4) This Boy's Life

Wolff, Tobias. This Boy's Life. New York: Grove Press, 1989

Annotation: In the late 1950's, young Toby and his mother move across the country searching for a fresh start. Toby changes his name to Jack, the first of many myths that Jack creates for himself. As men come in an out of his mother's life, Jack is forced to find a way to be come a man, without becoming the men he is surrounded by.

Justification for Rejection: Tobias Wolff's This Boy's Life is a biographical novel so rich in detail and depth that it is difficult to know where to begin when discussing it. The book doesn't ask a lot, but has so much to say that a single reading is only the beginning of understanding the book. However, while the quality of the writing makes it a strong contender for nearly any adult book award, the main character and setting makes it difficult to recommend for contemporary teen readers who may find it difficult to relate to.

As Toby/Jack attempts relate to the men in his life, he is also attempting to create a version of himself that he can be satisfied with. The flexible nature of his character's truth makes for a highly compelling and complex study - but it's hard to imagine how appreciated his many layers are going to be by teens without the benefit of hindsight. Sadly, this character depth is the novels strongest selling point, and without it the teen reader might be left uninterested.

In many ways, the boy actually serves mostly as a foil for the older men in the novel, especially Dwight. The masculine role of the father figure is the central part of the discussion, and something a teen would have difficulty connecting to. An adult, however, would most likely get a lot more from this. Essentially, this book resonates more with the sensibilities of the adult male reflecting on his life, than it does of the teen.

I would have absolutely no problem recommending this book to almost any adult reader, but I would have a hard time saying that every teen should read the book. The most motivated teen readers will get a lot from it, especially on a second reading, but less focused readers will struggle to be engaged by some of the novels more esoteric commentaries.

Genre: Printz, Biography/Autobiography/Memoir, Coming of Age/Search for Identity