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Boys Don't Knit #1
Chłopaki nie dziergają
"Billy Elliot" dla nastolatków! Dowcipna i wzruszająca książka, która zadaje kłam stereotypom o rolach mężczyzn i kobiet.
Ben jest wrażliwym, spokojnym nastolatkiem, pisze pamiętnik i pochodzi z porządnej, chociaż lekko niekonwencjonalnej rodziny – ojciec jest mechanikiem samochodowym, matka jeździ po miastach i miasteczkach Wielkiej Brytanii ze swoim magicznym show. Ben ma też zdolność do pakowania się w kłopoty. Po niefortunnej wyprawie do lokalnego marketu po alkohol na imprezę trafia pod opiekę kuratora. Koledzy – inicjatorzy unikają kary, zaś Ben musi zastosować się do zaleceń programu resocjalizacji.
Wybór zajęć pozalekcyjnych jest niewielki – mechanika samochodowa z własnym tatą, garncarstwo i robienie na drutach. Ben wybiera robótki ze względu na atrakcyjną nauczycielkę, która ma prowadzić zajęcia. Po pierwszych próbach okazuje się, że Ben ma niesamowity talent do robienia na drutach. Ale jak powiedzieć o tym kumplom, adorowanej dziewczynie, a przede wszystkim tacie, który cały czas ma nadzieję, że Ben wciągnie się w naprawę samochodów i piłkę nożną?
Ben jest wrażliwym, spokojnym nastolatkiem, pisze pamiętnik i pochodzi z porządnej, chociaż lekko niekonwencjonalnej rodziny – ojciec jest mechanikiem samochodowym, matka jeździ po miastach i miasteczkach Wielkiej Brytanii ze swoim magicznym show. Ben ma też zdolność do pakowania się w kłopoty. Po niefortunnej wyprawie do lokalnego marketu po alkohol na imprezę trafia pod opiekę kuratora. Koledzy – inicjatorzy unikają kary, zaś Ben musi zastosować się do zaleceń programu resocjalizacji.
Wybór zajęć pozalekcyjnych jest niewielki – mechanika samochodowa z własnym tatą, garncarstwo i robienie na drutach. Ben wybiera robótki ze względu na atrakcyjną nauczycielkę, która ma prowadzić zajęcia. Po pierwszych próbach okazuje się, że Ben ma niesamowity talent do robienia na drutach. Ale jak powiedzieć o tym kumplom, adorowanej dziewczynie, a przede wszystkim tacie, który cały czas ma nadzieję, że Ben wciągnie się w naprawę samochodów i piłkę nożną?
286 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2014
83 people are currently reading
3721 people want to read
About the author
T.S. Easton
12 books57 followersT. S. Easton is an experienced author of fiction for all ages and has had more than a dozen books published. He has written under a number of different pseudonyms in a variety of genres. Subjects include vampires, pirates, pandemics and teenage agony aunts (not all in the same book). He lives in Surrey with his wife and three children and in his spare time works as a Production Manager for a UK publisher. BOYS DON'T KNIT is his first novel for Hot Key Books, and you can find out more about him at https://www.hotkeybooks.com or on his website www.tomeaston.co.uk Follow hin on Twitter: @TomEaston
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 623 reviews
March 28, 2016
Very light (maybe a little too light?) and quite funny, in a Georgia Nicholson way.
May 4, 2016
This book was a complete delight! I loved being inside Ben's head. Ben doesn't always understand his messy family - or feel like he fits, he's not sure how he feels about his friends (they keep getting him into trouble) and he doesn't know how to talk to girls he likes. When Ben gets put on probation for a situation that involves poor judgement, liquor stealing, and hitting a crossing guard with a bicycle, all largely the fault of his idiotic friends, Ben ends up taking a knitting class. Of course, Ben doesn't want anyone to know about it even though he's a natural, and that leads to much hilarity and inner turmoil.
Ben's a little awkward, quite clueless at times (though he can also be very perceptive), and he doesn't feel like he fits with his friends or at home. Ben doesn't like sports or cars or the other manly things his dad prefers, or his friends wild schemes, which always end in disaster. Ben likes organizing things and school and no drama. But it is through the seemingly unmanly activity of knitting that Ben realizes he might not be the loser he always thought he was. He has friends and support and maybe a girl who likes him too. Plus he finds he's also pretty good at helping others.
Ben's inner voice was completely endearing, and I enjoyed seeing him gain confidence and begin to see his own worth. The story is told by Ben in a very conversational style, organized by date, instead of chapter (sort of like a diary, but don't worry, it's not epistolary and the storytelling method works very well and adds to the overall experience). Reading BOYS DON'T KNIT was like cuddling up in a warm sweater while watching a comedy. They perfect mix of hilarious and heartfelt.
Ben's a little awkward, quite clueless at times (though he can also be very perceptive), and he doesn't feel like he fits with his friends or at home. Ben doesn't like sports or cars or the other manly things his dad prefers, or his friends wild schemes, which always end in disaster. Ben likes organizing things and school and no drama. But it is through the seemingly unmanly activity of knitting that Ben realizes he might not be the loser he always thought he was. He has friends and support and maybe a girl who likes him too. Plus he finds he's also pretty good at helping others.
Ben's inner voice was completely endearing, and I enjoyed seeing him gain confidence and begin to see his own worth. The story is told by Ben in a very conversational style, organized by date, instead of chapter (sort of like a diary, but don't worry, it's not epistolary and the storytelling method works very well and adds to the overall experience). Reading BOYS DON'T KNIT was like cuddling up in a warm sweater while watching a comedy. They perfect mix of hilarious and heartfelt.
May 9, 2015
First of all, my library holds this in Juvenile Fiction. I will be having a chat with the librarian when I return this book. I am relieved I didn't let my 6-year-old read this! The very first page talks about the parents using food-based double entendres with each other. While my son doesn't know the term yet, he knows that wieners and buns can also be names for certain body parts. And as an adult reading them, it got old really fast. The main character gets in trouble for stealing alcohol to sneak into a party. And there is lots of talk about making out and having sex, and a bit if foul language. It isn't until halfway through the book that you learn the main character is 17, so thinking that you have maybe a sixth grader talking about this stuff was disconcerting. (The jacket and Goodreads summary say so, but I hadn't read it immediately before reading the book.) Young Adult, not Juvenile!
Aside from that, the story is awfully far-fetched from start to finish. As a knitter, I was really hopeful that this would be a good book, but the knitting wasn't believable at all. I'm supposed to believe that this kid learns to knit so well that he can design his own sweaters and vests right away, that he can knit a sock in an hour? Come on. And he enters a knitting competition after just a few months? And at the competition, why are so many top knitters dropping stitches? The story takes place in England, which may account for some slight differences in knitting vocabulary, but in my American knitting life, I have never used weaves and wefts in knitting, or purling in fair isle knitting in the round. It just seemed that the author knew a few cliches about knitters, their podcasts, their relationships, etc., and didn't know how to subtly spin them into a good yarn. Disappointing.
Aside from that, the story is awfully far-fetched from start to finish. As a knitter, I was really hopeful that this would be a good book, but the knitting wasn't believable at all. I'm supposed to believe that this kid learns to knit so well that he can design his own sweaters and vests right away, that he can knit a sock in an hour? Come on. And he enters a knitting competition after just a few months? And at the competition, why are so many top knitters dropping stitches? The story takes place in England, which may account for some slight differences in knitting vocabulary, but in my American knitting life, I have never used weaves and wefts in knitting, or purling in fair isle knitting in the round. It just seemed that the author knew a few cliches about knitters, their podcasts, their relationships, etc., and didn't know how to subtly spin them into a good yarn. Disappointing.
October 29, 2020
Keine Ahnung, wann mich ein Buch das letzte Mal so glücklich gemacht hat, und es gab einige wirklich gute dieses Jahr! Und ich kann mich spontan auch an kein Buch erinnern, das ich sofort gleich wieder angefangen habe zu lesen, als ich die letzte Seite fertig hatte.
Und dabei ist dieses Buch nun nicht gerade ein literarisches Meisterwerk (ist eh sehr subjektiv, was gut ist und was schlecht), und es ist eher ein Jugendbuch, und aus dem Alter bin ich auch schon raus. Vielleicht hat mir das Buch deshalb so gut gefallen, weil es ein Thema behandelt (Stricken), das ich selbst sehr liebe, und beim Lesen hat es mich auch ständig in den Fingern gejuckt, mein Strickzeug zur Hand zu nehmen. (Und dieses Jahr hänge ich mit meiner Reading-Challenge eh gnadenlos hinterher, weil sich so viele Strickprojekte bei mir stapeln.)
Die Geschichte um Ben, der durch die Verkettung unglücklicher Umstände und dem Angehören einer etwas rambolesken Clique in einem Strickkurs landet, und Gefallen an Wolle und Maschen findet, wird in Tagebuchform erzählt, also in der Ich-Form. Dabei war mir Ben von Anfang bis Ende absolut sympathisch - seine Bemühungen um seine Familie, das Verheimlichen seiner Strickleidenschaft (sein "schmutziges Geheimnis") und seine Erlebnisse mit der Lollipop-Frau und den Strickmeisterschaften. Einfach nur herrlich! Diese Geschichte müsste es als Hörbuch geben (muss ich mal gleich schauen), dann kann man die Geschichte hören und nebenher - genau! stricken!
Unbedingt lesen!
Und dabei ist dieses Buch nun nicht gerade ein literarisches Meisterwerk (ist eh sehr subjektiv, was gut ist und was schlecht), und es ist eher ein Jugendbuch, und aus dem Alter bin ich auch schon raus. Vielleicht hat mir das Buch deshalb so gut gefallen, weil es ein Thema behandelt (Stricken), das ich selbst sehr liebe, und beim Lesen hat es mich auch ständig in den Fingern gejuckt, mein Strickzeug zur Hand zu nehmen. (Und dieses Jahr hänge ich mit meiner Reading-Challenge eh gnadenlos hinterher, weil sich so viele Strickprojekte bei mir stapeln.)
Die Geschichte um Ben, der durch die Verkettung unglücklicher Umstände und dem Angehören einer etwas rambolesken Clique in einem Strickkurs landet, und Gefallen an Wolle und Maschen findet, wird in Tagebuchform erzählt, also in der Ich-Form. Dabei war mir Ben von Anfang bis Ende absolut sympathisch - seine Bemühungen um seine Familie, das Verheimlichen seiner Strickleidenschaft (sein "schmutziges Geheimnis") und seine Erlebnisse mit der Lollipop-Frau und den Strickmeisterschaften. Einfach nur herrlich! Diese Geschichte müsste es als Hörbuch geben (muss ich mal gleich schauen), dann kann man die Geschichte hören und nebenher - genau! stricken!
Unbedingt lesen!
October 7, 2016
5 Stars
I’m always on the lookout for books with well-done male POV. Boys Don’t Knit is such a little gem, and I wish it got more attention.
Ben Fletcher is your average teenage boy. Well, maybe not so average, but, hey, we all have our quirks.
After Ben’s friends dragged him into one of their shenanigans, he ended up causing car accident, crushing his bike into lollipop lady and breaking stolen Martini Rosso all over place. Now as a part of his probation he had to complete a journal, participate in the “Giving Something Back” program (which means to spend time with crazy lollipop lady). Worst of all he is forced to attend a class and the only available one is knitting.
Ben is such a likable and endearing character. I see a lot of my son in him. And I loved humor in this book. I constantly smiled or laughed while reading it. There was a lot of silliness and fun in Boys Don't Knit, but there were also serious thought-provoking scenes and a lot of heart in this book.
I loved everything about this book: Ben’s eccentric and loving family, his friends and their silly antics, hilarious emails with his probation officer Claudia Gunter, his touching friendship with lollipop lady Mrs Frensham and of course awkward teenage first love.
I also appreciate how family positive this book is. In truth I’m sick of “crappy parents” YA trend.
This book is full of happiness and good feelings. It’s a perfect story to curl up on the sofa in the evening after a tiresome day.
PS. Best knitting analogies!
You can find my reviews:
I’m always on the lookout for books with well-done male POV. Boys Don’t Knit is such a little gem, and I wish it got more attention.
Ben Fletcher is your average teenage boy. Well, maybe not so average, but, hey, we all have our quirks.
"Call me Mr Template. Otherwise known as Ben Fletcher. My friends sometimes call me Bellend Ben which I’m not so keen on. I am small and thin with black hair and brown eyes. I don’t like sports, though my mum thinks I like football. I don’t like cars, though my dad thinks I like Jeremy Clarkson. I don’t like fighting, though Lloyd Manning from school thinks I like being punched in the back of the head. What do I like? I like writing and reading and maths and organising things. I sort of like spending time with my friends, though I’m constantly worried about what new trouble they’re going to get me into."
After Ben’s friends dragged him into one of their shenanigans, he ended up causing car accident, crushing his bike into lollipop lady and breaking stolen Martini Rosso all over place. Now as a part of his probation he had to complete a journal, participate in the “Giving Something Back” program (which means to spend time with crazy lollipop lady). Worst of all he is forced to attend a class and the only available one is knitting.
Ben is such a likable and endearing character. I see a lot of my son in him. And I loved humor in this book. I constantly smiled or laughed while reading it. There was a lot of silliness and fun in Boys Don't Knit, but there were also serious thought-provoking scenes and a lot of heart in this book.
I loved everything about this book: Ben’s eccentric and loving family, his friends and their silly antics, hilarious emails with his probation officer Claudia Gunter, his touching friendship with lollipop lady Mrs Frensham and of course awkward teenage first love.
‘You know what I like about you most?’ she asked.
‘My cabling technique?’
‘No. It’s that you don’t know how great you are,’ she said, smiling shyly.
I also appreciate how family positive this book is. In truth I’m sick of “crappy parents” YA trend.
This book is full of happiness and good feelings. It’s a perfect story to curl up on the sofa in the evening after a tiresome day.
PS. Best knitting analogies!
“I’ll tackle the rest later. One stitch at a time.”
You can find my reviews:
January 7, 2022
Książka mi się podobała. Ciekawa, zabawna młodzieżówka. Zaciekawił i zadowolił mnie pomysł autora o napisaniu książki gdzie łamane są stereotypy. W tym przypadku, że nie powinno się dzielić zawodów czy zainteresowań na płcie. Dałam jednak 3/5 gwiazdek nie bez powodu. Drobiazg, który mi nie przypadł do gustu to zachowanie ojca głównego bohatera. Uważam jednak, że bez nich by się nie obeszło by pokazać na czym polegał problem chłopaka ale nie tylko jego lecz wielu osób na świecie. Strasznie seksistowskie, a czasem homofobiczne teksty oraz dość niesmaczne podteksty rzucane do matki (kobieta oczywiście nie miała nic przeciwko, często też odpowiadała na nie w ten sam dwuznaczny sposób). Książka ta pokazywała realia życiowe gdyż są nadal osoby, które uważają róże rzeczy czy zainteresowania za odpowiednie do danej płci (np. taniec, kobiety jak najbardziej: balet, hip hop, jazz itd. lecz mężczyźni? ABSOLUTNIE bo przecież to NIE MĘSKIE). W każdym razie były także postacie, które bardzo polubiłam m.in. Graham (przyjaciel) - zabawny, uwielbiam jego książkę pt.: "50 twarzy Grahama" (rozbawiło mnie to nawiązanie do "50 twarzy greya), Pani Frensham - niby opryskliwa, irytująca starsza Pani ale tak naprawdę urocza, sympatyczna staruszka. Pod koniec wyłapałam pewne nawiązanie do "Quo Vadis" w czyjejś wypowiedzi. Podsumowując - ciekawa, ważna społecznie (motyw łamania stereotypów), ciekawi i zabawni bohaterowie - 3/5 gwiazdek. Polecam na nudy lub "odmóżdżenie".
November 24, 2015
I love this book so much. In my head this was John Oliver's voice narrating his memoirs.
I love it even more because I'm such a bad knitter and can appreciate that some people can BE REALLY GOOD AT IT. It's just not going to be me.
What I DIDN'T LOVE is the back and forth between UK/American vernacular, which I notice happens in Australian released novels as well. I'm pretty sure the editors change U.K specific words and make it more Americanized (because I went to this workshop about it hosted by an amazing Australian librarian). STOP DOING THAT!
Anyway, I kept having to check the back of the cover and confirm that this was indeed written by a British author. It just was jarring and I couldn't figure out if Easton was doing this on purpose to relate, or if certain words were being changed. It's really minor and I'm sure most readers won't care. I'm just going to go out on a limb and say it was changed on purpose.
Other than that, I did not even care when the plot got ridiculous. At that point, I was completely invested in the characters, the story itself, and the humor was so poignant that I was hysterically laughing cheering: let's do this Easton. TAKE ME TO THE FINALE!
I mean, I'm crying-laughing just thinking of all the shenanigans that happened in this book. I wasn't sure what situation was funnier: Ben's anecdotal stories of his parents, how he got on probation, or making sure his journal format was acceptable. I adore Easton. I adored his posse creation and the added side characters and I swearrrr to you, Ben needs to write my memoirs. I also hope that Graham goes far in life with his writing. That is my wish for those two characters. Everyone else sorta took a back seat (not really, but I just had to do a brief shout out). Also, if this is Easton's debut novel, I'm sooo excited to see what he releases next.
I love it even more because I'm such a bad knitter and can appreciate that some people can BE REALLY GOOD AT IT. It's just not going to be me.
What I DIDN'T LOVE is the back and forth between UK/American vernacular, which I notice happens in Australian released novels as well. I'm pretty sure the editors change U.K specific words and make it more Americanized (because I went to this workshop about it hosted by an amazing Australian librarian). STOP DOING THAT!
Anyway, I kept having to check the back of the cover and confirm that this was indeed written by a British author. It just was jarring and I couldn't figure out if Easton was doing this on purpose to relate, or if certain words were being changed. It's really minor and I'm sure most readers won't care. I'm just going to go out on a limb and say it was changed on purpose.
Other than that, I did not even care when the plot got ridiculous. At that point, I was completely invested in the characters, the story itself, and the humor was so poignant that I was hysterically laughing cheering: let's do this Easton. TAKE ME TO THE FINALE!
I mean, I'm crying-laughing just thinking of all the shenanigans that happened in this book. I wasn't sure what situation was funnier: Ben's anecdotal stories of his parents, how he got on probation, or making sure his journal format was acceptable. I adore Easton. I adored his posse creation and the added side characters and I swearrrr to you, Ben needs to write my memoirs. I also hope that Graham goes far in life with his writing. That is my wish for those two characters. Everyone else sorta took a back seat (not really, but I just had to do a brief shout out). Also, if this is Easton's debut novel, I'm sooo excited to see what he releases next.
February 8, 2015
This was a funny, quirky story about seventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher who could win an Academy Award for worrying. Ben is fussy and funny and marches to the beat of his own drummer. After an bicycle accident involving a crossing guard and a Porsche Cayenne Ben finds himself on probation. He needs to keep a diary which we are privileged to read. He also has to find an extra-curricular activity to keep him out of trouble. Rather than taking the auto mechanics class taught by his dad, he signs up for knitting which he thinks is going to be taught by a cute teacher from his school
Ben's luck being what it is, he finds that they mixed up the teachers and the teacher of his knitting class is actually the mother of the girl Ben has a crush on. Ben is the only male in the class but he quickly learns to knit and finds that he really enjoys it. Of course, he decides to keep his knitting a secret from everyone, especially his father. But secrets have a way of getting out. Winning a place in the All-UK Knitting Championship (Junior Division) blows his cover big time.
I liked Ben very much as I was reading. He was a worrier and had a poor self-image. He was bullied at school and his friends were more likely to get him into trouble than they were to listen to Ben's good advice. But along the way, Ben makes friends, including the crossing guard that precipitates his fall into the criminal life, and the probation officer who is guiding his probation, and the assorted knitters he meets. He also learns that he has strengths and gains more confidence. Best of all, he gets the girl.
Fans of contemporary young adult fiction with more than just a touch of humor will enjoy Ben's story. The British slang confused me a little in the beginning but Ben and his story swept me away.
Ben's luck being what it is, he finds that they mixed up the teachers and the teacher of his knitting class is actually the mother of the girl Ben has a crush on. Ben is the only male in the class but he quickly learns to knit and finds that he really enjoys it. Of course, he decides to keep his knitting a secret from everyone, especially his father. But secrets have a way of getting out. Winning a place in the All-UK Knitting Championship (Junior Division) blows his cover big time.
I liked Ben very much as I was reading. He was a worrier and had a poor self-image. He was bullied at school and his friends were more likely to get him into trouble than they were to listen to Ben's good advice. But along the way, Ben makes friends, including the crossing guard that precipitates his fall into the criminal life, and the probation officer who is guiding his probation, and the assorted knitters he meets. He also learns that he has strengths and gains more confidence. Best of all, he gets the girl.
Fans of contemporary young adult fiction with more than just a touch of humor will enjoy Ben's story. The British slang confused me a little in the beginning but Ben and his story swept me away.
March 21, 2021
I don't even know why I add books to my TBR anymore. Mostly because this was added back in 2016 and I just came across it now?? Not sure how that makes sense but at least that's one more book off of my never ending TBR shelf. Woohoo!
Now Boys Don't Knit (in Public) was a pretty quick read for me. I wasn't expecting to laugh so much with this one either but I did. Which was a nice surprise for me. Personally, not a big fan of knitting because my mom knits EVERYWHERE. The car, the table when we are eating, the couch, wineries (pre COVID) and she probably knits in her sleep.
Don't get me wrong.. I don't hate knitting I just don't like it when she does it when the whole family is eating - ya know? Like sit back and talk to the family Ma.
Other than that, this was pretty enjoyable and if I find the next book via my library app - I might dive into it.
Now Boys Don't Knit (in Public) was a pretty quick read for me. I wasn't expecting to laugh so much with this one either but I did. Which was a nice surprise for me. Personally, not a big fan of knitting because my mom knits EVERYWHERE. The car, the table when we are eating, the couch, wineries (pre COVID) and she probably knits in her sleep.
Don't get me wrong.. I don't hate knitting I just don't like it when she does it when the whole family is eating - ya know? Like sit back and talk to the family Ma.
Other than that, this was pretty enjoyable and if I find the next book via my library app - I might dive into it.
July 23, 2022
OCENA: 1,5 ⭐️
March 13, 2020
I absolutely loved Easton's Girl Can't Hit, and couldn't wait to read more of his books. I am happy to say, that Boys Don't Knit was an utter delight!
Ben was a good kid, but trouble always seemed to find him. After an unfortunate string of bad decisions, Ben was forced to do a series of tasks as per the terms of his probation. One of his assigned tasks was keeping a journal, which was how the story was told. I love a journal format, and Ben's entries was honest and hilarious.
Another part of his probation was to take a class at the community college. He selects a beginner's knitting course, and it was love at first stitch. Ben wasn't athletic, and faked his love of soccer and cars for the sake of his father. He love math, and apparently had a gift for knitting. Easton totally sold me on Ben's love for the craft, and I enjoyed watching how excelling there gave him a confidence boost. Obviously, Ben struggled with the public perception, that knitting was not for boys, and therefore, he did it on the down low. I liked that Easton addressed this, and blew that stereotype out of the water. I loved seeing Ben's pride in his talent grow, and also seeing other's appreciation for his gift change.
This book had the three Fs: fun, family, and friendship, which are three things I love to see in a book, and I look forward to reading the next installment of Ben's story.
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Ben was a good kid, but trouble always seemed to find him. After an unfortunate string of bad decisions, Ben was forced to do a series of tasks as per the terms of his probation. One of his assigned tasks was keeping a journal, which was how the story was told. I love a journal format, and Ben's entries was honest and hilarious.
Another part of his probation was to take a class at the community college. He selects a beginner's knitting course, and it was love at first stitch. Ben wasn't athletic, and faked his love of soccer and cars for the sake of his father. He love math, and apparently had a gift for knitting. Easton totally sold me on Ben's love for the craft, and I enjoyed watching how excelling there gave him a confidence boost. Obviously, Ben struggled with the public perception, that knitting was not for boys, and therefore, he did it on the down low. I liked that Easton addressed this, and blew that stereotype out of the water. I loved seeing Ben's pride in his talent grow, and also seeing other's appreciation for his gift change.
This book had the three Fs: fun, family, and friendship, which are three things I love to see in a book, and I look forward to reading the next installment of Ben's story.
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August 3, 2014
Boys Don't Knit was the second book I read in June for #aryaclub, a young adult book club. Tom Easton read from Boy's Don't Knit back in March at the Drink Shop Do Speakeasy. I rarely find books that are 'laugh out out'-funny, but Tom's reading was so hilarious that it made everyone on my table want to read the book even more – so we did.
After Ben Fletcher gets into a kerfuffle with a lollipop lady, which isn't really his fault at all, he narrowly avoids the Young Offenders Unit by pledging to Give Something Back to the community. He has to take an extra-curricular activity at the local community college, choosing between Car Maintenance (run by his Dad – no way), Microsoft Office (boring), Pottery (embarrassing) and Knitting (even more embarrassing). He reluctantly chooses Knitting because it's taught by his favourite teacher, Jessica Swallow, only to find out there was a mistake in the scheduling. It's run by a different teacher (the mother of a girl he quite likes), so now he's going to have to convince her not to mention it to anyone. Ever. Ben starts lessons only to find that he has quite a knack for it. Not telling anyone starts to become tricky when he actually begins to enjoy it...
Boys Don't Knit takes place over 8 months and we see Ben Fletcher go from Knitting Sceptic to Knitter Extraordinaire. He's such a fantastic protagonist, with a realistic, stand out voice. His passion for knitting is contagious and it got us all talking about learning to knit (and trying to convince some of our friends to teach us). It's something that I've 'always' said that I 'want to learn', but never have. Reading about the impressive clothes Ben creates (plus he jots down all the knowledge that is needed in knitting!) shows just how much hard work goes into it. I loved hearing about knitting groups and knitting podcasts – it made me realise how it's not that different from when a bunch of book lovers get together. I also loved the Britishness (something which I hope isn't taken away when it's published in the US next year). I realised this year that I don't read as much UKYA as I should, and Boys Don't Knit shows how much fun a book can be when you recognise all the cultural references, no matter how tiny and insignificant they are. I read a lot of contemporary YA lately, but Boys Don't Knit offers something new and fresh – and not just because it has a male protagonist.
Boys Don't Knit is entertaining, silly and ridiculous – it's a lot of fun! But it'll also get your rooting for Ben Fletcher and for the right for boys and girls to take up any hobby they want, regardless of gender stereotypes. An English Boy in New York is the next book in the series, which I'm really looking forward to reading. I can only imagine what Ben Fletcher might get up to next as he continues to navigate the world of knitting and girls...
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
After Ben Fletcher gets into a kerfuffle with a lollipop lady, which isn't really his fault at all, he narrowly avoids the Young Offenders Unit by pledging to Give Something Back to the community. He has to take an extra-curricular activity at the local community college, choosing between Car Maintenance (run by his Dad – no way), Microsoft Office (boring), Pottery (embarrassing) and Knitting (even more embarrassing). He reluctantly chooses Knitting because it's taught by his favourite teacher, Jessica Swallow, only to find out there was a mistake in the scheduling. It's run by a different teacher (the mother of a girl he quite likes), so now he's going to have to convince her not to mention it to anyone. Ever. Ben starts lessons only to find that he has quite a knack for it. Not telling anyone starts to become tricky when he actually begins to enjoy it...
Boys Don't Knit takes place over 8 months and we see Ben Fletcher go from Knitting Sceptic to Knitter Extraordinaire. He's such a fantastic protagonist, with a realistic, stand out voice. His passion for knitting is contagious and it got us all talking about learning to knit (and trying to convince some of our friends to teach us). It's something that I've 'always' said that I 'want to learn', but never have. Reading about the impressive clothes Ben creates (plus he jots down all the knowledge that is needed in knitting!) shows just how much hard work goes into it. I loved hearing about knitting groups and knitting podcasts – it made me realise how it's not that different from when a bunch of book lovers get together. I also loved the Britishness (something which I hope isn't taken away when it's published in the US next year). I realised this year that I don't read as much UKYA as I should, and Boys Don't Knit shows how much fun a book can be when you recognise all the cultural references, no matter how tiny and insignificant they are. I read a lot of contemporary YA lately, but Boys Don't Knit offers something new and fresh – and not just because it has a male protagonist.
Boys Don't Knit is entertaining, silly and ridiculous – it's a lot of fun! But it'll also get your rooting for Ben Fletcher and for the right for boys and girls to take up any hobby they want, regardless of gender stereotypes. An English Boy in New York is the next book in the series, which I'm really looking forward to reading. I can only imagine what Ben Fletcher might get up to next as he continues to navigate the world of knitting and girls...
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
Read
March 22, 2015Funny, irreverent "lad lit" about a British teenager who joins a knitting class as a condition of his probation. While it lagged a bit in the middle for me and then ending was predictable, it had its laugh-out-loud moments.
Recommended for fans of Nick Hornby, the Inbetweeners, Adrian Mole and the like.
Full review soon.
Recommended for fans of Nick Hornby, the Inbetweeners, Adrian Mole and the like.
Full review soon.
January 16, 2015
Cute! A few parts were a bit cheesy and over dramatic but I enjoyed it. It was so adorable how into knitting he got. Buying magazines, listening to knitting podcasts, shopping around for the perfect wool yarn and patterns.
December 12, 2021
Audiobook Empik Go
Lektor Janusz Zadura
Po książkę sięgnęłam po rekomendacji koleżanki z grupy książkowej .
Mimo że jest to literatura młodzieżowa, to świetnie mi się słuchało tej książki.
Ben ma 17 lat i przez swoje wybryki ma nadzór kuratora .
Jednym z wymogów jest zapisanie się na dodatkowe zajęcia szkolne .
Co wybrać jeśli do wyboru są zajęcia z własnym ojcem ,garncarstwo z matką dziewczyny lub dzierganie z seksowną nauczycielką ?
Ben wybiera trzecia opcję ,lecz na pierwszych zajęciach okazuje się że nastąpiła pomyłka i zajęcia prowadzi ..... inna osoba .
Czy chłopaki mogą dziergać ,czy potrafią czytać wzory ?
Przyznam się szczerze że dla mnie wzory do robienia na drutach czy na szydełku to czarna magia.
Ale z przyjemnością słuchałam o perypetiach Bena i jak sobie radził .
Przyjemnie się słuchało audiobooka czytanego przez pana Janusza .
Kibicowałam Benowi i trzymałam za niego mocno kciuki .
Rozumiem go doskonale że był zniesmaczony konwersacją rodziców ;-) .
Bardzo przyjemna lektura ,moim zdaniem nie tylko dla młodzieży ale i dla dorosłych , taka odskocznia od smutnych książek ,bo jest to bardzo pogodna książka .
Ja osobiście polecam :-)
Lektor Janusz Zadura
Po książkę sięgnęłam po rekomendacji koleżanki z grupy książkowej .
Mimo że jest to literatura młodzieżowa, to świetnie mi się słuchało tej książki.
Ben ma 17 lat i przez swoje wybryki ma nadzór kuratora .
Jednym z wymogów jest zapisanie się na dodatkowe zajęcia szkolne .
Co wybrać jeśli do wyboru są zajęcia z własnym ojcem ,garncarstwo z matką dziewczyny lub dzierganie z seksowną nauczycielką ?
Ben wybiera trzecia opcję ,lecz na pierwszych zajęciach okazuje się że nastąpiła pomyłka i zajęcia prowadzi ..... inna osoba .
Czy chłopaki mogą dziergać ,czy potrafią czytać wzory ?
Przyznam się szczerze że dla mnie wzory do robienia na drutach czy na szydełku to czarna magia.
Ale z przyjemnością słuchałam o perypetiach Bena i jak sobie radził .
Przyjemnie się słuchało audiobooka czytanego przez pana Janusza .
Kibicowałam Benowi i trzymałam za niego mocno kciuki .
Rozumiem go doskonale że był zniesmaczony konwersacją rodziców ;-) .
Bardzo przyjemna lektura ,moim zdaniem nie tylko dla młodzieży ale i dla dorosłych , taka odskocznia od smutnych książek ,bo jest to bardzo pogodna książka .
Ja osobiście polecam :-)
August 21, 2022
Bardzo średnia książka,która zdecydowanie nie zostanie ze mną na długo.
Sam zamysł na fabułę był bardzo ciekawy i oryginalny,jednak wykonanie zostawia wiele do życzenia.
Moim zdaniem książka została napisana w sposób może nawet nie tyle co infantylny,co żenujący. Nie sprawiało mi przyjemności poznawanie dalszych losów bohaterów,bo krzywiłam się nad jej lekturą.
Może to tylko moja kwestia,ale czuję się bardzo rozczarowana tą pozycją.
Sam zamysł na fabułę był bardzo ciekawy i oryginalny,jednak wykonanie zostawia wiele do życzenia.
Moim zdaniem książka została napisana w sposób może nawet nie tyle co infantylny,co żenujący. Nie sprawiało mi przyjemności poznawanie dalszych losów bohaterów,bo krzywiłam się nad jej lekturą.
Może to tylko moja kwestia,ale czuję się bardzo rozczarowana tą pozycją.
November 28, 2021
Ben is the funniest and sweetest character!
Don't worry about it? She's told me not to worry about it? She clearly doesn't know me at all.
God knows what I'm going to tell Dad. December 15th is s Sunday, maybe I'll tell him I'm going to church. He'll take that better than the knitting.
Knitting is more fun with company. Company is more fun with knitting.
Don't worry about it? She's told me not to worry about it? She clearly doesn't know me at all.
God knows what I'm going to tell Dad. December 15th is s Sunday, maybe I'll tell him I'm going to church. He'll take that better than the knitting.
Knitting is more fun with company. Company is more fun with knitting.
March 23, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
I can't even accurately convey how much I enjoyed Boys Don't Knit (In Public). This book is kind of my new obsession. It has everything. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it has an awesome male protagonist. I can't say enough good things about this book. Other than, I think everyone needs to read it. Ben is a high school student in the UK and he has a pretty typical group of friends. They always seem to be getting into very minor teen trouble, but what's funny is that is so not Ben. He is kind of the opposite of all his friends in that regard, but he goes along with them anyway. And of course, he is the one that gets caught red-handed. So off to probation he goes, where is gets a "give something back" community service punishment and he has to take a local class. With slim pickings available he chooses knitting, thinking at least it was taught by his young and hot high school teacher. (Spoiler Alert- It isn't.)
Boys Don't Knit is told entirely from Ben's point of view through the form of journal entries. With letters and excerpts of things thrown in as well. I loved that Ben narrated this book through his journal. He is the most adorable, great, quirky, and totally funny guy. I want to hang out with him. I want to be his friend. Ben's antics of his knitting class and his Give something back project had me smiling and laughing on every page. I put this book down multiple times, not because I was bored, but because I just didn't want it to end.
The writing is perfect for the story. Very conversational, and packed with pop culture references and jokes galore. I can't imagine anyone not getting a chuckle out of something from Boys Don't Knit. If you don't laugh while reading this book, I don't trust you. (unless you are a robot)Readers will fall in love with Ben. They will fall in love with his ragtag group of friends, and with all of Ben's knitting creations. I love the pattern names he comes up with. I love how much of a worrier he is. (he takes a wholistic approach to worrying- that is, he worries about everything all the time.) I loved absolutely everything about this book, even the excerpts from his friends "novel"- "50 Shades of Graham" Not to mention I thought the way everyone in Ben's life came together was a really nice heartwarming message. This book just worked for me on every level. I think there is something for everyone in Boys Don't Knit. The book comes out March 24th so you should pre-order your copy today because this is one that you will not want to miss. Quirky fun and humor at its' finest!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
I can't even accurately convey how much I enjoyed Boys Don't Knit (In Public). This book is kind of my new obsession. It has everything. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it has an awesome male protagonist. I can't say enough good things about this book. Other than, I think everyone needs to read it. Ben is a high school student in the UK and he has a pretty typical group of friends. They always seem to be getting into very minor teen trouble, but what's funny is that is so not Ben. He is kind of the opposite of all his friends in that regard, but he goes along with them anyway. And of course, he is the one that gets caught red-handed. So off to probation he goes, where is gets a "give something back" community service punishment and he has to take a local class. With slim pickings available he chooses knitting, thinking at least it was taught by his young and hot high school teacher. (Spoiler Alert- It isn't.)Boys Don't Knit is told entirely from Ben's point of view through the form of journal entries. With letters and excerpts of things thrown in as well. I loved that Ben narrated this book through his journal. He is the most adorable, great, quirky, and totally funny guy. I want to hang out with him. I want to be his friend. Ben's antics of his knitting class and his Give something back project had me smiling and laughing on every page. I put this book down multiple times, not because I was bored, but because I just didn't want it to end.
The writing is perfect for the story. Very conversational, and packed with pop culture references and jokes galore. I can't imagine anyone not getting a chuckle out of something from Boys Don't Knit. If you don't laugh while reading this book, I don't trust you. (unless you are a robot)Readers will fall in love with Ben. They will fall in love with his ragtag group of friends, and with all of Ben's knitting creations. I love the pattern names he comes up with. I love how much of a worrier he is. (he takes a wholistic approach to worrying- that is, he worries about everything all the time.) I loved absolutely everything about this book, even the excerpts from his friends "novel"- "50 Shades of Graham" Not to mention I thought the way everyone in Ben's life came together was a really nice heartwarming message. This book just worked for me on every level. I think there is something for everyone in Boys Don't Knit. The book comes out March 24th so you should pre-order your copy today because this is one that you will not want to miss. Quirky fun and humor at its' finest!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
November 21, 2014
This was actually really funny (if somewhat unrealistic near the end). Full review to come.
FULL REVIEW
Let's just lay it all out on the line: I know absolutely NOTHING about knitting! I have a couple friends who know how, and I've always thought it would be cool to learn, but I know nothing about it. Also, I don't read a lot of YA books with male protagonists. Mainly because I feel like a lot of the ones I've picked up have protags that are either complete assholes or so unrealistic that they might as well be the next Disney Prince! Yes, nice guys exist and so do awful ones. Most REAL guys (adult, teenage and child) are some combination of the two though, rather than one extreme or another. T.S. Easton really captures that fact with Ben Fletcher. Not perfect by any means, 17 year old Ben allows himself to get into sticky situations by going along with his harebrained friends. After an incident with some stolen liquor, a lollipop lady and a damaged vehicle, Ben is on probation. He has to keep a diary to hand in to his caseworker and complete community service to show his reform. Part of this is a college class. Not wanting to be in his dad's mechanic class, Microsoft Office (too easy/boring), or pottery, he goes with knitting (the teacher is supposed to be a hot, younger woman). Turns out the teachers listed were wrong and it's his crush's Mom and now Ben's stuck. But guess what, he's a natural knitter - and he really enjoys it!
Basically, this book is set over the course of eight months and told through Ben's diary entries. We get to meet his soccer/car obsessed Dad, his often on tour magician Mom and his crazy little sister Molly. Also in supporting roles are his very memorable friends (one of whom he's editing an erotic book called "Fifty Shades of Graham" for!) who get him into plenty of trouble, Mrs. Frensham i.e. the lollipop lady he practically ran over, Megan (the girl he likes), the hot teacher Miss Swallow, and the women from his knitting class. Everyone is well characterized, and we see Ben grow from someone unsure of himself and more of a follower, to a young man who has found something he loves to do and refuses to apologize for it. Along the way he makes friends with some unlikely people and we get to see his big heart and hilarious turn of phrase. I laughed out loud mutliple times while reading this, especially at Ben's mounting lies and the box of "shame" he hides under the bed with his knitting stuff. The knitting competition at the end is the stuff comedies should be made of! All in all, I super enjoyed it. I am beyond the high school angst and Facebook obsessing over a crush, so I did roll my eyes a little. But I highly recommend this book, because it's so much more than that. Can't wait to read the next one!
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
**I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is March 24th, 2015.**
FULL REVIEW
Let's just lay it all out on the line: I know absolutely NOTHING about knitting! I have a couple friends who know how, and I've always thought it would be cool to learn, but I know nothing about it. Also, I don't read a lot of YA books with male protagonists. Mainly because I feel like a lot of the ones I've picked up have protags that are either complete assholes or so unrealistic that they might as well be the next Disney Prince! Yes, nice guys exist and so do awful ones. Most REAL guys (adult, teenage and child) are some combination of the two though, rather than one extreme or another. T.S. Easton really captures that fact with Ben Fletcher. Not perfect by any means, 17 year old Ben allows himself to get into sticky situations by going along with his harebrained friends. After an incident with some stolen liquor, a lollipop lady and a damaged vehicle, Ben is on probation. He has to keep a diary to hand in to his caseworker and complete community service to show his reform. Part of this is a college class. Not wanting to be in his dad's mechanic class, Microsoft Office (too easy/boring), or pottery, he goes with knitting (the teacher is supposed to be a hot, younger woman). Turns out the teachers listed were wrong and it's his crush's Mom and now Ben's stuck. But guess what, he's a natural knitter - and he really enjoys it!
Basically, this book is set over the course of eight months and told through Ben's diary entries. We get to meet his soccer/car obsessed Dad, his often on tour magician Mom and his crazy little sister Molly. Also in supporting roles are his very memorable friends (one of whom he's editing an erotic book called "Fifty Shades of Graham" for!) who get him into plenty of trouble, Mrs. Frensham i.e. the lollipop lady he practically ran over, Megan (the girl he likes), the hot teacher Miss Swallow, and the women from his knitting class. Everyone is well characterized, and we see Ben grow from someone unsure of himself and more of a follower, to a young man who has found something he loves to do and refuses to apologize for it. Along the way he makes friends with some unlikely people and we get to see his big heart and hilarious turn of phrase. I laughed out loud mutliple times while reading this, especially at Ben's mounting lies and the box of "shame" he hides under the bed with his knitting stuff. The knitting competition at the end is the stuff comedies should be made of! All in all, I super enjoyed it. I am beyond the high school angst and Facebook obsessing over a crush, so I did roll my eyes a little. But I highly recommend this book, because it's so much more than that. Can't wait to read the next one!
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
**I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is March 24th, 2015.**
January 21, 2018
I wanted to love this book. I wanted it to be something that introduced teens to the magic of knitting.
But probably because it's written about a boy by a man, it reduces the sacred art of knitting to competition, speed, making money and impressing girls -- it takes a beautiful ancient feminine craft and turns it into crass competitive machismo. In doing so, it teaches boys that something is only valuable if you can make money at it, win trophies with it or get girls with it.
In addition, it teaches kids that all they have to do is take a couple of class and voila! They're acclaimed experts who are better at it than the others (all girls) who have been doing it for years. It doesn't value hard work, craft or experience. It values instant gratification and consumerism.
Pass.
But probably because it's written about a boy by a man, it reduces the sacred art of knitting to competition, speed, making money and impressing girls -- it takes a beautiful ancient feminine craft and turns it into crass competitive machismo. In doing so, it teaches boys that something is only valuable if you can make money at it, win trophies with it or get girls with it.
In addition, it teaches kids that all they have to do is take a couple of class and voila! They're acclaimed experts who are better at it than the others (all girls) who have been doing it for years. It doesn't value hard work, craft or experience. It values instant gratification and consumerism.
Pass.
January 16, 2015
Cute! A few parts were a bit cheesy and over dramatic but I enjoyed it. It was so adorable how into knitting he got. Buying magazines, listening to knitting podcasts, shopping around for the perfect wool yarn and patterns.
March 31, 2015
This was so adorable, funny, and completely won me over.
July 16, 2022
((full 3★))
książka mnie nie zachwyciła.
nie była jakaś masakrycznie zła, ale momentami naprawdę przynudzała, zwłaszcza na początku.
zawierała totalnie bezużyteczny i bezsensowny motyw miłosny.
bullying był zupełnie nierealistyczny.
i naprawdę obyłoby się bez seksualnych żartów co drugą stronę.
fakt, łamała stereotypy. fakt, pokazywała też, że nic nie jest idealne. no i fakt, nie ma zbyt wielu książek o robieniu na drutach, które potrafiłyby być zabawne. dlatego częściowo mi się podobała.
plus powalona babcia z sąsiedztwa.
pani Frensham = ♡ ♡ ♡
książka mnie nie zachwyciła.
nie była jakaś masakrycznie zła, ale momentami naprawdę przynudzała, zwłaszcza na początku.
zawierała totalnie bezużyteczny i bezsensowny motyw miłosny.
bullying był zupełnie nierealistyczny.
i naprawdę obyłoby się bez seksualnych żartów co drugą stronę.
fakt, łamała stereotypy. fakt, pokazywała też, że nic nie jest idealne. no i fakt, nie ma zbyt wielu książek o robieniu na drutach, które potrafiłyby być zabawne. dlatego częściowo mi się podobała.
plus powalona babcia z sąsiedztwa.
pani Frensham = ♡ ♡ ♡
December 12, 2017
Habe dieses Buch beim Bücherwichteln erhalten und muss sagen, das war ein absoluter Volltreffer!
March 20, 2018
This was a simple, quick YA book that was laugh out loud funny in a few parts. I had no expectations but I’m pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed it!
December 15, 2018
Fluffy and light, funny at times, and so good for talking about the gendering of activities. Boys should knit, and shouldn't feel ashamed of it. Will recommend to 7th and up.
March 24, 2015
Ben Fletcher, 17, really wants to go to the party his crush Megan Hooper will be at. Trouble is, it's for older kids and you need a bottle of booze to get him. Under age and with no money, Ben and his friends Gex, Freddie and Joz decide to steal what they need. But when Ben gets caught stealing a bottle of Martini Rosso and injuring a crossing guard in the process (a lollipop lady in England because of the sign she holds up), he ends up on probation.
Now, as part of that requires that he keep a daily journal, which he already does anyway, and that he gets involved in a "suitable extracurricular activity." He is given a choice of classes at the community college, and thinking he is going to pottery with a teacher he likes, he discover too late that he has been registered for knitting, a class taught by Megan Hooper's mom.
After the first class, Ben decides to stay, but finds himself making up all kinds of stories so his dad and his friends don't find out. It is something they might not be able to deal with very well, but Ben especially doesn't want his bullying tormenter, Lloyd Manning, to find out.
The third part of his probation is to give something back to the community and his probation officer decides it would be a good thing for him to help the widowed, elderly lollipop lady, Mrs. Frensham, doing some chores around her house.
Needless to say, this is a perfect set up for all kinds of more mayhem and misunderstandings, particularly when it turns out that Ben is not only learners to knit quickly and moves on to more difficult pieces, but he also really enjoys doing it - finding it to be a very relaxing and helps take him away from his worries, of which he has many.
Before long, Ben is dropping into knitting stores to look and buy yarn and reading knitting magazines (you might remember that in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince it was revealed the Dumbledore was also quite fond of knitting pattern magazines) As if liking to knit isn't enough, Ben discovers that he has a very competitive streak about it, so it is inevitable, then, that he should decide to enter the All-UK Knitting Championship regional heats.
Boys Don't Knit takes place over an eight month period, beginning in July and ending in February. And becasue we are reading Ben's journal, the whole story is told through his journal enteries, in his very conversational tone, and we really get to know him. It turns out that knitting not only gets Ben in touch with his feminine side, but over the course of eight months Ben learns a lot about himself and about the people around him, who are not always the kind of people we think they are. In fact, I think knitting is a nice metaphor not only for the way Ben's story weaves together, but the way the events he describes 'knit' together a group of disperate people.
This is a fun book, definitly a book of today with its many current references to pop culture icons, and Ben is a very likable character. And you have to admire him for sticking to a class he really didn't want to be in. The book is a little British, but if you got throuh Harry Potter and all the other great books coming out of Britain these days, this will be not problem. Boys Don't Knit is the first book in a series and I am curious to see the further adventures of Ben Fletcher and his wondrous knitting needles.
This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Now, as part of that requires that he keep a daily journal, which he already does anyway, and that he gets involved in a "suitable extracurricular activity." He is given a choice of classes at the community college, and thinking he is going to pottery with a teacher he likes, he discover too late that he has been registered for knitting, a class taught by Megan Hooper's mom.
After the first class, Ben decides to stay, but finds himself making up all kinds of stories so his dad and his friends don't find out. It is something they might not be able to deal with very well, but Ben especially doesn't want his bullying tormenter, Lloyd Manning, to find out.
The third part of his probation is to give something back to the community and his probation officer decides it would be a good thing for him to help the widowed, elderly lollipop lady, Mrs. Frensham, doing some chores around her house.
Needless to say, this is a perfect set up for all kinds of more mayhem and misunderstandings, particularly when it turns out that Ben is not only learners to knit quickly and moves on to more difficult pieces, but he also really enjoys doing it - finding it to be a very relaxing and helps take him away from his worries, of which he has many.
Before long, Ben is dropping into knitting stores to look and buy yarn and reading knitting magazines (you might remember that in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince it was revealed the Dumbledore was also quite fond of knitting pattern magazines) As if liking to knit isn't enough, Ben discovers that he has a very competitive streak about it, so it is inevitable, then, that he should decide to enter the All-UK Knitting Championship regional heats.
Boys Don't Knit takes place over an eight month period, beginning in July and ending in February. And becasue we are reading Ben's journal, the whole story is told through his journal enteries, in his very conversational tone, and we really get to know him. It turns out that knitting not only gets Ben in touch with his feminine side, but over the course of eight months Ben learns a lot about himself and about the people around him, who are not always the kind of people we think they are. In fact, I think knitting is a nice metaphor not only for the way Ben's story weaves together, but the way the events he describes 'knit' together a group of disperate people.
This is a fun book, definitly a book of today with its many current references to pop culture icons, and Ben is a very likable character. And you have to admire him for sticking to a class he really didn't want to be in. The book is a little British, but if you got throuh Harry Potter and all the other great books coming out of Britain these days, this will be not problem. Boys Don't Knit is the first book in a series and I am curious to see the further adventures of Ben Fletcher and his wondrous knitting needles.
This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
June 4, 2014
Originally reviewed on The Escapist.
***
When I started reading Boys Don't Knit, I thought it was the kind of book that would disappoint me. Because there's a part of me that unconsciously expected a certain story and voice for the main character, but as I continue reading, I realized it would never happen. It turns out Ben Fletcher's story and voice sounds more like MG (middle grade) even though this book is YA (young adult). And with my history on some MG books, I'm afraid that I wouldn't end up liking this book. Or worse, I wouldn't even finish it.
Then Ben Fletcher surprised me. I began to like him, his hilarious family, his idiot friends (sorry for the word; he approximately call them that! XD), him alone, and his knitting desires. I also found myself laughing most of the time and looking forward in each day he writes his diary (book was told in his diary. Long story.) This is the point where I asked for more pages of his story and was glad when I found out there'll be a book two!
Boys Don't Knit may be a good laugh out loud and entertaining read, but it didn't stopped there--it also had a heart. I liked the progress of Ben's relationship with the lollipop lady. From strangers to enemies to friendship. And other friendships he earned during his entire journey on knitting. Ben wasn't the kind of what mostly YA main guy characters are. Yes, he liked girls, but he's not self-absorbed, jerk, or mysterious. He maybe young and innocent for that, but I really liked that about him. His character brings the brightest in this book--and also knitting. This book makes wanna knit. I shall learn how to knit after my board exams. XD
With a eye-catching cover, fresh concept, cute and eventful story, and hilarious characters, Boys Don't Knit is sure a worthwhile read. I loved it and I cannot wait for An English Boy in New York (Boys Don't Knit #2)! I would highly recommend this book to everyone. Boy or girl--in all ages! I promise it will take your stress away. ;)
P.S Did I mention how adorable Ben Fletcher is? Super!
*Thank you so much Olivia and Hot Key Books for the review copy of this book! And shout-out to T.S Easton! Thanks again for following me on Twitter. :D
***
When I started reading Boys Don't Knit, I thought it was the kind of book that would disappoint me. Because there's a part of me that unconsciously expected a certain story and voice for the main character, but as I continue reading, I realized it would never happen. It turns out Ben Fletcher's story and voice sounds more like MG (middle grade) even though this book is YA (young adult). And with my history on some MG books, I'm afraid that I wouldn't end up liking this book. Or worse, I wouldn't even finish it.
Then Ben Fletcher surprised me. I began to like him, his hilarious family, his idiot friends (sorry for the word; he approximately call them that! XD), him alone, and his knitting desires. I also found myself laughing most of the time and looking forward in each day he writes his diary (book was told in his diary. Long story.) This is the point where I asked for more pages of his story and was glad when I found out there'll be a book two!
Boys Don't Knit may be a good laugh out loud and entertaining read, but it didn't stopped there--it also had a heart. I liked the progress of Ben's relationship with the lollipop lady. From strangers to enemies to friendship. And other friendships he earned during his entire journey on knitting. Ben wasn't the kind of what mostly YA main guy characters are. Yes, he liked girls, but he's not self-absorbed, jerk, or mysterious. He maybe young and innocent for that, but I really liked that about him. His character brings the brightest in this book--and also knitting. This book makes wanna knit. I shall learn how to knit after my board exams. XD
With a eye-catching cover, fresh concept, cute and eventful story, and hilarious characters, Boys Don't Knit is sure a worthwhile read. I loved it and I cannot wait for An English Boy in New York (Boys Don't Knit #2)! I would highly recommend this book to everyone. Boy or girl--in all ages! I promise it will take your stress away. ;)
P.S Did I mention how adorable Ben Fletcher is? Super!
*Thank you so much Olivia and Hot Key Books for the review copy of this book! And shout-out to T.S Easton! Thanks again for following me on Twitter. :D
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