What Is That Boy Going to Do Next?

Book excerpt: What Is That Boy Going To Do Next? is a story about a maverick, a nonconforming teenager, with an insatiable curiosity about the world of diverse people, places and ideas. It is also a tale of a teenager's tough-loving mom and the tension it causes, a strict dad incapable of taking care of business because of addiction to alcohol, a generously loving stepmom whose support is transformative, and a brother practicing his version of sibling rivalry. At age 14, the boy flees a monotonous life in St. Louis. And after a long and circuitous journey that includes living in Bainbridge (Maryland), Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego and traveling in the Pacific and the Far East to places such as Honolulu, Guam, Okinawa, Samar Island, Manila, Shanghai, Tsingtao, Tokyo and Yokosuka--at age 19, he finally settles in New York City--where as an adult he becomes an accomplished and multifaceted educator.