Joseph Riley is a privileged teen coming of age in Saratoga, New York. But this is no ordinary teen; despite his high IQ score and his privileged lifestyle, Joseph stoically bears his anxiety that he will one day disappoint his imposing parents.

He cannot enjoy his teen years for worrying about his parents' daunting expectations, though they are unaware of the pressure he lives with. Joseph's anxiety is similar to that which so many under-privileged teens experience. Parents of all social and economic strata will recognize some aspects of family life, and all will benefit from this extraordinary story. Like so many teens, Joseph simply needed parents who would listen to him.

Joseph's Fears is a coming of age story, rich with compelling insights into the troubled world of a privileged teen.