Is There a Boy Like Me?

by Kern Carter

A powerful novel that challenges the limitations and pressures placed on boys today.

London feels stuck. His school friends think he's this confident kid who likes video games and will kick your butt if you get on his bad side. His high-achieving parents think he's a genius coder and are pushing him to pursue that as a future career. None of this is true. London feels anxiety in crowds, and what he really wants to do is be by himself and read books.



Not knowing what else to do, London starts an anonymous online comic called "Is There A Boy Like Me," where he expresses his true feelings and explores what his life would be like if he could just be who he wanted to be. When the comic goes viral, it starts a global conversation about what being a boy really means, with London directly in the middle of it all.

Genres: Middle Grade, Canada, Friendship

248 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Writer and author moving the world forward with words.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book with a superb message about having the courage to be yourself. Friendship, hardship, jealousies, dreams, generational conflict, expectations and more all collide in this story. All of it may not be the most realistic at times, but it's heartwarming and a real exploration of what it can be like to be a teenager coming to terms with themselves and others.

[Corian Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a good message and I like how it included the viewpoint of a “frenemy” but it felt like it moved too quickly. The ending wasn’t satisfying to me and it felt like the last 30 pages were almost unnecessary.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

London loves to read and draw. He wants to write graphic novels, but he doesn't know how to tell his dad that he hates coding. He is good at basketball, but he plays because he enjoys it and not because he wants to go pro. His best friend is a girl, and that is all, friends. London is in 8th grade and is growing up, a scary time for most of us. He wants to be true to himself but also cares about what his parents, his friends and his peers think too. So much so that all the opinions coming from outside of him makes him doubt himself. I wish this book existed when I was London's age because all I wanted was to not be seen and to be left alone. It was a very lonely existence though. There is knowing who you are, being comfortable with that, and also letting other people in and seeing perspectives other than your own. It is a delicate balance.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2026 Hackmatack Award in the English Fiction category. Our protagonist, Kevin, is bristling against the expectations that are placed upon him. His parents want him to work on coding, his friends want him to be a baller, but Kevin wants to follow his own path. I thought this story was an excellent exploration of being true to yourself and not allowing others' opinions outweigh your own. Note that Kevin is a little older than the Hackmatack group (ages 9-12), but I think that they will relate to his struggle. I would recommend this to the 11-12 year olds, but maybe not the 9-10 year olds.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is There a Boy Like Me? is a strong middle grade novel about pushing back on gender stereotypes and being true to yourself. London loves to read and draw and has dreams of creating a graphic novel, but his friends and family have different expectations and understandings of who he is. Is There a Boy Like Me? is the story of London finding his way.

Is There a Boy Like Me? is a 2026 MYRCA Northern Lights nominee. (Personally, I think it would be better on the younger Sundog list though.)

3+ stars

[Lily Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a very good short read overall. I didn’t necessarily relate to the problems the characters faced so it wasn’t a book I liked because I deeply related to it. Tyler was one of my favourite characters and I liked his development. Just Add Magic shoutout caught me off-guard. It was different than most books I have read, and I liked the theme and plot. Good, but not 5 star. I read almost all of it in one sitting.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Getting boys to talk about their feelings….good stuff. Mix in viral videos and social media trolls…this all allows a lot of potential readers to connect. Parent-child relationships, friend relationships, cyber bullying, struggling to meet perceived expectations...there is actually quite a lot in this book!

[Atanda Tattrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet children's chapter book about toxic masculinity and finding yourself, so excited to read this with my class during black history month!

[Read by Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great middle grade book about toxic masculinity, social media, and identity. Characters are in grade 8.

[Danielle]

Battle of the Books 2025/2026

[Ashley Kim]

*read for The Forest of Reading 2026

[Derya M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful read for middle schoolers about identity, masculinity, and social media. Lots of discussion potential around friendship, family, and online pressure.
*Read for book club