Review of Boy Wander

[Eva Nyaburi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Boy Wander" by Jobert E. Abueva.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Boy Wander is a coming-of-age memoir by Jobert E. Abueva. Jobert, a young Filipino boy, comes from a prosperous family, and everything in his life appears fantastic. He does, however, have a secret that he has kept to himself. Jobert was sexually abused by his father's colleague, unbeknownst to his family, friends, and teachers. At the time, he was about six years old and could not fully comprehend what was happening. Because his father was a United Nations diplomat, they moved regularly and never settled in one place. In this book, the author describes his childhood surroundings, the schools he attended, his friends, and the events of his academic and personal life. He takes us down memory lane to when he lost his best friend and was left sulking in the playground, unsure what to do. He also shares stories about his sexual encounters and secret crushes on various boys, including those who turned him down. Readers can connect with and empathize with the author as he struggles with self-identity and is constantly trying to win praise and please people to mask how he feels on the inside. Grab a copy to find out if Jobert finally came out of the closet and if his self-esteem improved.

This book served as an eye-opener regarding the various facades people may have. For instance, you might believe someone is successful in every area of their life, but that is untrue. Jobert, who excelled academically, participated in sports and extracurricular activities, earned numerous awards, went to catechisms, and got along well with his parents and siblings, was having problems with his self-esteem.

One aspect of the book I enjoyed was how light the author kept his narrations. The author explained the events clearly without including any extraneous details, making the book simple to read and follow. This book's concision pleased me because I've noticed that many memoirs are lengthy. I valued the author's honesty in sharing his experiences. He did not attempt to conceal anything from the readers and gave the details in their entirety. As a result, I think young teenagers, especially gay teenagers, will be able to relate to him as he describes the difficulties he encountered after realizing he was attracted to other boys.

The author's involvement in the sex trade was one aspect of the book that disturbed me. I was perplexed as to how neither of his parents noticed anything was wrong, and even though he portrays a strong bond with them and a healthy relationship, I couldn't understand how they didn't notice anything. What he went through saddened me. Another issue I had with the book was how carelessly Jobert conducted himself by having unprotected sex with strangers in exchange for money. That I attribute to a lack of proper guidance because sex was not a discussed concept, both at school and at home, but as an intelligent young man, I expected him to care about his health and the dangers of contracting some sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I liked how the author's memoir is one that young adults will understand. The book was professionally edited, as I found only one grammatical error.

I recommend this book to young adults who enjoy reading memoirs about coming-of-age characters. However, I must inform sensitive readers that the book contains erotic and profane material. Prostitution and instances of child molestation are included in the book.

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Boy Wander
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[Ajibola Gabriel]

While I feel bad for Jobert and think this book is a really great book that exposes a lot of evil that adults commit against kids, also explaining the sexuality of some kids, I do feel upset about the idea of reading about someone having unprotected sex with people for money. It is very disturbing and I think I’ll pass on this book. Thank you though, for your review.

[Mhiz Vyi Vyan]

I found the storyline of this book very disturbing and would not like to read it. Thank you for an honest review.

[Ogechi Okonkwo]

This is an interesting and a fascinating review. I loved how you captured every aspect of the book. I did enjoy reading your review. This is an interesting one.

[Sarah Vinchu]

What a gifted youngster with a lot of hidden talents! Jobert, a young Filipino child with volatile emotions and restlessness, is the subject of this story. A superboy who was exceptional in all facets of life has a dark side buried behind his façade. He makes sure that everyone compliments him, but he secretly battles low self-esteem. This literary work expresses their range of moods.

The review offers a wealth of fascinating and touching insights into the protagonist's life from a variety of angles. Even though Jobert and his parents have a good relationship, I wonder how ignorant they are of Jobert's unease and the life he leads in secret. They have no idea that he enjoys paying for sex and is drawn to boys. This narrative genuinely opens the reader's eyes to the idea of how someone might be firmly rooted, yet still feel uncomfortable and alone, while yet making a valiant effort to achieve inner reality and self-worth.