Growing Pains

By Kell

Synopsis

Three young adults find themselves lost in the wilderness after feeling a strange, ethereal pull, with nothing to rely on but each other. They’ve all gone through a metamorphosis that’s harder to adjust to for some than others. But something calls, deep within the woods, and their hearts. Growing Pains is a novel wrung from the heart. It’s a story about growth, a story about going back home, a story about relying on other people. A journey of coming to terms with what you truly are, or truly want to be.

NOTES:

Firstly, the word "dehumanization" is used in the content warnings list, but it is done so incorrectly. This is a mistake. What should go there instead is "transformation" or "both temporary and permanent loss of human traits." (Which is a mouthful, but it's an important distinction.)

Second, this book was never made for public release. I only chose to share it after the fact upon request. It will definitely reflect this, as it's fairly unpolished.

PDF download: Growing_Pains_PDF.pdf

And because why not, here's a link to an animatic about Ben I also made in 2022 before I finished the book.

Some nice things people have said about it:

"Started reading growing pains late at night its very sweet and I think you write really well! I'm having fun learning about your characters and overall story about them"

"Im reading Growing Pains right now and it feels so tender and loving"

"woke up to find you had released growing pains, read the entire thing in one sitting, and i am now deceased. thank you so much for writing it and deciding to release it, it means so much to see something like this written by someone like me, and it feels like such a valuable introspection on the way that it feels even as it diverges some from my own personal experience. i don't even know what to say besides thank you."

"i think the confessions scene might have awakened something in me"

"this is great already, i love this"

"your book rocked!"