Stories For Boys

In 1994, Zach was still reeling from his heart being broken. He was weeks away from finishing high school; upon graduating, he would journey to the beach with four of his closest friends. Then he discovered that Kate, his ex-girlfriend, would be there as well. The fact gave him pause.

Zach wasn’t over Kate. Even after a year.

For a trip that would symbolize throwing off the shackles of youth and school, Zach didn’t want to be reminded of the past.

Zach spent the entire week avoiding Kate and putting himself in absurd situations in attempts to forget about her and their relationship. He attended questionable high-school parties and clubs, filled with people he didn’t want to know. Zach wanted someone to fall into, but his neediness drove even his closest friends away.

Zach came to realize that he was too focused on the past and too frightened to take risks. He let go of his rigid moral code and began taking chances, realizing he had nothing to lose. He concentrated on his own happiness; he grew up.

Narrating the tale almost ten years later, Zach strives to understand how his high-school relationship affected him and how he got over Kate. Interspersed with details about beach week, Zach recounts various tales — his dating history before Kate entered his life, how he became involved with her and how their relationship ended. He revisits his experiences growing up, expounding on the sexes, romanticism, fitting in, pop culture and, more generally, self-identity.

"Stories for Boys" explores the complexity of memory and the discovery of identity, providing a unique insight into love, loss and growing up. The book alternates between past, present and future as Zach attempts to understand the behaviors that define him and his relationship with the opposite sex. A memoir for an 18-year-old boy might be unique, but his self-realization, heartbreak, and insights are universal.