Boy21

There is some violence in Boy21, but most of it occurs off-scene. The circumstances of Finley's mother's death and the crippling of his grandfather are explained late in the book. One character is badly hurt in a hit-and-run car accident, and those injuries are recognized but not dwelled upon.

Finley and his long-time girlfriend Erin are devoted to each other. Theirs is a surprisingly mature and respectful relationship. They spend a lot of time kissing and making out on the roof of Finley's home. Finley mentions being "horny" a few times, but nothing is shown to indicate their physical relationship extends beyond making out.

In Boy21, Finley makes a special point of never using profanity, even when provoked. Others around him occasionally use a smattering of swears: "ass," "s--t," "bulls--t," "hell." A particularly Irish pronunciation of "f--k," spelled with an "e," is employed twice in one tense scene.

Finley and Erin do not drink, smoke or use drugs. One character's older brother is a drug dealer, and Finley is forced to ride in his car, which reeks of marijuana. Finley's father and grandfather both drink, and the older man frequently passes out with a bottle in his hand.

Parents need to know that Boy21 in a gripping coming-of-age novel about love, friendship, madness, and basketball by Matthew Quirk, the author of Silver Linings Playbook, who adapts his interest in mental health issues for a YA audience. There's some violence, including a hit-and-run car accident, but it happens mostly off-scene. Finley makes a special point of never using profanity, even when provoked, but others around him occasionally use a smattering of swears, from "hell" to "f--king," pronounced with an "e," in the Irish manner. Some of the adult characters smoke, drink, and use drugs, but the teen characters do not.