Super Short Summary

In his memoir This Boy’s Life (1989), Tobias Wolff recounts his tumultuous adolescence as he travels around the U.S. with his mother, who makes poor romantic choices that affect him deeply. Despite his efforts to behave, external influences, particularly from his mother's partners, derail his attempts. The memoir, which won the Rhea Award and inspired a Hollywood film, explores his evolving identity, his troubled path through various social and educational settings, and his ultimate struggle to achieve stability.