Is Smithy Really Just 14

We have come to quickly realize just how immature Smithy Ide is. I'm not just talking about his obsession with breasts. He also is just very naive. From the start of the novel he believes he can ride a rickety old bike all the way across the country. No sane person would believe this is even possible, let a lone a thought that should cross someone's mind. The naivety does not end there however. He believes that everyone will be nice and caring even after being shot and hit with cars. He never stops and thinks that maybe he was wrong. Also at this point I would probably turn around but Smithy has this child like idea that he is invincible. I think that he just really never mentally developed after 14. His sister went missing and this really messed with him. He didn't know how to react other than to stick to a routine of expecting her to be gone and finding her on his bike. I think that he was so afraid of change that he did not even want himself to change. This led to little or no development from that age. I think that would explain all of his childish tendencies.