Doing It
First edition cover (with image of condom)
AuthorMelvin Burgess
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult novel
PublisherAndersen Press
Publication date
28 April 2003
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages336 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN0-14-101803-8 (Paperback)
OCLC56455688

Doing It is a young adult novel by author Melvin Burgess published in 2003.[1] It is a story about the experiences of a group of English teenagers and their discovery of sex. It is told from the point of view of several young men as they learn about love, relationships, and loss.

Plot

The plot revolves around a group of British teenagers: Dino, who is the most popular guy at school, and his two best friends, Ben and Jonathon. Dino really likes a beautiful girl named Jackie, the most popular girl in school, but she is unwilling to give him what he wants. This gives Dino the chance to get it from other girls behind Jackie's back. Yet problems arise in Dino's family that causes him to realize sex may not be what he needs. Jonathon likes Deborah, but she is overweight; fearing condemnation from his friends and because of a disgusting looking bump on his penis, he fears showing his true feelings. Ben has been secretly seeing his teacher, Miss Young. He used to love it, but now it overwhelms him. Ben tries to break it off in order to pursue a girl his own age but it causes big trouble for him, Miss Young and his new girlfriend.

Reception

Reception to the book was generally favourable, with discussion of the subject matter being controversial for some.[2]

In 2003 the author Anne Fine, the Children's Laureate, tried to use her influence to persuade Doing It's publisher to withdraw it on the grounds of obscenity, but it was not withdrawn, and the controversy increased its sales.[3]

In 2017, many UK school librarians refused to stock the book or lend it to students due to controversial material.

Awards and nominations

TV series adaptation

The book was adapted as a TV series under the title Life As We Know It, which, although critically acclaimed, was cancelled.

References

  1. ↑ Burgess, Melvin (2004). Doing it. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-101803-4. OCLC 224063714.
  2. ↑ Tucker, Nicholas (17 May 2003). "Review: Doing It, by Melvin Burgess". The Independent.
  3. ↑ Armitstead, Claire (22 March 2022). "'It's a culture war that's totally out of control': the authors whose books are being banned in US schools". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ "Previous Winners: 2004 Book Prizes." Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-10-2.


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