The Summer Boy

This credible but unambitious narrative focuses on Martin Morley, a 20-year-old English journalist in a small North England community, whose first feature assignment concerns the town council's decision on projected sites for a major shopping center. Everyone involved is frustratingly mum, but at the last minute Martin's voluptuous girlfriend, Helen, alerts him to the possibility of unorthodox profiteering by the projects developer. Before Martin can embark on a follow-up article, the developer has offered him the first bribe of his career, but his other girl, upright, politically involved Maggie, makes sure the wavering Martin turns it down. Though he proudly completes the feature, he has failed to consider that the objects of his attack are influential newspaper advertisers. His editor refuses to publish the piece and while, behind closed doors, Martin's muckraking has had an impact, he himself is back to covering ping-pong matches and parades. There are no surprises here, but the novel's diverting portrayal of youthful bombast and a colorful local scene make for a well-balanced account of one young man's loss of innocence. November