34 pages • 1 hour read
Kenneth LonerganThis Is Our Youth
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1996A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
First published in 1999, This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan is a dark comedy set in 1982, focusing on three troubled young adults—Dennis, Warren, and Jessica. When Warren steals $15,000 from his father, Dennis spends some on drugs, and Warren uses it to impress Jessica, taking her to an expensive hotel. The play explores themes of materialism, maturity, and adolescence. The play features discussions of familial abuse and substance use.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth receives acclaim for its raw and honest portrayal of disillusioned youth in the 1980s. Reviewers appreciate the sharp dialogue and complex characters. Some critique its limited plot progression, but most agree it compellingly captures the angst and aimlessness of its era, making it an engaging study of youthful rebellion and vulnerability.
Who Should Read This Is Our Youth?
A reader who would enjoy This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan is likely interested in coming-of-age stories that explore themes of youth, identity, and rebellion in urban settings. Comparable works include J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero.