Boys' Stuff -- Boys talking about what matters. (Books).

Boys' Stuff -- Boys talking about what matters W. Martino & M. Pallotta-Chiarolli, Allen & Unwin, ISBN 1865085553, 2001, RRP $24.95, 218pp.

Boys' Stuff -- Boys talking about what matters by Wayne Martino and Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, is a book that looks at the Australian teenage male of the 21st century not through statistics, studies and essays but through his eyes. It is a collection of the writings, opinions, poetry, prose and art of teenage boys across the country on everything that matters to them: school, friends, sex, drugs and more. With the contributions of young men from their early teens to their mid-twenties from many different backgrounds on subjects ranging from family break-ups to sporting achievement, Boys' Stuff covers almost every aspect of being a young Australian male and the stories it tells are often humourous, tragic, inspiring and very informative.

Although the editors have put in the odd question, fact or discussion throughout the book, 90% of the time it's just the boys honestly talking about what it's like. As well as serving to inform parents, teachers and others, this book also gives teenagers the chance to hear other boys talk with openness and honesty which they may rarely hear from day to day and may also challenge them with the many stories of intolerance, bullying and exclusion based on sexuality, disability or ethnic background. While the target audience for Boys' Stuff may be a little unclear, it would be a valuable read for any teenage boy or girl, parent, teacher or anyone else who might want a better idea of what it's like to be a boy.

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