Another short, illustrated, high-concept and punchy book from Patrick Ness. 'Different for Boys' explores the concept of virginity and the validity of sexual experiences from the point of view of sixteen-year-old Ant and his school friends. The conversations between the boys are predictably full of bravado and banter, but Ant's introspection gives the book a moving and emotional core.

To keep the book suitable for the YA audience, language you might expect to hear from sixteen-year-old boys has been censored, but in a novel and thought-provoking way. Instead of substituting milder swear words and sexual references, each allegedly unsuitable word or concept is hidden behind a black box in the text, and the characters are aware of the boxes. Of course, the first thing they do is test the limits of the censorship, discovering which words are acceptable, and which will be blacked out. It's a clever protest against the watering down of the realities of teenage life in fiction aimed at teenagers. Swear words and direct descriptions of sexual experiences are censored, while the boys are surprised by the occasional, potentially offensive word that is permitted. The flip side of the censorship is that the reader fills in the gaps. If you are old enough to understand the concepts in the book, most of the boxes will be irrelevant, and you will be able to follow the conversations with no trouble. If not, you are 'protected' from concepts that many adults would prefer teenagers not to encounter, while directly questioning what might be forbidden, and hidden behind the frequent strips of black.

Over the course of the book, Ant reflects on several different sexual encounters as he tries to decide what constitutes the loss of his virginity – especially as a boy who likes boys. 'Different For Boys' might be a quick read, but Ant's questioning attitude and conversations with his friends draw the reader in, and emphasise the emotional aspects of his experiences without offering any kind of Happy Ever After or neat resolution. It's a book about questions, relationships of all kinds, and the lack of a road map for teenagers discovering their own sexuality – and how that relates to the people around them. I found it moving without being sentimental, frank without being gratuitous, and infuriating that the knowing censorship is needed to allow this book to exist.

Every word feels carefully chosen, every scene is carefully crafted, and the illustrations add to the themes of uncertainty and exploration. This is a jewel of a book – beautiful, compact, and with a powerful message. Recommended.

A neatly done solution to swearing in YA fiction! Blacked out boxes appear - and the characters are also aware of it.... I enjoyed the way it forced you to mentally fill in the blanks where it had been "censored" and I absolutely agreed with the truth and the irony of the main character's statement that "certain words are necessary because this is real life, but you can't actually show em because we're too young to read about the stuff we actually do". I definitely remember that stage of teenage life well.... I bet there will soon be a whole section of AO3 fanfiction filling in those blanks online from the YA readers in explicit detail!

I really appreciated the key concept behind the book of "what is virginity when you're gay?" because it's not something I had ever seen discussed before in print. It's fantastic to have these diverse titles levelling the playing field.

It was hard to fully appreciate the illustrations in the ebook format but they linked well to the text and heightened the emotion and sense of place within the book.

I love Patrick Ness but this book took me a little while to get into. I loved the premise and found it interesting what words were blacked out and the art was great, but I felt like there could have been a lot more to the book. I think k I’d have liked it better if it was twice as long, with more character development!

I've delayed rating this one because I'm sad that I didn't like it. I've read a lot of books by Patrick Ness in the past and loved them all. I understand that I'm not the intended audience here, but I just don't think it's good. It feels like reading the initial outline for a book rather than the book itself.

There wasn't much meat on the bones when it comes to characters or plot or anything really. There is some conversation about dealing with being a closeted teen and dealing with growing up gay etc, but I've read a lot of books on this subject that do it so much better. It's 100 pages, but there are also illustrations so it really is a very short story.

So I suppose I would recommend this one for people who are looking for a story of a gay teen, who doesn't want to read a full novel.

Patrick ness writes toxic masculinity on a level that is unmatched (ik that doesn’t sound like a compliment but it is) With Ant’s hindsight interventions throughout, the story unfolds to carefully build the tension of underlying aggression.

Accompanying are illustrations by Tea Bendix, creating a haunting shadowed mix of intricate drawing and sketches. The visual narrative of the book is engaging and plays well into the character creation.

Any struggles on varying levels with each of his friends in a way that feels realistic and is presented in it’s painful reality with his hindsight narrator to guide the story

A short read with intense emotional impact.

((CW- while the black boxes do protect from most of the language there is a lot of homophobia displayed))

As a huge fan of Patrick Ness I was so excited to read this book. I found a need in our diversity selection in the library for more books that explore all the feelings that teenagers are experiencing right now.

"It's Different for Boys" by Patrick Ness is a gripping and emotionally powerful young adult novel that explores themes of masculinity, identity, and the complexity of modern relationships. The story follows the lives of four teenage boys, through a short period of discovery, who are struggling to come to terms with their own sense of self and the expectations that society places on them as young men.

The story is told from the perspective of Ant who is facing a lack of acceptance from his best-friend, pressures to conform to particular societal norms and his own desires and expectations for his future.

One of the strengths of the book is its honest and nuanced portrayal of male emotions and the pressure that young men feel to conform to societal expectations. Ness skillfully shows how toxic masculinity can be damaging not only to women but also to men themselves, and how breaking free from those expectations can be a challenging and painful process.

The characters in "It's Different for Boys" are complex and multi-dimensional, and the story is both heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure. Ness's writing is engaging and insightful, and he has a real talent for exploring difficult topics with empathy and sensitivity.

Overall, "It's Different for Boys" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will stay with readers long after they have finished it. It's a must-read for anyone who is interested in exploring themes of masculinity, identity, and the complexities of modern relationships.

This was a different, interesting read that explored great topics in ways of sexuality and toxic masculinity, but I would have liked to have seen them explored more in depth with a longer story and more fleshed out characters.

Teenager Ant is having a secret sexual relationship with his best friend Charlie but when old friends reappear at school and tensions arise, Charlie’s emotions rise to the surface and he ends up assaulting Ant and being expelled. This is a short, accessible read but the language is still subtle, emotionally charged and plenty is conveyed in an easy to read style. Our hero is sympathetic and the humour and subtlety is there too with the clever use of black boxes that mask his sexual descriptions and the crude conversations between the teenage boys. All very relatable and realistic with good support from the moody black and white illustrations.

A short read. Patrick Ness impresses with his ability to write so well with the teenage voice. This could be a useful addition to a library’s LGBTQ+ collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for a pre-publication copy of this book.

Quick plot summary is we follow teenager Ant Stevenson is exploring the idea of virginity and how/when/what do you need to have done to stop being one and if it’s different for boys like him (those who like boys). He talks about his relationships with three different characters: his long-term friend Charlie who’s dealing with things at home, is openly homophobic but it turns out has been doing things (…) “as practice” with Ant, Freddie who just wants Ant to join the rugby team and a camp ‘ex’-friend Jack who’s the butt of Charlie’s ‘jokes’ but doesn’t seem to care. He leads up to an incident and the aftermath in a way and how it affects those around him - sort of more to it but I don’t want to spoil anything, especially considering this book’s length.

What I liked: Ness touches on some important topics like the socially constructed idea of virginity, coming to terms with one’s sexuality, (toxic) masculinity and friendships… but in no real depth. This leads to a problem in the books short length at 104 pages (some of which purely with illustrations) so if it were to have been longer and explored these themes more it would have been better I think - well at least some more discussions because a lot of what Ness was trying to say didn’t really resonate well with me. The best thing I took was about the different types of silences, how they can be as loud and clear (or even more so) as words and the power behind silence.

Now the negatives, there’s a few but this is the most important. I’ve already said how the themes and discussions could have been developed with a longer narrative but oh my was this the case in terms of the characters. So flat and purely caricatures of a stereotypical teenage boy - we have the confused kid who tries to play a mediator as doesn’t know who or what he is, a homophobe with toxic masculinity (he’s got domestic issues but explanations Ness! Im not going to feel sympathy for someone without the info, especially after the things he did… nope!!), the camp obviously gay kid (ughhhh) and sports obsessed rugby lad where that’s basically his whole personality. There was a tiny about of nuance but for sure we needed more and an element of development, I couldn’t really bring myself to care for any of them because too much was lacking.

The illustrations were really not to my taste - I thought they were messy, simplistic and just unappealing - but I won’t judge this element on their attractiveness but instead of what they added to the narrative, which was… honestly nothing. I didn’t see the point in them at all, they don’t add in brining the characters to life or adding any complexity to the story.

It’s marketed as a ‘poignant and moving LGBTQ+ story that explores sexuality and masculinity with a touch of humour,’ but Yhh it didn’t hit the mark in my opinion. Not really moving and I would say it lacked meaning, once again down to its length but also it doesn’t add anything new to the discussions. Instead it’s a rather poorly realised account of a boy’s ‘friendships’ with very limited explorations - sexuality more so but not to my taste and masculinity… umm I dunno a bit but also like the conclusions were just annoying. It’s definitely an unrewarding reading experience and despite its shortness I’m annoyed I read it in all honestly.

The blacked out words… why?? I get that it could be to cater to a younger demographic but someone of the characters ages (15-16-ish) and those younger too already know loads of curse/sex words so it’s quite pointless. Some I could figure out what they were meant to be but others were just confusing and the impact didn’t hit the mark. It seemed more like an added gimmick to make it different/edgy of whatever.

I wouldn’t really recommend this book and this is my honest review. There were some redeeming qualities and I would like to maybe check out something else by Patrick Ness but for what it was and what it tried to do I think there are better alternatives. Thanks for letting me read this but it really wasn’t for me, sorry.

I enjoy a majority of what Patrick Ness writes and this was no exception. It was really interesting and a different concept than what I usually see. The blacked out parts were strange but I found it gave some comedic relief to the heavier subjects spoken about in the book. I enjoyed the different explorations on how being gay in a homophobic society has effected each of the boys, and the art was a really lovely addition as well.

I have, on the whole, been reading less and less YA these past couple of years, but Patrick Ness is an author I’ll always come back to, and for good reason. Different for Boys was only a short book, but it was an impactful one, with a realistic teen voice. I think that’s what I find best about Patrick Ness, that when he writes teens they sound like teens. They sound like kids you might hear in a classroom. (And swear like them too. I found the blackened out swear words very funny, as well as the character’s recognition of them.) This, Patrick Ness’s ability to write characters who leap off the page within a few lines of meeting them, is what makes his books so good and how this one in particular, only around 100 pages long, has such an emotional impact. I knew Patrick Ness wouldn’t let me down here, and I was proven right.

Effective but brief look at adolescent male sexuality and friendship.

It's a hard point in life, the teenage years, whoever you are. Even a book of less than 100 pages can convey that. And does.

This is succinct but pointed. Sparse but deep. It didn't feel like Ness's other works to me, but I think this deserves a place in secondary school libraries and will find an audience.

With a very unusual style, swear words blacked out like old telegrams, that the characters themselves are aware of and mock, the narrator shows his own life at one period of his young life. Knowing his sexuality will be challenged and derided in school, he keeps it to himself. Despite one friend 'using' him for much-needed physical release, another confiding his own homosexual feelings to him, and the fourth in their 'group' wanting him to move from football to rugby.

It's a microcosm of teenage hormones, confusion, angst, fear and lust. The pencil drawings added to the school vibe, and the fast-moving story brought about the conflict you could see coming almost before you know you've arrived there.

One for PSHE lessons, one for teenagers to consider and mull over and take on board in any way they need. Good to see boys' emotions and needs covered exclusively in a male-dominated narrative.

Due to blacking out, there's hardly a rude word or action in sight, but context-wise this is best in the hands of ages 13 and above.

With thanks to netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Short story that explores homosexuality, homophobia, repression and privacy.
There’s a really interesting censorship device with black boxes that at first I thought was a copyright thing…until the characters actually talk about the boxes themselves!
It’s a great read, short and sweet and real too.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t really know what to say about Different for Boys. It’s a short book, under 100 pages, when you take out the illustrated pages, which isn’t long enough to be able to get invested. Each character was more of a stereotype than a person, which is attributed to the short length, and they deserved a deeper exploration.

This book is supposed to be about friendship, masculinity, and sex – there's sex though it’s all redacted, which was confusing and strange. The masculinity and so-called friendship within these pages are toxic and needed to be explored further or concluded. I think I would have liked this story if it had been longer and if there was more room for depth and character development, but as it stands, Different for Boys is too short.

Different for Boys is a captivating short novel about a teenager and the relationships in his life; platonic, sexual and romantic, exploring the lines between them and the language we use.

The two unusual features that add to the feel and impact of this book are the black and white illustrations, and the black boxes redacting the 'inappropriate' words. It is slightly meta in that the characters are aware of these black boxes and explore what they are and aren't allowed to say. I loved this feature. For me it enhanced the reading experience, adding a humorous, tongue-in-cheek tone. Despite the shortness of the book, I really connected with the protagonist Ant who felt real and developed.

Different for boys is an honest, poignant book, full of emotion without being too sentimental. A novella that explores teen sexuality in a humorous, frank way.

This is a short, illustrated novella that features four teenage school boys negotiating friendships, sexuality and prejudices. Like everything Ness writes, it has a certain authenticity that is engaging and adds depth and insight. While this story is perfectly formed as it is - it says what it needs to say in approximately 100 pages - the characters are so well formed that I could've happily read another 250 pages! I like that it is illustrated without being a huge fan of the illustrator's style, but I appreciate the visual aids to empathising with the scenario and characters, providing emotional information that contrasts nicely with the blanked out physical details. In all, a touching piece that highlights issues faced by young boys coming to terms with their sexuality in the face of toxic masculinity and prevailing patriarchal values.

You can't really go wrong with Patrick Ness, and this book is no exception. DIFFERENT FOR BOYS is very short and personally I would have liked more space and time to get to know the characters, but it's still a memorable and impactful story, especially paired with the illustrations. I also loved that the characters are aware of the black boxes, that was clever!

The unique visual art style and classic heart-felt Ness writing combine to give a humourous yet visceral look at gay teen experiences. I love the black-out text, the textured illustrations, and the true-to-life characters.

I think this is a great short read if you are looking to experience (or re-live) the tumultuous world of being a gay teen in a private boys' school from a variety of perspectives (albeit very specific ones, and only a small part of the spectrum of experience of course). Complete with portrayals of outward homophobia and bullying, internal struggles, teen lust & coming to terms with experiences, to confidence in self and sexuality (to an extent, or at least implied).

It's an emotional, sometimes brutal, yet often funny and touching read. I loved the span of personalities within the characters, keeping the lens of experience fairly narrow to really focus on these few specific boys and how they each deal with their identity and sexual adventures. The beautiful illustrations are layered and suggestive of movement & life, and give the characters added dimension, as well as a graphical element to some of the text.

I've long been a fan of Ness's novels, and as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community (though not a gay man, so please bear this in mind), I'm really happy to see him exploring these themes alongside such a talented artist. I really hope this will expand into similar work, and although this was sadly quite short (meaning we only really get a glimpse into the cast's lives and the pace is all quite fast), it's made me keen enough to want to see a longer collaboration.

A short illustrated LGBT read following a group of high schoolers learning about themselves and each other, different for boys is a short but important book told with humour and sensitivity.

With blacked out words as a tongue in cheek nod to taboos, the book is narrated by one boy from a group of five school mates, at the tricky age of 16 when they’re discovering many things about themselves and each other.

Succinctly told in just a few pages accompanied by sketch illustrations that add movement to complement the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.