Shelf

      Jan 31, 2021

      On The Shelf
      2 min read

    • Article

      Irish Rover

      Oct 25, 2021

      Irish Rover
      3 min read

    • Article

      Mummy, I Hardly Knew You

      Oct 20, 2021

      Mummy, I Hardly Knew You
      7 min read

    • Article

      Aspects Of Bohemian Love

      May 3, 2023

      Aspects Of Bohemian Love
      3 min read

    • Article

      Check It Out

      Feb 25, 2021

      Rebecca Robinson is a librarian at the Troy Public Library in New York. Written by B. G. Ford, Illustrated by Tom Cooke Join beloved Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie on a trip to the supermarket! Follow them as they go through all the steps of

      1 min read

    • Article

      Candace Jordan

      Dec 14, 2019

      Candace Jordan
      2 min read

    • Article

      Book CLUB

      Feb 8, 2022

      Book CLUB
      1 min read

    • Article

      Love & family

      Dec 28, 2022

      Australian author Peggy Frew creates characters you feel you know and long to help. That aching compassion draws you in and despite its traumatic world of addiction, Wildflowers is impossible to put down. Meg and Nina have always lived in their dazzl

      2 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Aug 3, 2022

      by Elizabeth Noble (£14.99, HB, Penguin) When it comes to writing about family life, Elizabeth Noble is pitch-perfect, and her latest novel is no exception. In it we meet a group of friends who, having met at the nursery gate 20 years ago, have been

      2 min read

    • Article

      Treasured Companions

      Jul 9, 2019

      She reached across my sheet music to direct my attention to our next soprano line. A bit surprised at this bold new girl I had not met, I nodded a reluctant thank you. What began during church youth-choir rehearsal in 1960 between two strong-willed t

      6 min read

    • Article

      SUMMER Reading SPECIAL

      Dec 28, 2022

      In last year’s Booker Prize shortlisted Oh William! we found narrator Lucy Barton reconnecting with her first husband, William, following the death of her second husband. In this sequel COVID has hit New York and William takes control. As a scientist

      10 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Aug 19, 2022

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      Our forgotten TREASURES

      Jul 7, 2021

      Our forgotten TREASURES
      4 min read

    • Article

      I’m your FAN

      Jul 27, 2023

      Anita Prosser, 52, a fitness instructor, has been an avid Duran Duran fan for more than 40 years. She lives in Kingston upon Thames with her two teenage children. I first saw Duran Duran on Top of the Pops in 1981, when I was 10. They sang Planet Ear

      5 min read

    • Article

      Sentto Safety

      Feb 27, 2024

      Sentto Safety
      4 min read

    • Article

      England’s Dreaming

      Jan 16, 2020

      England’s Dreaming
      22 min read

    • Article

      The Advent Of Christmas

      Nov 9, 2023

      The Advent Of Christmas
      6 min read

    • Article

      Anything Goes For Me And My Chums

      Aug 25, 2021

      In my neck of the woods, it’s back to normal. How’s it with you? On the bus and the London Underground, I am still wearing a mask, but other than that, everything is much as it was before the pandemic struck – except that my office-worker friends rea

      3 min read

    Reviews for The Agony of Bun O'Keefe

    4.5/5

    32 ratings13 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      14 year old Bun O'Keefe has just been kicked out of the house she has lived in with her 300 pound, emotionally abusive, hoarding mother. She has not been away from home since her father left them while she was in kindergarten. Educated on the books and movies her mother adds to the piles of flea market debris, surviving on little else, she is discarded into the world as an undernourished, naive child filled with trivial facts and movie dialogue. Rescued off the street by Busker Boy, a street singer, she is taken to an apartment complex of misfits and introduced to a tight calico mix of friends who protect her and work to get her up to par. Chef is an undiscovered gourmet cook, Cher(Chris) is a drag queen with a medical background and rich father, Big Eyes is a recovering Catholic and the landlord is a pedophile pimp they all avoid. Bun's take on life is often comical with her literal response to statements and unchecked blurting of thoughts and facts. There is drama, there is compassion and there is a deep lesson in acceptance that makes this a winning book for sharing with today's unsheltered, savvy teens.
    • 5/5
      I didn't know anything about it or the author, but the synopsis looked interesting. So I gave it a go and I'm really glad that I did.Although it was aimed more at younger readers, it was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a fairly quick read, but it touched on some fairly deep themes and questions. The main character, Bun O'Keefe, is hard to dislike, as are many of the characters that she meets along the way.The story takes place in Newfoundland in the 1980s. The main character is quite naive, but also very smart. Her 300lb hoarding mother tells her to get out, so she does, believing that she has been ordered to live for good. She ends up in the city and is fortunate to meet a young busker who takes her under his wing, giving her a place to live. The boarding house is inhabited by an eclectic group of people, all with a story to tell and a life that has not always been easy. There were a lot of really funny moments, but also some quite heartbreaking ones. Many of the characters' stories unravel as the book unfolds, but a couple of tragic things occur that cause a change in Bun's situation. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.The book is probably aimed at middle school or young teen readers, but it could be read and enjoyed by anyone.
    • 4/5
      This books covers a lot of ground: hoarding, abandonment, sexual abuse, and suicide, to name a few. In addition, many of the characters- a drag queen, a street musician from the Aboriginal culture, an ex-Catholic girl-face bullying/police brutality/disdain from family members. Somehow, most of them make it through and manage to love and support one another.
    • 5/5
      The depth of the characters makes the story feel so real. This is the best book I have ever read by far.
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers.This book was utterly amazing! It simultaneously broke my heart and gave me warm fuzzy feelings that filled my heart with joy. The characters were hands down the best part. Bun was a precious cinnamon roll (no pun intended). Busker Boy was the sweetest. The way he took care of Bun was so heartwarming. I really liked how his Innu culture was incorporated in the story. Chef, Big Eyes, and Chris/Cher complete their family of misfits and I loved them all. They all had their own issues but I loved how they came together to help Bun. I also loved the pop culture references. The book took place in 1986/1987 so there were a lot of them.Overall, this book was insanely good. Like go and read it now!
    • 5/5
      teen/adult fiction (chosen families, young adults escaping difficult family situations with various potential trauma triggers, 1980s Newfoundland). I read this straight through and really loved spending time with these unconventional characters (diversity note: one of them is an Innu native and one of them is a gay drag queen); I definitely needed tissues when I got to the middle/end.
    • 4/5
      Quick and somewhat brutal read, but good crying as well. Intriguing story with interesting cast of characters that looks at abuse and trauma. There are also funny and uplifting moments and I read as fast as I could. Its good, but heads up for sexual assault and suicide talk, and for racist violence. Also a bit fat phobic which was not appreciated.
    • 5/5
      In one weekend, I was able to hunker down and read both Heather Smith’s newest young adult titles. Starting with The Agony of Bun O’Keefe I was struck by the honesty of her writing.The year is 1986, the place is Newfoundland and Bun O’Keefe is a fourteen year old girl basically living off the grid with her mother, a hoarder, in a home stuffed to the rafters with shopping. She’s asthmatic, naive, and uneducated and when her mother tells her to “Get out!”, she does. She hitchhikes all the way to St. John’s. Her only understanding of the world comes from the books and the movies her mother brings home in her wagon each day. She sets off looking for a Mission and thankfully find Busker Boy, an Innu man making a living with his guitar on the streets of St. John’s. Busker Boy sees the naivety in Bun and brings her home with him, introducing her to a whole host of characters who all live together under the roof of the Landlord, or Dragon Man. There is Chef training by day to take on the culinary world but is melancholy, there is Cher/Chris who is so nurturing and kind but not welcome at his home because his dad doesn’t agree with his lifestyle, and there is Big Eyes who has a dark secret and can no longer face her religious zealot of a mother. Together they educate Bun, taking care of her and teaching her about the world around her. It’s certainly not all roses, Bun has to face some very hard realities but Busker Boy treats her as a little sister. He keeps her safe and loves her in a way her mother never could.The beauty in Heather Smith’s writing is her honesty. She tells the hard truths and provides a mirror to young people. There is beauty in the heartbreak of Bun’s story. There is a real quality and something so relatable in each of the characters. Maybe you see your younger self reflected in Bun. Perhaps you feel the same pain as Chef. Maybe you are holding onto a haunting secret and just need to know you are not alone on your journey. There is so, so much love in this story. As difficult as the subject matter can be at times, there is always love
    • 5/5
      The Agony of Bun O’Keefe brought back fond memories of my favorite childhood book. When I was about 9 years old, I read The Sand Ponies by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. It was about two orphaned children who run away from the drunk, abusive uncle with whom they’ve been sent to live and head toward the their former home, a ranch near the coast. They end up living in a converted barn with “a group of honest, kind and mismatched friends,” (to quote the book’s overleaf) whom they meet along the way. Now, this was the early 1970’s, way before the idea that you could choose your “family” was a thing. Not to mention that the book was targeted to kids 8 – 12. Kind of weird, vaguely countercultural stuff and, frankly, I’m surprised it even found a publisher. But for me, the story was magical. The sibling’s mature resourcefulness and their newfound situation with a group of happy hippie types living off the land seemed the stuff of dreams. While it’s quite different in tone (and probably geared to a somewhat older audience), Heather Smith’s YA novel seems to share DNA with The Sand Ponies. It’s about a teenage girl, the eponymous Bun O’Keefe, who leaves a bad situation and falls in with a group of misfits who support and love one another despite their meager circumstances. Bun’s mother is a serious hoarder. The house they live in is nearly unnavigable due to the mountains of junk she continuously acquires. Bun pretty much never leaves the house and is completely self-educated, watching old VHS tapes and reading absolutely anything she can get her hands on (including the entire dictionary). One day, after an argument, her mother tells her to leave and she does. She heads to the city and in short order, meets a Native Inuit street busker who, concerned for her safety, takes her to the apartment he shares with an aspiring chef, a drag performer and a Catholic school drop-out. For the first time in her life, Bun establishes meaningful relationships with caring and mutually supportive people. There are numerous scenes of the group sharing clothes and meals, celebrating holidays and helping each other through emotional hardship that are very heartfelt and appealing. I really enjoyed this book and feel it’s definitely appropriate for a sophisticated YA audience. Unlike many novels aimed at the teenaged crowd, it isn’t unnecessarily juvenile in tone. Its relative subtlety appealed to me as an adult reader. I particularly liked the fact that none of the characters came off as a broad caricature. The main character’s narrative voice is the only thing that might be polarizing. Because she has almost no exposure to the outside world prior to leaving home, Bun doesn’t really understand many common idioms or have a grasp on irony/humor. I have little doubt that some reader’s will find her literal interpretation of everything kind of annoying after a while. And while I’ll admit to finding it far-fetched that she could be completely ignorant of sarcasm or well-known colloquialisms (since she watched countless movies and TV shows, specifically mentioning “The Cosby Show” at one point), it was a minor point and didn’t bother me at all.This is a story of re-birth and hope that doesn’t shy away from the darker side of life. I think it’s a wonderful book for readers of all ages.
    • 4/5
      I received this book for free through Library Thing’s Early Reviewers.I couldn’t put this book down! The story is about Bun O’Keefe who lives with her 300lb hoarder mother until her mother demands that she “get out”. Bun leaves with no intention of returning to her mother and quickly finds herself in the city where she befriends a group of young adults, each of whom have a unique background and who eventually become her family.Several incidents happen to Bun and her new family of friends, which strengthens their bond, so much so that after learning about the death of Bun’s mother, they return to Bun’s house to lay low for a while. Bun’s strongest bond is with Busker Boy, who endearingly refers to her as “Nishim,” which means sister in the Innu language, and it is Busker Boy who becomes her protector. However, once they are back in her house, the unexpected happens.The storyline is plausibly implausible, and the characters are believable and likeable. Readers are taken on a journey of the unthinkable, but are left with the hope that there is goodness that emerges from such.
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers.This book was utterly amazing! It simultaneously broke my heart and gave me warm fuzzy feelings that filled my heart with joy. The characters were hands down the best part. Bun was a precious cinnamon roll (no pun intended). Busker Boy was the sweetest. The way he took care of Bun was so heartwarming. I really liked how his Innu culture was incorporated in the story. Chef, Big Eyes, and Chris/Cher complete their family of misfits and I loved them all. They all had their own issues but I loved how they came together to help Bun. I also loved the pop culture references. The book took place in 1986/1987 so there were a lot of them.Overall, this book was insanely good. Like go and read it now!
    • 5/5
      I received this as an ARC copy from Library Thing. Bun the main character is a fortune year old girl who runs away from home after her 300 lb hoarder mother tells her to get out. She goes to the nearest big city and befriends a busker. FYI a busker is what would be more commonly known as a street musician. She goes to live with him. I know don't talk to strangers and he even warns her of this. It all turns out for the best. They live with an odd cast of characters, the street musician, an aspiring chef, a drag queen. Bun doesn't call most of them by their given names however. To her each is what they are or represent, Busker Boy, Chef, Cher, Big Eyes . Bun is a very bright girl who actually reads the dictionary, it came in a box of books her mother brought home. But although she's very book smart she's also very naïve of the "real" world. Was a very enjoyable book, it's meant for a teen reader but is enjoyable for adults as well.
    • 5/5
      A great read for teens and adults. I really enjoyed this book. Bun is an amazing kid going through an awful time in her life but comes across the best of friends she can find. Through the ups and downs of life for her, her and her new family are there for eachother. This book I would highly recommend to others.