In simple words, puberty refers to the phase in which boys and girls become sexually mature. It usually starts around age 12 to 14 (although it can occur a few years sooner) and also implies physical changes.
Among other things, boys develop a higher production of testosterone, the principal male sex hormone. That would explain why James is experiencing these changes while reading the story.
Realism seems to be a philosophy pretending to somehow describe contemporary political life.
Everything always underlines the political limits arising from either the self centered character of humanity as well as the unavailability of a strong central government over the community as well as the country.
