Characters
Which character is most unprepared for responsibility at the start?
Dante.
Which theme is most connected to Emma arriving unexpectedly?
Responsibility.
Identify the word class of “furious”.
Adjective
What stereotype does the title Boys Don’t Cry reference?
The stereotype that boys should hide emotions.
Give one adjective to describe Dante in Chapters 1–18 and justify it with a quote
overwhelmed, responsible, stressed, defensive — with explanation.
How does Emma change the atmosphere in the family home?
She creates stress, tension, and change.
How is pressure shown through Dante’s school life?
He struggles balancing parenting, family conflict, and his future.
What does the word “trapped” suggest about Dante’s feelings?
He feels stuck, overwhelmed, and unable to escape responsibility
What message does Blackman give about teenage parenthood?
It brings responsibility, stress, and life-changing consequences.
Why might readers relate to Dante even if they have never experienced parenthood?
Because many readers understand stress, pressure, fear, and feeling overwhelmed.
Why does Dante sometimes take his anger out on other people?
Because he feels overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to control the pressure in his life.
How is fear shown in the novel?
Through arguments, panic, avoidance, and emotional reactions.
What does the word “snapped” suggest about a character’s emotions?
Anger, frustration, or losing control.
Why is the novel’s focus on emotions important for a modern audience?
It encourages conversations about mental health, vulnerability, and emotional honesty.
What is the significance of the title appearing throughout the novel’s ideas?
It reinforces the pressure on boys to hide emotions.
Why might Blackman present Dante as both caring and immature?
To show that teenagers can still be developing emotionally while facing adult responsibilities.
Why is emotional vulnerability an important idea in the novel?
It challenges stereotypes about boys hiding emotions.
Why might Blackman use rhetorical questions in Dante’s narration?
To show confusion, panic, or self-doubt.
Why might a teenage father be an unusual focus for a novel?
Teenage parenthood is often shown from the mother’s perspective instead.
What is Blackman’s overall message about growing up?
Growing up often involves responsibility, emotional struggle, and difficult choices.
Why are Dante and Adam both important to the novel’s message?
They show different experiences of masculinity and pressure.
How does Blackman present masculinity differently through Dante and Adam?
Dante is pressured into traditional responsibility, while Adam struggles emotionally and socially with expectations of being male.
How does first-person narration help the reader understand Dante?
It gives direct access to his thoughts and emotions.
How does the novel so far challenge traditional ideas about what it means to “be a man”?
It shows that vulnerability, fear, and emotion are normal parts of masculinity.
What overall warning or message might Blackman want readers to learn?
Hiding emotions and avoiding communication can damage people and relationships.