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Diane C. Mullen was born and raised in Michigan, but now makes Minneapolis her home. She is a gallery assistant at the Walker Art Center. Diane was finalist for the 2011 Minnesota Emerging Writers Grant. Tagged is her first novel.
A 14-year-old graffiti artist spends a summer away from his inner-city home.Fearful that Liam will follow his older brother into gang-influenced crime, his mother sends him from Minneapolis to a small resort town in Michigan to spend the summer with her artist friend, Kat. Liam's had a rough year, having been kicked out of the private school where he'd won a scholarship and threatened with a gun for painting graffiti over a gang sign. At first Liam dislikes Lakeshore; he even vandalizes the town beach house in a cross between artistic expression and boredom. Gradually, with Kat's help, he begins to see himself as a serious artist. Kat invites him to stay, but he knows that at home, his younger brother is befriending gang members. Mullen's smooth debut, written primarily in dialogue with very short chapters, often feels like a verse novel without the limitations of that form. His first-person narration is characterized by clipped, often incomplete sentences that capture his restlessness. Liam's reluctance to take chances feels authentic, given his past, and the exploration of graffiti as serious art, with links to Picasso and Basquiat, intrigues.A solid, interesting novel.- Kirkus Reviews Liam O'Malley wants to be a graffiti artist. He has been tagging his downtown Minneapolis neighborhood, but when he is caught by a rival gang, his life is threatened. Worried that Liam is following a destructive and dangerous path, his mother sends him to Lake Michigan for the summer to live with an artist friend. There Liam immerses himself in art and learns about Picasso and Basquiat, and he explores his own philosophy of art. Liam's tender, inspiring tale of the healing power of art depicts the teen attempting to discover who he is, find his place, and question his faith. Ultimately, his summer on Lake Michigan teaches him how to alter his path, help others through his art, and make a statement. Mullen doesn't take the easy way out--Liam's predicament regarding his art versus his responsibility to his family is handled in a realistic way. A strong debut about the power of art to bring reconciliation. -Booklist Online
