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A review by katykelly
Different for Boys by Patrick Ness
4.0
Effective but brief look at adolescent male sexuality and friendship.
It's a hard point in life, the teenage years, whoever you are. Even a book of less than 100 pages can convey that. And does.
This is succinct but pointed. Sparse but deep. It didn't feel like Ness's other works to me, but I think this deserves a place in secondary school libraries and will find an audience.
With a very unusual style, swear words blacked out like old telegrams, that the characters themselves are aware of and mock, the narrator shows his own life at one period of his young life. Knowing his sexuality will be challenged and derided in school, he keeps it to himself. Despite one friend 'using' him for much-needed physical release, another confiding his own homosexual feelings to him, and the fourth in their 'group' wanting him to move from football to rugby.
It's a microcosm of teenage hormones, confusion, angst, fear and lust. The pencil drawings added to the school vibe, and the fast-moving story brought about the conflict you could see coming almost before you know you've arrived there.
One for PSHE lessons, one for teenagers to consider and mull over and take on board in any way they need. Good to see boys' emotions and needs covered exclusively in a male-dominated narrative.
Due to blacking out, there's hardly a rude word or action in sight, but context-wise this is best in the hands of ages 13 and above.
With thanks to netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
It's a hard point in life, the teenage years, whoever you are. Even a book of less than 100 pages can convey that. And does.
This is succinct but pointed. Sparse but deep. It didn't feel like Ness's other works to me, but I think this deserves a place in secondary school libraries and will find an audience.
With a very unusual style, swear words blacked out like old telegrams, that the characters themselves are aware of and mock, the narrator shows his own life at one period of his young life. Knowing his sexuality will be challenged and derided in school, he keeps it to himself. Despite one friend 'using' him for much-needed physical release, another confiding his own homosexual feelings to him, and the fourth in their 'group' wanting him to move from football to rugby.
It's a microcosm of teenage hormones, confusion, angst, fear and lust. The pencil drawings added to the school vibe, and the fast-moving story brought about the conflict you could see coming almost before you know you've arrived there.
One for PSHE lessons, one for teenagers to consider and mull over and take on board in any way they need. Good to see boys' emotions and needs covered exclusively in a male-dominated narrative.
Due to blacking out, there's hardly a rude word or action in sight, but context-wise this is best in the hands of ages 13 and above.
With thanks to netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.