Carnegie medals Signal a Shift: children’s Literature Confronts Masculinity and Declining Boy Readers
The prestigious Carnegie medals for children’s writing, awarded on Thursday, revealed an unexpected trend: a pronounced focus on male friendship and evolving definitions of masculinity at a time of growing concern over boys’ declining engagement with reading and the influence of harmful online ideologies.
This year’s shortlist, and ultimately the winning title, Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald, directly addresses these themes.The novel tells the story of two young men navigating trauma and the complexities of adulthood within the care system, portraying contrasting expressions of masculinity. This focus reflects a broader “pendulum-swing” in publishing, according too Ros Harding, chair of the judging panel.
Addressing a Gap in Representation
The shift comes after a period where children’s literature actively sought to diversify representation, ensuring girls had access to stories with female protagonists. While successful in its aims, this may have inadvertently left some boys feeling underserved. “We’ve gone from children’s adventure books, where it was always the boy as the hero, then there was a backlash against that, making sure that girls could be the heroes as well, which then maybe led to some boys feeling that things weren’t being written for them,” Harding explained. “Now, we’re seeing another wave of books” attempting to bridge that gap.
Did you know? The Carnegie medal, established in 1936, is the UK’s oldest and most prestigious award for children’s writing. it is indeed awarded annually to a book written in English for children and young people.
McDonald’s Glasgow Boys exemplifies this new direction. The novel explores the spectrum of masculinity thru its two central characters: Banjo, who embodies aggression, and Finlay, who leans towards introversion and empathy. “I wanted to explore the spectrum of masculinity that both Banjo and finlay exist on,” McDonald stated.”Finlay is the more ‘feminine’ man who we perceive to be empathetic and introverted – a very gentle person. Banjo, conversely, is the ‘masculine’ boy: violent and aggressive.”
Beyond Glasgow Boys: Exploring Complex Issues
The trend extends beyond the winning title. Luke Palmer’s Play, also shortlisted, delves into the challenging territory of male friendship, touching upon issues of rape culture and involvement in county lines drug gangs. Brian Conaghan’s Treacle Town focuses on the realities of teenage gang membership. These narratives aren’t shying away from difficult subjects, offering a nuanced portrayal of the pressures facing young men.
Reader question: How can parents and educators encourage boys to explore a wider range of genres and authors,especially those featuring female protagonists,to broaden their perspectives and foster empathy?
Nathanael Lessore,winner of the shadower’s Choice medal (voted for by young readers),tackles similar themes in King of Nothing.The story centers on anton, a pre-GCSE student whose identity is tied to his reputation and association with a group influenced by gang culture and figures like Andrew Tate. Lessore noted that the inspiration for the book stemmed from discovering his nephew and cousin were consuming content from Tate.
A Response to the “Manosphere” and Declining Reading Rates
The convergence of these themes is not accidental.The rise of the so-called “manosphere” – a network of online spaces promoting frequently enough misogynistic views – coincides with a documented decline in reading for pleasure, particularly among boys. Novels,Harding argues,are “empathy machines,” offering a crucial antidote to harmful ideologies. “They invite you to imagine what it might be like to be somebody else,” she said, “so they are, at least perhaps, an antidote to the misogynistic influence of the manosphere and gaming culture.”
However, capturing boys’ attention remains a important challenge. According to Harding’s experience as a librarian, boys tend to be more selective in their reading choices than girls. “A girl who likes reading will read anything. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a male protagonist or a female. Boys were just a little bit more resistant to that. I think they are more likely to want the male protagonist.”
Connecting with Male Readers Through Relatability
McDonald has observed a difference in how male and female readers connect with Glasgow Boys. She found that male readers frequently enough focus on the individual characters of banjo and Finlay, while female readers tend to focus on the dynamics of their relationship. “A lot of boys who read it will be like, ‘I related to Finlay’, or ‘I relate to Banjo’, whereas none of the girls read that way,” she noted. This suggests that these narratives are resonating with boys by offering relatable characters and experiences.
Lessore echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of connecting with young men on their own terms. He begins his school visits by presenting statistics demonstrating the correlation between reading and future earning potential, a tactic he finds effective in gaining their attention. He believes that by showing boys that reading can be beneficial to their own lives, he can encourage them to engage with literature. “kids like that don’t think they can be writers, and therefore they don’t read – and therefore they don’t get the empathy that can be learned from books,” he explained.
Lessore’s approach appears to be working. he reports that even disruptive students often eagerly line up to have their books signed, a small but significant step towards fostering a love of reading. The hope,as Lessore puts it,is to reach “one kid at a time,one school at a time.”
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The Historical Context: How We Got Hear
The shift in focus towards male protagonists and the exploration of masculinity in children’s literature is not happening in a vacuum. its the product of historical trends, social changes, and a recognition of the evolving needs of young readers. Understanding the context helps explain why the Carnegie medals are signaling this transition.
Before the recent push for diverse representation, mainstream children’s books often centered on male heroes, perpetuating certain stereotypes. then, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a movement arose to create a more equitable landscape. The aim was to ensure that girls and children of colour also saw themselves reflected in the stories thay read. This was a vital step forward, providing positive role models and broadening perspectives. Though, as Ros Harding pointed out, some boys started to feel left out of the narrative.
This pendulum swing, as described by Harding, is now moving back towards exploring different facets of masculinity. This shift isn’t about erasing the gains made in diversifying children’s literature. It’s an attempt to create a more inclusive and nuanced literary landscape that caters to all readers, including boys.
The Rise of the “Manosphere” and its Influence
One of the key forces behind this change is the rising influence of the “manosphere.” This collection of online spaces, ranging from self-help forums to more extreme sites, often promotes traditional, and sometimes harmful, views about masculinity.The “manosphere” commonly pushes the idea that men shoudl suppress emotions, be dominant, and avoid perceived weakness.
This online subculture has had a meaningful impact, particularly on young men and boys. The content they consume online frequently enough clashes with the values and ideals promoted in children’s literature. The popularity of figures like Andrew Tate, who peddled misogynistic views, reflects the appeal of these ideologies, and their influence can be seen in the attitudes and behaviors of boys.
Novels and stories, like the ones recognized by the carnegie medals, can be
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