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Boys Don't Cry: the plot
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Malorie Blackman's 2010 novel follows Dante, a seventeen-year-old whose life changes when his ex-girlfriend leaves their baby with him.
A surprise
Dante is waiting for his A-level results and planning to go to university.
His ex-girlfriend Melanie arrives with a baby, Emma, and tells him Emma is his daughter. Melanie leaves and does not come back.
Dante, his younger brother Adam and their dad must learn to care for Emma.
His ex-girlfriend Melanie arrives with a baby, Emma, and tells him Emma is his daughter. Melanie leaves and does not come back.
Dante, his younger brother Adam and their dad must learn to care for Emma.
Two stories
The novel is narrated mostly by Dante, with shorter chapters from Adam.
Dante does very well in his exams but must put university on hold.
Adam, who is openly gay, faces homophobia. He is brutally attacked by a group that includes Dante's former friend Josh, and is seriously injured, with lasting damage to one eye.
Dante does very well in his exams but must put university on hold.
Adam, who is openly gay, faces homophobia. He is brutally attacked by a group that includes Dante's former friend Josh, and is seriously injured, with lasting damage to one eye.
Growing together
Adam struggles badly after the attack.
The family learn to talk honestly and support each other.
Dante grows into a committed father who loves Emma, and the brothers' relationship becomes stronger.
The family learn to talk honestly and support each other.
Dante grows into a committed father who loves Emma, and the brothers' relationship becomes stronger.
Why does Blackman use two narrators?
- Dante tells the story of becoming a father.
- Adam's chapters show his experience of homophobia.
- Together they show two different challenges to ideas about masculinity.
Answer: To show both brothers' struggles from the inside, and two different challenges to traditional masculinity.
Melanie leaves baby Emma with Dante, Dante's plans change, Adam faces homophobia and a brutal attack, the family struggles, and they grow closer as Dante becomes a loving father.
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