If you were ever 13, don’t read ‘Black Swan Green’

David Mitchell’s “Black Swan Green” follows the life of Jason Taylor, a 13-year-old growing up in Worcestershire, England. He fights with his older sister, writes angsty poetry and spends a good portion of his time thinking about sex. It is a stereotypical “coming of age” tale.\nKirkus Reviews called the book “Great Britain’s ‘Catcher in the Rye.’” I think that whichever Kirkus reviewer made that assessment is a right bloody wanker.\nThe book lacks the frills and drama in American author J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye.” The two boys are not even the same age or maturity level. The novels serve entirely different purposes.\nSure, both are about the loss of innocence. Taylor has several typical growing-up experiences, such as a first kiss and learning to cope with his parents’ divorce.\nTaylor’s story is clear enough to be a memoir. It has little depth, but it is easy to relate to his growing pains. Anyone who has ever felt like an outcast at any time could sympathize with Taylor. \nI hesitate to recommend this novel. It does not read quickly, and because of its realism, not all of the events are exciting. Taylor’s life is not perfect, but it isn’t that bad either. The book wasn’t a bad read, but it wasn’t a particularly good one either.