Paper Boys is a group of door to door salesmen and boys. Set in Atlanta and suburbs, they advance the metaphor for coming-of-age and considering living or dying. Sean, 17, the main character, is from a broken home of dysfunction and relative poverty when constantly compared to his best friend for life, Steve. Rich family, college bound, gorgeous, Steve reminds him of what he never had. The crew is the only family Sean really has, and they really do love each other, but still not enough to dissuade Sean from self-destructive behavior, drugs and sex with both sexes. He struggles with his secret biracial identity, sexuality and social class. Living in fear, he individually pursues anything that helps to cover up his real missing elements, acceptance of self and getting rid of baggage from his past. Worried about being drafted by Bush and getting AIDS, Sean rambles though his life and his job. His friends do the best they can, but only Sean can find and rescue himself.
—Bryan E. Hall