Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don’t Cry was written by Malorie Blackman – the author who also wrote Noughts and Crosses. It was published in 2011 and is set in modern-day Britain.

Boys Don’t Cry focuses on the Bridgeman family. The main characters are Dante, his brother Adam and their father Tyler. Secondary characters include Collette, Veronica and Josh.

A theme is a big idea that can be found throughout the text. There are many themes to explore in Boys Don’t Cry, including: family, parenting, bravery and responsibility.

Context refers to the background of a novel. Boys Don’t Cry is a realistic novel set in recognisable, modern Britain. Its context reflects issues which are relevant today.

For Edexcel, Boys Don’t Cry is examined in Paper 1, Section B: Post 1914 Prose/ Drama. This is a closed book exam.

Get skilled up for your GCSE English Literature exam with this exam skills podcast series