Eighteen months of fieldwork in a racially diverse working-class high school this is an exploration of the dynamics of masculinity among boys.

Draws on eighteen months of research in a racially diverse working-class high school to explore the meaning of masculinity and the social practices associated with it, discussing how homophobia is used to enforce gender conformity.

Brierley's Boarding School for Boys, 1930sGray - a kindly but weak teacher with a secret he cannot revealHodges - a headmaster who wields a terrifying and brutal powerKeen - a first year boy bullied viciously and mercilesslySmythe - a ringleader intent on enforcing his fagging rightsThompson - a prefect struggling just to surviveA new term opens with appalling tragedy, the repercussions of which lead to devastating consequences. The headmaster, who will stop at nothing to cover up the incident, fights for the reputation of Brierley's, while several of the school's inhabitants are left fighting for their lives.A novel of approximately 74,000 words. Readers should note that the book contains strong language, scenes of a sexual nature and adult themes.fagthenovel.comA NOTE FOR REVIEWERS: Any review mentioning the word 'fag' in its title or content will be deleted automatically by Amazon. If you wish to leave a review, please refrain from using the word. Thank you.

A counselor and popular Washington Post contributor offers a new take on grades 6-8 as a distinct developmental phase--and the perfect time to set up kids to thrive. Middle school is its own important, distinct territory, and yet it's either written off as an uncomfortable rite of passage or lumped in with other developmental phases. Based on her many years working in schools, professional counselor Phyllis Fagell sees these years instead as a critical stage that parents can't afford to ignore (and though "middle school" includes different grades in various regions, Fagell maintains that the ages make more of a difference than the setting). Though the transition from childhood to adolescence can be tough for kids, this time of rapid physical, intellectual, moral, social, and emotional change is a unique opportunity to proactively build character and confidence. Fagell helps parents use the middle school years as a low-stakes training ground to teach kids the key skills they'll need to thrive now and in the future, including making good friend choices, negotiating conflict, regulating their own emotions, be their own advocates, and more. To answer parents' most common questions and struggles with middle school-aged children, Fagell combines her professional and personal expertise with stories and advice from prominent psychologists, doctors, parents, educators, school professionals, and middle schoolers themselves.