- Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Doubleday Childrens (28 Oct 2010)
- Genre: Young Adult/ Realistic Fiction Source: Publisher
Rating:
Emma reached out and her tiny fingers touched my cheek. I froze. We watched each other intently. Emma stroked my cheek and smiled. That's all it was, a smile. Slowly I drew away, feeling strange and not sure why.
My Thoughts - Reading
Dante is a bright 17 year old boy. He has his whole life ahead of him, and he knows exactly what he wants to do. Go to university and hopefully be a Journalist someday. Ironically the day his A Level results are to arrive his ex girlfriend Melanie turns up. Before he can even comprehend what's happening she tells him that the little baby she's holding is his. That Emma is his daughter and despite his hesitance she ventures outside promising that she'll be back; she never returns.
I love how the author has completely turned things around. You hear of the mother being left by her partner but hardly of the mother dropping the baby over at the fathers permanently. I was quite intrigued because of this to see how it would all play out. It was done amazingly well. The author perfectly captures the panic and anger/guilt that this young boy experiences within the next few days. We are taken through the time where he has to make long-life decisions and be responsible for his actions. Whilst at first his main concern is going to University and being in denial about the fact that he now has a baby towards the end his priority and concerns are now if he will be a good enough father. Boy's Don't Cry wonderfully showcases the harsh realities of life, one being that all actions have a consequence, and tomorrow there is no telling what may be knocking on your door.
Things don't just begin and end here though. You have dynamics of a family that are all over the place. Dante and Adam's (his brother) mother died when they were very young; to worsen things they have a dad who has a tough time with displaying emotion. And It is probably this lack of communication that contributes to what they will face later on.
Family relationships and acceptance is greatly explored in this novel. We get a vivid picture of how lack of communication and the feelings of neglect can play with a child's mind and make them create all sorts of scenarios in their head. Dante may be going through a life changing experience but his brother Adam isn't exactly being let off easy either. His brother and father refuse to acknowledge that he is gay. More - so he has to deal with Dante's friends verbally abusing him relentlessly as his brother watches on.
Boy's Don't Cry was a learning experience, that's the only way I can describe it . It is such an eye opener. Do you recall the moment you pass by a boy/girl holding a child when they are merely children themselves? I'll be the first to say, yes, countless thoughts enter my head. Which is what made this book so worthwhile because all of a sudden I was inside Dante's POV and when I saw that women judge him and bad mouth him I wanted to give her a piece of my mind, and then I was horrified by the thought that although I don't go blasting at young teens and my thoughts didn't match her extreme POV, it doesn' t necessarily make me any different. Reading this book made me realise that sure, you might have countless plans that may need to be put on hold, and you might not be ready for a child, you may not even want a child, but when you have that child; who says you love it any less than an adult or a married couple would. Who says? Dante is 17 and yes, he doesn't want Emma at first, but you only have to read the book to notice the loving relationship the two develop. How the paternal instincts kick in and make him hell of a father regardless of what others have to say.
Dante, Adam and their father are really the main focus of this book and Josh who I would say represents something pretty important. Someone who is afraid of what they are, afraid of what others will think. He represents many and it was very insightful to see him be so pained and conflicted because to hate what you are must be awfully tormenting. It must eat you up inside. Malorie Blackman shows the good, the bad, and the ugly yet throughout not once will you judge either of them which is what makes the book so fantastic. You are able to accept each character and situation for what they are and understand it in someway or the other.
"Don't you know that boys don't cry?' Adam grinned.'Shall I tell you something I've only recently discovered,' I replied, not attempting to hide the tears rolling down my face and not the least bit ashamed of them. 'Boys don't cry, but real men do."
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