How To Be A Boy edited by Tony Bradman

Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4063-2131-9.
(Age 13+) Recommended. Being a teenager is often a confusing and complex stage of life when peer pressure, sexual awakening and parental expectations become competing influences. Teenage girls have an abundance of literature to inform them but young boys are less well served with guidance about the transition into young adulthood.Tony Bradman hopes this anthology of ten fictional short stories will correct some of the negative stereotypes of teenage males and offer a positive and balanced representation of the contemporary issues that shape their lives.
Is it more important to be street smart than school wise?  Is life a choice between being a bully or being bullied? How do you cope when your parent's marriage is falling apart or your Mum is gay? How do you let a girl know that you like her? These are some of the thought provoking themes sensitively written by established authors of fiction for boys.
The stories are all short and easy to read and are ideal for stimulating class discussion. The dilemmas confronting the characters are very realistic. All these factors will entice reluctant readers to engage with these stories. How To Be A Boy is definitely a good read.
Tina Cain