In David Mitchell's "Black Swan Green," thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor learned some hard realities about life. His coming-of-age story dealt not only with Jason’s challenges as a teen but also with his own family struggles as his parents’ marriage falls apart. Throughout the course of the novel, Jason struggled with grief and guilt because he accidentally broke the heirloom watch that had belonged to his grandfather. He was also tormented by his speech impediment and his struggle to stay on the good side of the popular kids. When Jason became the target of the bullies, he found a unique way to fight back.

Each chapter in this novel gives the reader a snapshot of a significant event in Jason’s life during each month of his thirteenth year. The novel’s thirteen chapters each correspond to one month in the year. In January, Jason accidentally broke the antique watch that had once belonged to his grandfather. He also got in trouble for answering a strange phone call on his father’s office phone. In February, Jason shared information about his speech impediment. In March, he learned his older cousin Hugo wasn’t as cool as he once thought. In April, Jason took on an adventure down a bridle path. In May, Jason witnessed the fighting between his parents becoming more intense as it seemed to focus on them hurting each other.

In June, Jason made it into the selective club called "The Spooks" and was just as quickly kicked out because he helped his friend who had been hurt while trying to complete the club's initiation challenge. In July, Jason met an eccentric old lady who taught him about truth and beauty. In August, Jason went on trips with both his parents in the chapter entitled “Souvenirs.” In September, school began and Jason was grouped with the losers because he’d been seen waiting in line with his mother at the movies. Bullies also made fun of his stammer. In October, Jason learned that even adults had bullies among them in the chapter “Knife Grinder.” In November, Jason found a wallet full of money belonging to Ross Wilcox and struggled to decide if he should give it back to this boy who picked on him relentlessly.

In December, Jason had enough of being bullied and smashed an expensive calculator belonging to Neal Brose in order to draw attention to what was happening. It was also in this chapter that Jason was first kissed by a girl. In January, a full year later, Jason and his family were moving out of Black Swan Green because his parents were getting divorced. He wondered how his life would ever be okay again.