Through a series of anonymous letters we get a glimpse into a year in the life of a high-school boy. We see his struggle to make new friends, deal with family crisis and cope with the intricacies of sex, drugs, violence and death as he establishes his place in the world.
This book has been compared favourably to The Catcher in the Rye and I can certainly see the similarities. This coming of age story is raw, honest and beautifully written.
The main character’s confusion as to what is socially acceptable amongst his peers and his difficulties navigating interpersonal relationships is wonderfully portrayed. His lamenting the loss of that intense delight in simple things as experienced by the very young awakens similar feelings in the reader.
Ever passive, the sense that something is just a little ‘off’ with this character pervades the story. The reveal at the end goes a long way towards explaining how he has become that way and gives the reader hope that he will learn to accept and grow into who he is.
Poignant and powerful, I highly recommend this novel.-Lynn
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