A Boy's Own Story by Edmund White

This novel is a coming-of-age story about a young boy grappling with his homosexuality in the repressive 1950s America. It follows his journey from his midwestern childhood, through his expulsion from a military academy and his escapades in the seedy underbelly of New York City. As he navigates through his adolescence, the protagonist battles with self-loathing and isolation due to his burgeoning sexuality, providing a poignant exploration of the pain and confusion of growing up.

The 1274th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 339

Since this book was first published in 1982, there is a penalty of 12.8%. The age adjusted score is 295.61.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.