In this haunting novel that deals with an adolescence marked by intense experiences, Jack Kerouac tells the story of Jack Duluoz, a French-Canadian boy who grows up, like Kerouac himself, in Lowell, Massachusetts, this dreary industrial town. Dr. Sax, with his flowing cape, wide-brimmed hat, and penetrating gaze, is the dominant figure among the many ghosts and demons that inhabit Jack's imaginary world. Kerouac skillfully blends memories and dreams, capturing the nuances and texture of his childhood in Lowell as he recounts the adventures of Jack and his mysterious, revelatory hipster phantom.