Grow up, by Ben Brooks

I was not too surprised a two pages from the end of this debut novel to read this self-description by 17-year-old protagonist Jasper, “I am Holden Caulfield, only less reckless, and more attractive.”  I would question the “less reckless” part, however, as Jasper careens from one drug and alcohol fueled party to the next, engaging in, or attempting to engage in, sex with whoever is available.  But the general feel of the book is a 21^st century Catcher in the rye, which I noticed early on.  The characters are racially and sexually diverse, unlike the white-bread environment of Salinger’s most famous character, but the adolescent angst and fear of phonies remains the same.   260 pp.