Boys don’t cry

Malorie Blackman, Corgi Children, 320 pages, paperback, £6.99 . Age 12+

You’re waiting for the postman to bring your A level results. University, a career as a journalist — a glittering future lies ahead.

But when the doorbell rings it’s your old girlfriend; and she’s carrying a baby.

Your baby, who you didn’t even know existed. You’re fine to look after it for an hour or two, while she does some shopping.

Then she doesn’t come back and your future suddenly looks very different. Seventeen-year-old Dante suddenly finds himself with a screaming baby. Not only that, he has to tell his own father whose baby this is, while his ex-girlfriend has blocked his number from her mobile phone.

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way to hold attention. This is a great summer read for teens of either sex.

Reviews contributed by Bookmarks, the UK’s leading socialist bookshop. Order online at www.bookmarksbookshop.co.uk