as long as we've got each other

Adrian Mole is growing up, but growing up is hard. As he starts to find his voice as a poet, he finds himself not doing well in his classes. His family is changing. His voice is changing. He is caught between a boy and man, between his parents and their choices, between his past and his future.

Adrian’s parents are back together after a time of separation, but the relationships they’d had during the break come back to create more problems. His mother is pregnant, and her ex-boyfriend Lucas wants a blood test to see if the baby is his. George’s ex-girlfriend Doreen, meanwhile, shows up pregnant as well and without a place to live, along with her son. Adrian’s elderly friend Bert Baxter and his wife need help, especially when it comes to their dog, who scares off everyone else. And Adrian feels like he’s growing apart from his girlfriend Pandora.

Adrian funnels his confusion and heartache into his poetry, which he submits to the BBC in hopes that they would recognize his genius and offer him a radio show. However, despite getting kind letters from them, he is no closer to fame than ever.

He tries being an intellectual. No one seems to notice. He tries to be a nihilist and hangs out with a dangerous street gang. His parents do notice that, and he gets grounded. He tries to run away, but he doesn’t get far before turning himself in to be taken back home.

But Adrian is also there when his baby sister is born. He is there for Bert when his wife has a stroke. He tries to take care of those around him who are hurting, and at the end of the day, no matter how much chaos his family creates around him, he loves them all fiercely.

I have been a fan of the Adrian Mole books for decades. This was originally written in the mid 1980s, so it may seem to some like it hasn’t aged well, but I think it’s a perfect snapshot of the era. I grew up in the American Midwest, so I don’t know exactly what it was like growing up in the UK Midlands back then, but this book transports me there, and I feel like I understand Adrian and why he is the way he is. I also have the benefit of having read the entire series many times through, so I can put up with him being smug because I know who he becomes as a man.

I listened to this book on audio, narrated by Nicholas Barnes, and I really enjoyed his interpretation. The audio version is not as old as the book originally was, so it sounds more modern, although the story remains the same.

I have loved this book for many years, and I will continue to reread it and enjoy it. This is one of my favorites in the series, as you can start to see Adrian’s growth, see him developing compassion, and see him understanding that it’s family that matters most of all.