YOUNG AND HUNGRY

In this novella, an eclectic group investigates the mystery of the elusive Boy in the Shadows.

The Boy in the Shadows lived an extremely sheltered life, coddled by his famous author parents. His own literary efforts were unremarkable, and he eventually faded into obscurity. Years later, misfit adventurer Alfred, aspiring journalist Jessica, and Jessica’s globe-trotting Uncle Bruce come together to track down the Boy in the Shadows and uncover his mysterious life story. This quest proves to be much more complicated than they bargained for, however, and they must decide how far they’re willing to go to learn the truth. The story is conceptually rich, questioning what it means to have lived a full life. There’s the Boy in the Shadows, who has gained an overwhelming amount of knowledge throughout his life but hasn’t experienced anything beyond the walls of his comfortable if fortresslike home, Paradise Manor. Then there’s Alfred, who has been everywhere and done everything but lacks a greater purpose. The prose is dominated by straightforward exposition, which often meanders into small details of each character’s backstory. Despite the complexity of the ideas the story explores, the characters fall flat due to their confusing motivations and the minimal dialogue. Some elements are likely to test readers’ suspension of disbelief, making it difficult to become engrossed in this world. The characters present white, and other than Jessica, most seem to be adults.

Thematically thoughtful but unlikely to engage readers.