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Original poster

Malorje Blackman GCSE

112 replies

flexiblebenefit · 30/07/2022 21:42

DD has just told me that the first text they're studying for GCSE English Lit in Sept is "Boys don't cry" by Malorie Blackman. She's a bit surprised. Like most teen girls she went through a Malorie Blackman phase in year 8 and read everything, but was very surprised to be studying it in year 10. I've just read it (I have a degree in English - admittedly 30 years ago!) It's a good book. Engaging. Lots of issues to talk about- but it's honestly not great in a literary sense. I'm hugely supportive of studying non white authors, expanding the range of books etc but there are a lot of really great lnon white authors published today who are a lot more "literary" than Malorie Blackman. It's a book designed to hammer home "issues" in a relatively unsubtle way.

What am I missing here?

OP posts:
titchy · 30/07/2022 22:21

Meant to add - GCSE English is no longer tiered ie kids who would have done higher tier have to do the same paper as those who would have done foundation.

Go Conservatives....

titchy · 30/07/2022 22:19

GCSE texts have to enable the whole range of abilities to show their knowledge in the exam, not just the bright kids who read MB years ago.

Original poster
flexiblebenefit · 30/07/2022 22:16

Hercisback · 30/07/2022 22:04

Presumably they don't study just one author for the next 2 years. Some authors are a good gateway to discuss issues relating to the writing eg sexism, feminism, racism. Whereas other authors are good at using the correct prose and appropriate literary devices. Surely being able to see the difference between the two is important.

They only study a few books. This is a big chunk of the first term of a 2 year GCSE. I enjoyed reading it. It doesn't make it the level of a GCSE set text.

OP posts:
Original poster
flexiblebenefit · 30/07/2022 22:10

Eng lit is an academic discipline. Enjoying reading is great. I encourage my kids to read anything, BUT it's a fallacy to say you can analyse any book in the same way. Some books are more literary. I take the point of the person who mentioned that a lot of books recommended on here are "boring". Honestly I wouldn't bother with half this years booker prize either! BUT Eng Lit should be about looking a classic literary books and studying them otherwise we are assuming that less privileged kids are less deserving of culture and should be fed easy things that they can relate to without effort.

OP posts:
Leggingslife · 30/07/2022 22:09

Meem321 · 30/07/2022 21:59

The whole syllabus changed a, few years ago meaning we can only study British authors. Tbh I suspect that your DD's school have chosen it because she's a black female author and the book tackles themes such as single parenting, gender roles, homosexuality and racism. That's at least 6 boxes ticked for when Ofsted come looking at how diverse their English curriculum is.
Not to say it's not a great novel.

This. The school are ticking Ofsted boxes.

Comefromaway · 30/07/2022 22:06

I think it’s great that this kind of book is being taught. Students will also be studying a Shakespeare play and a 19th century novel so will develop a range of literary skills.

Hercisback · 30/07/2022 22:04

Presumably they don't study just one author for the next 2 years. Some authors are a good gateway to discuss issues relating to the writing eg sexism, feminism, racism. Whereas other authors are good at using the correct prose and appropriate literary devices. Surely being able to see the difference between the two is important.

Original poster
flexiblebenefit · 30/07/2022 22:00

She's good. Interesting. A competent and engaging writer. DD read everything she wrote 2 years ago and I was very happy.

What she isn't is a literary writer.
It will be a struggle to analyse language form and structure as it's relatively simplistic. The study of the relationship between texts and their context will be hard it really won't prepare those who want to do A level English.

DD is at a relatively average state school. I'm almost 100% certain that the private schools and grammar schools won't be studying this. Are we saying that we lower expectations for less privileged children?

This is a less than stellar comprehensive. I am 109%

OP posts:
Meem321 · 30/07/2022 21:59

The whole syllabus changed a, few years ago meaning we can only study British authors. Tbh I suspect that your DD's school have chosen it because she's a black female author and the book tackles themes such as single parenting, gender roles, homosexuality and racism. That's at least 6 boxes ticked for when Ofsted come looking at how diverse their English curriculum is.
Not to say it's not a great novel.

ditalini · 30/07/2022 21:53

Maybe they're using a particularly accessible text to start them in gently.

Tbh, you should be able to analyse any text.

midgetastic · 30/07/2022 21:48

I didn't know she was a none white author

I do know she's a bloody good author

lljkk · 30/07/2022 21:47

Which other stories/writers have equally modern/creative/interesting/relatable/ discussion-point-full/well-written stories, that will appeal to the average 14-16yo, (who isn't remotely literary & almost only ever in last 2 years read subtitles on videos, nothing else for pleasure), & are stories that haven't been studied a lot already?

Half the stuff that MNers recommend I find very dull, dense & old-fashioned, btw. Please surprise me.