Boys Don't Knit (In Public)

by T. S. Easton

Overview

After an incident regarding a crossing guard and a bottle of Martini & Rossi (and his friends), 17-year-old worrier Ben Fletcher must develop his sense of social alignment, take up a hobby, and do some community service to avoid any further probation.

He takes a knitting class (it was that or his father's mechanic class) with the impression that it's taught by the hot teacher all the boys like. Turns out, it's not. Perfect.

Regardless, he sticks with it and comes to discover he's a natural knitter, maybe even great. It also helps ease his anxiety and worrying. The only challenge now is to keep it hidden from his friends, his crush, and his soccer-obsessed father. What a tangled web Ben has weaved . . . or knitted.

Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by T. S. Easton is a fun, funny young adult novel about a teen boy.

"Originally published in the U.K., Easton's novel is structured as the journal Ben is required to keep, which makes for a candid and intimate narrative. . . . This funny and lighthearted novel captures the excitement of finding a passion in a story about taking life "one stitch at a time." —Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250073549
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/22/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	421,333
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.61(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

T. S. Easton is an experienced author of fiction for all ages in the UK. He lives in Surrey with his wife and three children. Boys Don't Knit received a Carnegie Medal nomination (2015).

Editorial Reviews

"Originally published in the U.K., Easton's novel is structured as the journal Ben is required to keep, which makes for a candid and intimate narrative. . . . This funny and lighthearted novel captures the excitement of finding a passion in a story about taking life "one stitch at a time." —Publishers Weekly

“Wacky characters, a farcical plot, and a fledgling romance are all part of the fun in this novel that will appeal to fans of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This wild jumble of fun and wool is also full of heart, thanks to Ben's sweet, worried, and clever voice. Written in diary format (with a wink and a nod to Bridget Jones), this spins from one outrageous (and occasionally raunchy) incident to the next. But it's not all plot and heavy-duty knitting action. Relationships are center stage: the double-entendre bantering of Ben's parents; Ben's evolving association with the aforementioned crossing guard; his trouble with both women and friends. This one will keep you in stitches.” —Booklist, starred review

“Teens will laugh out loud as they read about the protagonist's knitting and non-knitting escapades in this honest coming-of-age yarn.” —School Library Journal

“This is a fun romp with a wonderful, self-deprecating hero. Many teens will relate to Ben, the accidental bad boy, and will laugh at his antics and the lengths he goes to to hide his knitting. The story is paced nicely, with many heartwarming and hilarious moments.” —VOYA

From the Publisher

03/16/2015
Seventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher is a professional worrier. As a result of recklessly biking into Mrs. Frensham, a grouchy traffic guard, while on an ill-advised alcohol-stealing venture with his "idiot friends," Ben has been placed on probation for a year. Originally published in the U.K., Easton's novel is structured as the journal Ben is required to keep, which makes for a candid and intimate narrative. The other two requirements of Ben's probation are joining an afterschool activity and "Giving Something Back" to the community—namely "performing basic maintenance and cleaning work" for Mrs. Frensham. Ben signs up for knitting class and is shocked to discover that he's a natural knitter: "The only thing that kept me going today was the thought of knitting class tonight. How sad is that?" The methodical craft quiets Ben's anxious mind, but he worries about letting his friends and crush find out about his hidden talent, even as he practices for an upcoming knitting competition. This funny and lighthearted novel captures the excitement of finding a passion in a story about taking life "one stitch at a time." Ages 13–up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2015
Gr 8 Up—Seventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher is on probation for an incident involving a bottle of Martini & Rossi and the lollipop lady. Although the initial plan was against his better judgment, his knucklehead friends talked him into stealing alcohol, thus landing him in trouble with the law. In order to fulfill the terms of his probation, Ben not only has to complete community service, but he also has to take up an extracurricular activity and maintain a journal chronicling his daily experiences. Rather than sign up for his father's car maintenance course (due to his lack of interest in anything his father deems fun), he takes up knitting. The listed instructor is his extremely hot English teacher and the thought of spending hours with her negates the fact that "knitting is for women." When he arrives at class, he learns that there has been a mix-up in instructors. However, the protagonist soon discovers he is a natural knitter, a fact that he has to hide from his dad and friends. As he takes on this new hobby, he learns a valuable lesson about gender stereotypes, relationships, and self-worth. Easton creates a humorous story told through the fast-paced format of Ben's journal entries. Although not much of a distraction, some British terms might cause slight confusion for some readers. VERDICT Teens will laugh out loud as they read about the protagonist's knitting and non-knitting escapades in this honest coming-of-age yarn.—Lindsey Dawson, Saint John's Catholic Prep, Frederick, MD

School Library Journal

★ 2014-12-10
An unwilling accomplice to petty theft organized by his dim friends, English teen Ben Fletcher is annoyed that he was the one busted when he collided with a crossing guard. Probation requires him to keep a journal using a template, which he considers beneath him, as he's been keeping a diary for years. But he soldiers on, hilariously recounting the details of the "Great Martini Heist" and its aftermath. He's also required to take a community college class. The pathetic choices include car maintenance, taught by his father, a mechanic who's always trying to get Ben (not a sports fan) to go with him to soccer matches. Ben opts for knitting because he has a crush on the teacher. When it turns out she's actually teaching pottery, he's stuck with knitting and stuck in a lie, unable to admit to his father and friends what he's up to. It turns out that he's a natural at knitting, able to appreciate the mathematical precision of the patterns and create his own. When Ben's coerced into entering a knitting contest, the jig is up. Despite some unnecessary Americanization of the text, this wonderfully funny novel is infused with British slang, including dozens of terms easily understood in context. Wacky characters, a farcical plot and a fledgling romance are all part of the fun in this novel that will appeal to fans of Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging. (Fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews