Children’s literature is increasingly spotlighting male friendship to challenge toxic masculinity, a shift highlighted by the 2025 Carnegie Medal shortlist. Winners like Margaret McDonald’s Glasgow Boys and Nathanael Lessore’s King of Nothing depict nuanced male bonds—ranging from trauma responses to peer support—offering boys relatable and empathetic role models. These stories serve as “empathy machines,” countering the misogynistic narratives of the manosphere and gaming culture while reigniting reading interest among boys, with the hope of changing attitudes “one kid at a time, one school at a time.”
Source: The Guardian
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