Here’s the thing:
After missing her best opportunity to attend a prestigious art school, 17-year-old Salvador Dali devotee Zero begins dating Mike, a drummer in an up-and-coming punk band. As their tentative relationship blooms, Zero confronts a ton of baggage holding her back from her art career: the majorly awkward drama with her former best friend, Jenn; her dad’s excessive drinking and parents’ ongoing fights; and one formerly successful art teacher who might just hold the keys to her future, or smash Z’s hopes forever.
When Mike’s band gets a chance of lifetime to bust out of black hole that is Metro Phoenix, Zero must make a life-altering decision and answer the one question we all face at some point in our lives:
Follow your own heart, or the heart of the one you love?
ZERO was an ALA/YALSA Best Book.
“I have never been so JEALOUS, completely drenched in jealousy, for a book character’s life or lives as I am of Zero and Mike. … LOVED, LOVED this book—-it is a keeper in my own personal library. Tom Leveen is now one of my favs!!!” ~ J, Goodreads
“It’s been awhile since I’ve given a book a 5 star rating, but after careful consideration, I honestly couldn’t find anything wrong with the story nor anything I would change. ZERO was the kind of book that once started, I literally couldn’t put it down.” ~ Mia Searles, Goodreads
Praise for Zero:
“…readers will find themselves caring about Zero’s artistic development, her love life, and the well-being of her family and friends. The real value of the novel lies in its realistic glimpse into the mind of an artist as she creates while overcoming her parents’ mistakes to find her own path in life. … The pacing will draw in reluctant readers, and artists and musicians will find characters with whom they can identify.” ~ School Library Journal
“Leveen smoothly depicts Amanda’s growing self-acceptance through dialogue, as Mike encourages her with his appreciation of her talent and his refusal to go along with her negative body image. …Amanda finds a new level of maturity as she grows through a battle of wills with her mother, moves toward reconciliation with Jenn and faces decisions about the direction of her relationship with Mike. Artful.” ~ Kirkus
ZERO TRIVIA
~ The first draft was written in 1993. It was third-person and had multiple points-of-view. The story of Zero is older than the main character herself.
~ Zero was originally published by an imprint of Penguin Random House.
~ Just This Once is a real band that Tom played in. The group had exactly one live gig together…hence the name “Just This Once.”
~ The actual year the story takes place is never stated, though there are many hints.
~ While sometimes romantic — and other times decidedly not — Zero is not a “romance.”
~ The view of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix that Zero has from her home is the same view Tom had growing up.
Available on Amazon and other ebook retailers.