Patrick Ness

Twice Carnegie Medal-winner, Patrick Ness, joins us to discuss Different For Boys. A poignant and moving LGBTQ+ story that explores sexuality and masculinity with a touch of humour, illustrated throughout in black and white by Danish artist Tea Bendix.

Ant Stevenson has many questions, like when did he stop being a virgin? Are there degrees of virginity? And is it different for boys? Especially for boys who like boys? Ant tries to figure out the answers to his questions as he balances his relationships with three very different boys: Charlie, who is both virulently homophobic and yet close friends with Ant; Jack, whose camp behaviour makes him the target of Charlie’s rage; and finally Freddie, who just wants Ant to try out for the rugby team.

From the bestselling author of the Chaos Walking trilogy comes a timely and important story about inclusivity, prejudice and friendship.

Patrick Ness is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Chaos Walking trilogy, which inspired a major motion picture. He is also the author of critically acclaimed novels A Monster Calls, More Than This, Release, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, And the Ocean Was Our Sky and Burn. He has won every major prize in children’s fiction, including the Carnegie Medal twice. He has also written the screenplay for the film version of A Monster Calls and Class, the BBC Doctor Who drama.