Boys Don't Knit (In Public) / T.S. Easton

3.5/5

Boys Don't Knit is well-written story from the point of view of high school underclassman Ben Fletcher. After an incident that wasn't completely his fault, Ben is essentially on probation and must take knitting classes as a way to give back to his community. The novel is not only about Ben finding out that he loves knitting, but also coming to terms with who he is and where exactly he stands in his relationships to those around him.

T.S. Easton does an excellent job in Boys Don't Knit of capturing the stubbornness and immaturity of adolescence but also the natural depth and compassion in Ben. Ben is what most would call a nerd; he likes to keep his head down, stick to the rules, and loves cleanliness. Easton takes what most would find annoying traits and makes Ben relatable and human, and I loved that. The novel is also unfailingly funny; I found myself laughing at Ben's sense of humor, conveyed through various forms, such as his emails. Ben also experiences a huge amount of growth in all of his relationships, from the ones with his mom and dad to the ones with his friends, and with many other people that he probably never expected anything from. The development was natural, and watching Ben slowly grow made me proud.

Overall, Boys Don't Knit is skillfully written and a delight to read. The voice and tone is suitable for a younger audience (it would be middle school appropriate); it is definitely enjoyable for all ages, but just know that going in. I would definitely recommend Boys Don't Knit as a sweet, funny fiction read.