Schoolboy, The

Reviews / Votes

The Schoolboy is something of a surprise from Cinnamon Press, being a novel rather than poetry. It is also a surprise to find that this compelling but horrific account of a teenage boy's inner life is written by a girl. One certainly hopes Holly Howitt has not encountered a Nicholas in the flesh but she makes him horribly plausible.

Sixteen-year-old Nick Verse has, on the surface, the fairly normal experiences of a teenager - negotiating school-day relationships and family ties - but we soon find that his experience is skewed by extreme events in his past. His parents' preoccupation with his injured older brother, Paul, undermines their relationship with Nick but gradually other causes for Nick's attitude to Paul become apparent. Nick's early attraction to one of his female teachers drives to a dreadful conclusion, yet his developing feelings for Ruth suggest we are not actually listening to a psychopath. Indeed, as Nick's voice is our only guide, we are not quite sure whether the whole tale is an overheated teenage fantasy, imagining violence and conspiracy involving those he desires or fears. Nevertheless, the last paragraphs are chilling in their suggestion of what kind of person is moving out into a wider world.

Holly Howitt certainly has the ability to create a character who compels attention and a story with a powerful narrative drive. She has an ear for contemporary speech and a feel for portraying adolescent emotions. These qualities should all stand her in good stead in the future. -- Caroline Clark @ www.gwales.com