Great title, interesting teenage tale, good themes for a teenage discussion and an open end which I'm afraid is foreshadowed by the title. A short and easy read for teenagers, and it would be good for starting a class discussion about the effects of teenage pregnancy, responsibility, childhood neglect and sexuality.

Generic summary (found online): "A novel whose central character is a bright and intelligent boy of 15 whose mother's preoccupation with men leads her to desert him. He descends into poverty while trying to evade the social services, and accepts the attentions of men on the street as a way of survival."

I have to say, I don't entirely agree that the mother acts as she does because she is preoccupied with men. She was caught in the trap of having a child while she was still a teenager, cutting short her ambitions to go to a good university (unless she was lying, of course). Her parents supported her so that she continues to behave irresponsibly, but she could also be viewed as a victim who felt obliged to earn her living as a prostitute. I don't think her relationships with men are anything to do with love! She also has a close relationship with her son, and tries to prevent him making the same mistake she did. Her character isn't developed, and we tend to hear other people's negative reactions to her. She is definitely unreliable, but in the end, her son chooses to live with her and not one of the other relatives. The summary mentions the social services, but I don't remember them at all, and the part about "the attentions of men on the street" is not a major part of the novella, but it does have serious consequences.

Odg

1 review

July 20, 2013

Besides being hilarious and I book which I thoroughly enjoyed at the age of 11 - when I think of all the books I read at age 10-15 years old this is the ONLY novel designed for a young person I remember which EVER discussed sexuality from the perspective of a young teenage boy. And there's not really any sex in it! Apart from a hard-on and a boob if I remember correctly - but even that was a league above the rest of the sea of bland young person's literature. I'm a bit harsh - they aren't all bland - Harry Potter is a very exciting book, but it doesn't discuss the fucking huge elephant in the room of sexuality, is this not the biggest question for people right up to their 20s? This book is relevant and necessary. If you don't want young people to learn about sex from porn - then tell them what it is in books. It's also hilarious. Good man David.

Nux

136 reviews2 followers

October 7, 2009

not sure why post and forward david (same person?) rate this one with two stars only.
I found myself enjoying the book, even fascinated by the characters, albeit being a bit repulsed and pitied them at the same time. A strong story but kept light, somehow it showed the uglier face of the world. It touched nerves and left it a bit raw without having to use harsh or hard language. Good one.
Though I'm not sure I'll voluntarily let the very young ones to read this. For 14 and above only? Maybe depending on the maturity of the kid itself...

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