Lamar Kerry, Jr., has a college degree. He is 27 years old. He likes to wear flannel shirts, khakis and boots. He is in his prime and has an infinite number of opportunities in front of him. Yet he chooses to move back to his hometown after college and do nothing. Soon Lamar runs out of money, so he begins to work part-time for his father’s newspaper earning $5.50 an hour.

Why does this post-collegiate slacker choose to live such a fruitless existence? The answer is because he is an ordinary white boy. Certain things are expected of ordinary white boys.

The upstate New York town that Lamar lives in is one of the least racially diverse places in America. There used to be one African American family lived there until Lamar’s infamous uncle Eli burned down their house because he lost his job and the African Americans didn’t. Uncle Eli is currently serving a long prison sentence for arson.

One Hispanic resident who is married to a white woman also resides in the town. Both went to high school with Lamar. The Hispanic man, however, has been missing for over a week and is expected to be the victim of a racial hate crime.

Lamar’s assignment as a journalist at his father’s newspaper is to cover this particular story, and in doing so learns more about himself than he expected.

Lamar must learn how to deal with his uselessness and try to overcome his stereotype of the ordinary white boy. Many people are counting on him: his mother with multiple sclerosis, his father with expectations, his best friend with problems and his girlfriend with confusion.

The story, though not incredibly original, is driving and entertaining. The author, Brock Clarke, is a master of witty dialogue, bringing humor to sensitive subjects and social criticism.

Clarke’s character development of Lamar Kerry is top notch. The character has an uncanny realistic quality to him. The reader can, at times, sympathize with him, be proud of him or even be ashamed of him. The same high level of character depth holds true for the rest of the characters in the novel, making the setting very practical and vibrant.

This book is a fun-filled ride of self discovery, overcoming obstacles and the harsh process that turns a boy to a man. “The Ordinary White Boy” is a must read for anybody who is struggling with what is feels like to be confused with life. Clarke’s novel delivers with high emotion, honesty and humor. Upon completion, you may find yourself cheering for “The Ordinary White Boy.”