This Boy

Lauren Myracle's "This Boy" offers a candid and insightful look into the life of a teenage boy, Paul Walden, as he navigates the complexities of adolescence. The narrative explores themes of identity, friendship, first love, and the profound impact of loss. Crucially, the book addresses substance use, depicting Paul's casual experimentation with weed and pills as a coping mechanism, which evolves into a more serious struggle. Parents should be aware of the frank discussions around drugs, alcohol, and grief. It's a powerful story for young adults aged 12-18, providing a realistic portrayal of the challenges and emotional currents many teens face, making it an excellent choice for opening conversations about difficult topics.

Lauren Myracle brings her signature frank, funny, and insightful writing to this novel of a teenage boy’s coming-of-age. Paul Walden is not an alpha lobster, the hypermasculine crustacean king who intimidates the other male lobsters, beds all the lady lobsters, and “wins” at life. At least not according to the ego-bursting feedback he’s given in his freshman seminar. But Paul finds a funny, faithful friend in Roby Smalls, and maybe — oh god, please — he’s beginning to catch the interest of smart, beautiful Natalia Gutierrez. Cruising through high school as a sauced-out, rap-loving beta lobster suits Paul fine, and if life ever gets him down? Smoke a little weed, crunch a few pills . . . it’s all good. But in the treacherous currents of teenage culture, it’s easy to get pulled under. With perfect frankness, Lauren Myracle lays bare the life of one boy as he navigates friendship, love, loss, and addiction. It’s life at its most ordinary and most unforgettable.