You Know Who You Are, by Ben Dolnick

You may know who you are, but for Jacob Vine, the middle child of a family in the suburbs of our nation’s capital, the path to self-discovery is nothing less than elusive. Dolnick follows his critically acclaimed debut novel, Zoology, with You Know Who You Are, the story of Jacob, an often impulsive, insecure kid outshined by his siblings. His older brother ,Will, is Ivy League–bound, and his younger sister, Cara, fits the daddy’s-little-girl mold. But the Vines’ status quo is threatened when cancer returns to Jacob’s mother and her mild-mannered husband isn’t prepared to raise his three children alone. Through the domestic turmoil and looming death, Jacob begins to explore his newfound freedoms with guilty ambivalence.

Dolnick ably documents Jacob’s burgeoning sexuality—from frivolous attempts at writing erotic fiction (“Orgasms in the Mist”) to the unexpected consequences that inevitably follow from teenage desire. And when Jacob realizes he’s headed to the college at the bottom of his list, there’s genuine nostalgic pathos over the moments that loom so large in adolescence.

The author’s spare, minimalist prose ensures that the focus on story is never overwhelmed by literary theatrics, inviting the reader to become an omniscient parent overlooking Jacob. And it is a cringe-worthy joy to intimately witness his growth during the course of 15 years. Dolnick’s sincere, snark-free observation lends credibility and provokes empathy throughout the awkward snafus of the suburban American male’s maturation.