Boys don't cry by Malorie Blackman
Published by Doubleday Children's Books (Random House)
This is the explosively page-turning new novel for teenagers from the author of the award-winning "Noughts and Crosses" sequence. You're about to receive your A-level results and then a future of university and journalism awaits. But the day they're due to arrive your old girlfriend Melanie turns up unexpectedly ...with a baby ...You assume Melanie's helping a friend, until she nips out to buy some essentials, leaving you literally holding the baby ...Malorie's dramatic new novel will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the final page.
Everything I have ever read of Malorie Blackman's up to this book I loved and I was worried that this book might not be as good - I am very pleased to say that I was wrong and this book was also awesome.
The story alternates between narratives from Dante and Adam and tells two different but interwoven stories. The first story is Dante's the the way in which he deals with the situation is finds himself in when his ex girlfriend turns up on the doorstep with his young daughter and promptly leaves. The second story is about his Brother Adam and the way he is treated because he is gay. Either one of these topics would have made for an excellent story which would be worth reading purely for an educational purpose for the intended audience. Blackman manages to do both of these areas justice in one story providing an engaging and interesting book with a moralistic edge.
Dante's story was really interesting as I am yet to read a story of its kind from a male point of view. The main thing I liked about it was how much Dante grew as the story progressed. At the start of the story he is understandably shocked at the fact that he has a child and worried about the impact the revelation will have on his life especially as he has definite career plans in mind - raising a child definitely didn't feature as a priority. As the story progresses his rises to the challenges of being a father and becomes more understanding and closer to his own father as a result.
If Dante's story wasn't engaging enough, Adam's story adds to the novel even more. Adam is a gay teenager who is quite happy in his sexuality which is refreshing in itself. He is a wonderful character (especially the scenes with baby Emma) but has to put up with bullying from his peers about being gay. Without giving too much away I enjoyed his story for totally different reasons to why I enjoyed Dante's. The main thing I enjoyed about it was the way in which it made me realise how serious homophobic bullying can be however small the attacks might seem. I didn't seen what was coming at all and I think it'll be something that'll stay with me for a while.
An awesome book. If you've already read and enjoyed Malorie Blackman you are sure to enjoy it and if you haven't it will be a fab introduction to a wonderful author.
Published by Doubleday Children's Books (Random House)
This is the explosively page-turning new novel for teenagers from the author of the award-winning "Noughts and Crosses" sequence. You're about to receive your A-level results and then a future of university and journalism awaits. But the day they're due to arrive your old girlfriend Melanie turns up unexpectedly ...with a baby ...You assume Melanie's helping a friend, until she nips out to buy some essentials, leaving you literally holding the baby ...Malorie's dramatic new novel will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the final page.
***
The story alternates between narratives from Dante and Adam and tells two different but interwoven stories. The first story is Dante's the the way in which he deals with the situation is finds himself in when his ex girlfriend turns up on the doorstep with his young daughter and promptly leaves. The second story is about his Brother Adam and the way he is treated because he is gay. Either one of these topics would have made for an excellent story which would be worth reading purely for an educational purpose for the intended audience. Blackman manages to do both of these areas justice in one story providing an engaging and interesting book with a moralistic edge.
Dante's story was really interesting as I am yet to read a story of its kind from a male point of view. The main thing I liked about it was how much Dante grew as the story progressed. At the start of the story he is understandably shocked at the fact that he has a child and worried about the impact the revelation will have on his life especially as he has definite career plans in mind - raising a child definitely didn't feature as a priority. As the story progresses his rises to the challenges of being a father and becomes more understanding and closer to his own father as a result.
If Dante's story wasn't engaging enough, Adam's story adds to the novel even more. Adam is a gay teenager who is quite happy in his sexuality which is refreshing in itself. He is a wonderful character (especially the scenes with baby Emma) but has to put up with bullying from his peers about being gay. Without giving too much away I enjoyed his story for totally different reasons to why I enjoyed Dante's. The main thing I enjoyed about it was the way in which it made me realise how serious homophobic bullying can be however small the attacks might seem. I didn't seen what was coming at all and I think it'll be something that'll stay with me for a while.
An awesome book. If you've already read and enjoyed Malorie Blackman you are sure to enjoy it and if you haven't it will be a fab introduction to a wonderful author.
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