Disconnected Bodies, Yearning Hearts

Waldo, a seventeen-year-old girl, navigates the awkwardness of teenage sex, feeling disconnected from her own body and the boys she dates. She craves intimacy but finds only mechanical encounters, haunted by her mother's words that she's "hard to love." Waldo internalizes the belief that wanting less will make her easier to love, so she tries to minimize her needs in relationships. Yet, the emptiness persists, and she wonders if she's the problem. After another unsatisfying hookup, she ends things with Randy, her latest boyfriend, in a breakup as unceremonious as their relationship. Alone, she's left with the gnawing sense that what she truly wants—real connection—remains out of reach.

Sticky Notes and Solitude

Returning home, Waldo finds comfort in her mother's sticky notes, small tokens of care in an otherwise absent relationship. She fills her time with chores, microwaved meals, and endless scrolling through social media and online shopping. The act of buying beauty products and clothes becomes a ritual of hope, a belief that transformation is just a delivery away. Yet, the thrill of anticipation is always followed by regret and emptiness. Waldo's nights are spent in the blue glow of her laptop, searching for meaning in the curated lives of others, while her own life feels stagnant and isolated.

The Teacher's Confession

On the first day of senior year, Waldo's creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy, confesses his failures and regrets to the class. His honesty and self-awareness ignite a powerful attraction in Waldo, unlike anything she's felt for boys her age. She's drawn to his willingness to admit disappointment and vulnerability, seeing in him a kindred spirit who doesn't hide behind pretense. This attraction is not about looks but about the rawness of truth. Waldo senses an inevitability in their connection, a dangerous pull that already knows it will be acted upon, even if the path is unclear.

Fitting In, Fitting Out

Waldo's job at Victoria's Secret exposes her to women seeking self-esteem through consumerism. A customer's question—"Do you know your worth?"—unsettles Waldo, who feels unworthy due to her background and circumstances. She reflects on her upbringing in poverty, her mother's struggles, and the societal messages that equate worth with beauty and success. Waldo's attempts to fit in, whether through friendships or fashion, always leave her feeling like an outsider. She wonders if worth is something you're born with or something you have to earn, and suspects she may never have enough of it.

Shopping for Self-Worth

Waldo's nights are consumed by online shopping, filling carts with clothes and accessories she can't afford. The act is compulsive, a way to fill the void left by loneliness and unmet desires. She rationalizes her purchases as investments in herself, but the rush of buying is always followed by guilt and disappointment. Her financial instability mirrors her emotional instability, as she seeks validation in material things that never deliver on their promises. The cycle of want, regret, and self-loathing becomes a defining feature of her life.

Fantasies and Assignments

In class, Waldo's fantasies about Mr. Korgy grow more explicit and consuming. She's drawn to his flaws and imperfections, wanting even the "gross parts" of him. An assignment to write a poem about where she's from prompts her to confront her painful past—her absent father, her mother's string of boyfriends, and the instability of her childhood. Sharing her poem in class, she feels seen by Mr. Korgy in a way she never has before. The validation is intoxicating, fueling her obsession and blurring the line between student and teacher.

Charity Work Friendship

Waldo's friendship with Frannie, once close and comforting, is revealed to be rooted in pity and charity. Frannie's religious upbringing frames their relationship as an act of "befriending the friendless," making Waldo feel like a project rather than a peer. The realization stings, deepening Waldo's sense of isolation. Attempts to confide in Frannie about her breakup are met with performative concern, highlighting the transactional nature of their bond. Waldo recognizes that she's always been on the outside, even in her closest relationships.

Poems of Origin

Waldo's raw, honest poem about her upbringing impresses Mr. Korgy, who sees her vulnerability and talent. After class, she seeks solace in fantasies about him, using his social media as fuel for her desires. The contrast between his seemingly perfect family and her own fractured one intensifies her longing. She masturbates to his photos, blurring the boundaries between fantasy and reality. The act is both empowering and shameful, a secret ritual that underscores her need to be seen and wanted.

Childhoods Revisited

A writing assignment prompts Waldo to revisit key moments from her childhood: dressing up for her absent father, being left behind by friends, and comforting her mother through heartbreak. These memories reveal the roots of her neediness and her belief that love must be earned through beauty and compliance. The instability of her early years has left her craving attention and validation, while also fearing abandonment. Writing becomes a way to process these wounds, but the pain remains unresolved.

After Class, After Hours

Mr. Korgy asks Waldo to stay after class, praising her voice and engagement. The private attention is thrilling, confirming her sense of specialness. Their conversations grow more personal, and the boundaries between teacher and student begin to blur. Waldo is acutely aware of the power dynamics at play, but her desire for connection overrides her caution. The stage is set for a relationship that is both intoxicating and fraught with danger.

Mother's Cycles

Waldo's mother, reeling from another breakup, cycles between promises of renewed closeness and emotional withdrawal. Waldo recognizes the pattern: her mother's happiness is always contingent on the presence of a man, and when relationships end, she collapses. Waldo is both resentful and sympathetic, understanding that her mother's struggles are rooted in her own childhood wounds. The promise of a road trip to Seward, a recurring fantasy of togetherness, remains unfulfilled—a symbol of hope that is always deferred.

Rage and Recognition

A comment from Frannie about Waldo's "harrowing" life triggers a wave of rage. Waldo confronts Mr. Korgy, accusing him of pitying her rather than respecting her talent. He reassures her that his admiration is genuine, not rooted in her trauma. The exchange is cathartic, dissolving Waldo's anger and deepening their connection. She realizes that what she craves is not sympathy but respect—a recognition of her strength and complexity.

Throwing Away Promises

Waldo receives a series of sticky notes from her mother, celebrating small victories and renewed relationships. But the cycle of hope and disappointment is too familiar, and this time, Waldo throws the notes away instead of saving them. The act is symbolic, a rejection of empty promises and a step toward self-reliance. She begins to see that waiting for others to change is futile; she must find her own path forward.

Crossing Boundaries

Mr. Korgy visits Waldo at her workplace, Victoria's Secret, and the encounter is charged with unspoken tension. He invites her to dinner with his wife, Gwen, under the guise of mentorship. Waldo prepares obsessively, investing in beauty products and rituals to make herself worthy. The dinner is awkward, exposing the cracks in Mr. Korgy's marriage and the power dynamics in their relationship. Waldo senses that she is both a threat and a temptation, and the boundaries between them continue to erode.

Becoming Beautiful

Waldo's preparations for dinner with Mr. Korgy and his wife become a performance of femininity and desirability. She invests time, money, and energy into becoming the version of herself she believes will be most appealing. The effort is exhausting, and the rewards are fleeting. The dinner itself is a study in contrasts: Gwen's effortless grace versus Waldo's self-consciousness, Mr. Korgy's passivity versus Waldo's longing. The evening ends with unspoken tension and a sense that true connection remains elusive.

Dinner with the Dreamer

At dinner, Waldo observes the dynamic between Mr. Korgy and Gwen, noting his diminished presence and her control. The couple's rehearsed stories and practiced affection reveal the performative nature of their marriage. Waldo's own attempts to impress and connect fall flat, and she is left feeling both superior and excluded. The experience deepens her understanding of adult relationships as compromises between desire and duty, passion and routine.

Thanksgiving Lull

On Thanksgiving, Mr. Korgy calls Waldo, and they share stories of family dysfunction and missed expectations. The conversation is intimate, revealing their mutual sense of being outsiders in their own lives. Waldo offers encouragement for Mr. Korgy to pursue his abandoned novel, while he validates her feelings of disconnection. The exchange is a rare moment of genuine connection, but it is also tinged with sadness and longing for something more.

Black Friday, Black Mood

Waldo works a grueling Black Friday shift, observing the desperation of shoppers seeking fulfillment in material goods. Her mother visits, seeking both discounts and connection, but the interaction is transactional and unsatisfying. Waldo's own compulsive shopping continues, a futile attempt to fill the emptiness left by unrequited love and unmet needs. The cycle of want and disappointment intensifies, mirroring the chaos of the holiday season.

The Walk and the Kiss

Waldo and Mr. Korgy meet for a walk, and their conversation turns deeply personal. He shares the trauma of losing his sister, and she reveals her own insecurities. The emotional intimacy culminates in a kiss, crossing the line from fantasy to reality. The act is both thrilling and terrifying, confirming the depth of their connection while exposing them to new risks. The consequences of their actions begin to unfold, complicating their lives and relationships.

Lines Crossed

The relationship between Waldo and Mr. Korgy escalates, moving from emotional intimacy to physical encounters. They meet in secret, navigating the logistics and dangers of an illicit affair. The sex is passionate and affirming, a stark contrast to Waldo's previous experiences. Yet, the secrecy and guilt take their toll, and both struggle with the implications of their actions. The affair becomes a refuge from the disappointments of their regular lives, but also a source of new anxieties.

Secret Meetings

Waldo and Mr. Korgy's affair intensifies, with clandestine meetings and increasingly risky behavior. The thrill of secrecy is matched by the fear of discovery, and both are forced to confront the reality of their choices. Waldo's sense of self becomes entwined with the relationship, and she sacrifices other connections and opportunities to maintain it. The imbalance of power and the limitations of their arrangement become more apparent, sowing seeds of resentment and doubt.

The Other Side of Want

As the initial excitement of the affair fades, Waldo and Mr. Korgy are left with the realities of their situation. The limitations of stolen moments and the impossibility of a future together become clear. Waldo's longing turns to frustration, and she begins to question whether the relationship can ever meet her needs. The cycle of desire, fulfillment, and disappointment repeats, leaving both feeling more isolated than before.

Beauty and Rage

Waldo's obsession with beauty and desirability intensifies as she tries to maintain Mr. Korgy's attention. She invests in products, routines, and performances, hoping to become the woman he truly wants. The effort is exhausting and ultimately futile, as the gap between fantasy and reality widens. Waldo's rage at her own limitations and the unfairness of her circumstances boils over, manifesting in self-destructive behaviors and emotional outbursts.

Absence and Obsession

When Mr. Korgy withdraws after a close call, Waldo is consumed by anxiety and longing. She obsesses over his absence, replaying memories and searching for signs of hope. The pain of separation is acute, and she turns to old coping mechanisms—shopping, food, and fantasy—to fill the void. The relationship becomes an addiction, with Waldo chasing the high of connection and suffering through the lows of rejection.

Winter Formal, Winter Hearts

At the winter formal, Waldo's longing for Mr. Korgy reaches a breaking point. She seeks him out, and their encounter is charged with desire and shame. The imbalance of power is stark, and Waldo is left feeling both triumphant and degraded. The aftermath is a mix of pride and regret, as she grapples with the consequences of her actions and the reality of her feelings.

The Mess and the Aftermath

After their sexual encounter, Waldo is left to interpret Mr. Korgy's ambiguous reactions. She vacillates between pride in her power over him and shame at her own neediness. The relationship becomes a battleground of conflicting emotions, with both parties struggling to define what they want and what they can give. The lines between love, lust, and dependency blur, leaving Waldo more confused than ever.

The Coffee Shop Ultimatum

A secret meeting at a coffee shop forces Waldo and Mr. Korgy to confront the reality of their relationship. He admits his feelings but insists that they cannot continue. Waldo challenges his resolve, pushing him to acknowledge the depth of their connection. The conversation is raw and painful, exposing the impossibility of their situation. Both are left with a sense of loss and unresolved longing.

Shopping Sprees and Emptiness

Waldo's compulsive shopping escalates as she tries to distract herself from the pain of the breakup. The act of buying becomes a substitute for intimacy, a way to exert control and create the illusion of change. Yet, the emptiness remains, and the cycle of want and regret continues. The futility of seeking fulfillment in material things becomes increasingly clear.

Drunk Confessions

Mr. Korgy, drunk and vulnerable, comes to Waldo seeking comfort. The power dynamic shifts, with Waldo in control for the first time. Their encounter is tender and raw, exposing the depth of their need for each other. Yet, the underlying issues remain unresolved, and the relationship continues to oscillate between intimacy and distance, hope and disappointment.

Domesticity and Discontent

As Waldo and Mr. Korgy attempt to build a life together, the excitement of the affair gives way to the routines of domesticity. The limitations of their relationship become more apparent, and the initial passion fades. Waldo is confronted with the reality that love alone is not enough to sustain happiness. The mundanity of daily life, the pressures of work and family, and the unresolved wounds of the past all conspire to erode their connection.

Texts and Tension

The relationship is increasingly defined by miscommunication and unmet expectations. Texts become a battleground for reassurance and validation, with both parties seeking what the other cannot give. The tension between wanting more and settling for less becomes unbearable, and the cracks in the relationship widen. Waldo begins to question whether she can continue to sacrifice her needs for the sake of love.

The Resort Escape

A trip to a resort offers a temporary escape from the pressures of reality. Waldo and Mr. Korgy indulge in the fantasy of being a normal couple, but the illusion is short-lived. The return to daily life brings renewed frustration and disappointment, as the limitations of their relationship become impossible to ignore. The trip serves as a reminder that happiness cannot be manufactured or sustained through external means alone.

Graduation and Goodbyes

Waldo graduates from high school, marking the end of one chapter and the uncertain beginning of another. The ceremony is a performance, filled with empty rituals and forced goodbyes. Mr. Korgy is present but distant, and Waldo is left to navigate the transition to adulthood on her own. The sense of loss is palpable, as she realizes that the relationships and identities that once defined her are slipping away.

The Cycle Continues

Despite promises of change, Waldo and her mother continue to repeat the patterns of their past. Relationships are pursued and lost, hope is kindled and extinguished, and the cycle of want and disappointment persists. Waldo recognizes the futility of seeking fulfillment in others, but breaking free from the cycle proves difficult. The lessons of the past are hard-won and easily forgotten.

Settling for Less

Waldo settles into a relationship with Nolan, a kind but unexciting boy. The connection is safe but lacks passion, and Waldo struggles to reconcile her desire for intensity with the comfort of stability. The relationship becomes a mirror for her own ambivalence, as she oscillates between gratitude and dissatisfaction. The realization that no relationship can fill the void within her begins to take hold.

The End of Wanting

As the relationship with Mr. Korgy unravels, Waldo is forced to confront the truth about herself and her desires. The pursuit of love, beauty, and validation has been a distraction from deeper wounds that cannot be healed by another person. In the aftermath of heartbreak, she begins to let go of the illusions that have driven her, accepting the emptiness and uncertainty that remain. The process is painful but necessary, a step toward self-acceptance and growth.

Letting Go

In the final chapter, Waldo walks away from both Mr. Korgy and her mother, choosing to prioritize her own well-being over the endless pursuit of love and approval. She recognizes that the patterns of her past do not have to define her future, and that true freedom comes from letting go of what no longer serves her. The story ends with a sense of possibility and peace, as Waldo embraces the unknown and the promise of a life lived on her own terms.

Characters

Waldo

Waldo is a seventeen-year-old girl navigating the complexities of adolescence, sexuality, and self-worth. Raised by a single, emotionally unstable mother in poverty, she internalizes the belief that she is "hard to love" and spends her life trying to become easier to love by minimizing her needs. Waldo is intelligent, observant, and deeply self-critical, using humor and self-deprecation as shields against vulnerability. Her relationships—with boys, friends, her mother, and especially her teacher, Mr. Korgy—are marked by a desperate longing for connection and validation. Over the course of the novel, Waldo's journey is one of painful self-discovery, as she confronts the futility of seeking fulfillment in others and begins to accept herself, flaws and all.

Mr. Korgy

Mr. Korgy is Waldo's creative writing teacher, a forty-year-old man grappling with the disappointments of his own life. Once an aspiring novelist, he has settled into a career he views as a failure, haunted by regrets and a sense of unfulfilled potential. His honesty and vulnerability attract Waldo, who sees in him a kindred spirit. The relationship that develops between them is fraught with ethical and emotional complications, as Korgy oscillates between desire and guilt, passion and responsibility. He is both a mentor and a cautionary tale, embodying the dangers of living a life dictated by obligation rather than desire. His arc is one of self-reckoning, as he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the limits of his capacity for change.

Waldo's Mother

Waldo's mother is a single parent whose life is defined by a cycle of romantic relationships, emotional breakdowns, and fleeting attempts at self-improvement. She is both loving and neglectful, leaving Waldo to fend for herself while seeking validation from men. Her own childhood wounds are evident in her inability to provide consistent care or boundaries. Despite her flaws, she is a sympathetic figure, trapped by her circumstances and her longing for love. Her relationship with Waldo is a source of both comfort and pain, as they oscillate between closeness and distance, hope and disappointment.

Frannie

Frannie is Waldo's childhood friend, whose religious upbringing and desire to "befriend the friendless" make her relationship with Waldo feel transactional. She is earnest and supportive on the surface, but her friendship is tinged with pity and a sense of superiority. As they grow apart, Frannie's inability to truly understand Waldo's struggles becomes apparent, and their bond dissolves into polite distance. Frannie represents the limitations of relationships built on charity rather than genuine connection.

Gwen

Gwen is Mr. Korgy's wife, a woman of effortless grace and domestic competence. She is the embodiment of stability and order, in stark contrast to Waldo's chaos and longing. Gwen's presence in the story serves as a reminder of the compromises and performances required in adult relationships. Her interactions with Waldo are polite but strained, and her marriage to Korgy is revealed to be more about routine and obligation than passion or intimacy.

Nolan

Nolan is a classmate who becomes Waldo's boyfriend after her relationship with Mr. Korgy unravels. He is gentle, attentive, and eager to please, offering Waldo the stability and care she has always lacked. However, the relationship lacks passion and depth, and Waldo struggles to reciprocate his feelings. Nolan represents the safety of settling for less, and the realization that comfort without desire is ultimately unsatisfying.

Randy Julep

Randy is Waldo's boyfriend at the start of the novel, a stand-in for the kind of connection she seeks but never finds. Their relationship is marked by awkwardness and lack of intimacy, serving as a foil to the intensity of her feelings for Mr. Korgy. Randy's presence underscores Waldo's pattern of seeking validation in all the wrong places.

Tony

Tony is Waldo's mother's boyfriend, emblematic of the revolving door of men in her life. His presence is fleeting, and his departure triggers another cycle of emotional collapse for Waldo's mother. Tony represents the false hope of external salvation and the instability that defines Waldo's home life.

Gregory

Gregory is Mr. Korgy and Gwen's young son, a symbol of the collateral damage caused by adult choices. His presence is a constant reminder of the responsibilities and consequences that come with love and desire. Gregory's innocence contrasts sharply with the complexity and messiness of the adult world.

The Classmates

Waldo's classmates serve as a backdrop to her story, embodying the norms and expectations of teenage life. Their presence highlights Waldo's sense of otherness and her inability to fit in. They are both a source of envy and a reminder of what she lacks—a sense of belonging and ease.

Plot Devices

Dual Narrative of Want and Lack

The novel is structured around the tension between wanting and not having—whether it's love, beauty, validation, or connection. This duality drives the characters' actions and shapes their relationships. Waldo's longing is mirrored by Mr. Korgy's regrets, and both are trapped by the belief that fulfillment lies just out of reach. The narrative uses repetition, cyclical patterns, and mirrored relationships (mother/daughter, teacher/student, lover/friend) to underscore the universality of this struggle.

First-Person Intimacy and Self-Awareness

Waldo's first-person narration is confessional, self-deprecating, and brutally honest. The voice is both a shield and a weapon, allowing her to control the narrative even as she exposes her vulnerabilities. The use of direct address, internal monologue, and meta-commentary creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, drawing the reader into Waldo's psyche.

Foreshadowing and Recurring Motifs

Recurring motifs—sticky notes from her mother, compulsive shopping, the promise of a road trip to Seward—serve as symbols of hope, disappointment, and the cyclical nature of Waldo's life. These motifs foreshadow the repetition of patterns and the difficulty of breaking free from them. The narrative structure itself is cyclical, with events and emotions looping back on themselves until a breaking point is reached.

Blurring of Fantasy and Reality

Waldo's fantasies about Mr. Korgy, her compulsive shopping, and her idealization of beauty all serve as escapes from reality. Yet, these fantasies also trap her, preventing her from engaging fully with the present. The novel blurs the line between what is real and what is imagined, highlighting the dangers of living in pursuit of unattainable ideals.

Power Dynamics and Taboo

The illicit relationship between Waldo and Mr. Korgy is the central plot device, exploring themes of power, consent, and the consequences of crossing boundaries. The narrative does not shy away from the ethical and emotional complexities of the affair, using it as a lens to examine broader questions about agency, responsibility, and the search for meaning.

Analysis

Half His Age is a raw, unflinching exploration of the hunger for connection in a world that constantly disappoints. Through Waldo's journey, Jennette McCurdy dissects the ways in which early wounds shape our desires, and how the pursuit of love, beauty, and validation can become both a refuge and a prison. The novel's power lies in its refusal to offer easy answers or tidy resolutions; instead, it presents the messy, cyclical reality of longing and loss. The relationship between Waldo and Mr. Korgy is both a symptom and a cause of their mutual dissatisfaction, exposing the dangers of seeking fulfillment in others rather than within oneself. The story is also a critique of consumer culture, the commodification of self-worth, and the societal pressures that drive women to perform and perfect themselves for the approval of others. Ultimately, Half His Age is a coming-of-age story that rejects the myth of romantic salvation, embracing instead the hard-won truth that peace comes not from getting what we want, but from letting go of what we no longer need.

Last updated: January 29, 2026