“Hang on, I thought, if I can see the stars from here, then the stars can see me.”
January: Hangman
Thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor lives in the small English village of Black Swan Green in 1982. He struggles with a stammer, which he calls his “Hangman,” and hides it by avoiding certain words. He navigates school bullying, particularly from the cruel Neal Brose, while secretly writing poetry under the pseudonym Eliot Bolivar.
February: Solarium
Jason’s parents argue frequently, and he feels increasingly isolated. His sister Julia, away at university, is a distant figure. He befriends a girl named Dawn Madden, who introduces him to her eccentric family, offering a brief escape from his troubles.
March: Bridle Path
Jason explores the countryside, encountering a mysterious old woman named Madame Crommelynck, who gives him cryptic advice. Meanwhile, his parents’ marriage deteriorates further, and he begins to see the cracks in his seemingly perfect village life.
April: Rocks
Jason’s secret identity as poet Eliot Bolivar is accidentally revealed, earning him unexpected admiration. However, Neal Brose escalates his bullying, and Jason’s stammer worsens under pressure. He finds solace in nature and his writing.
May: Disco
Jason attends a village disco, where he experiences his first romantic stirrings. He also witnesses the darker side of adult relationships, including infidelity and drunkenness, further disillusioning him about adulthood.
June: Goose Fair
Jason’s family tensions peak when his father loses his job. The annual Goose Fair brings temporary distraction, but Jason feels increasingly alienated from his peers and family.
July: Maggot
Jason’s stammer becomes unbearable, leading him to seek speech therapy. He befriends a boy named Dean Moran, who introduces him to punk music, offering a rebellious outlet for his frustrations.
August: Locusts
The Falklands War looms in the background, and Jason’s village is abuzz with patriotic fervor. He grapples with his own identity, torn between fitting in and embracing his individuality.
September: Knife Grinder
Jason’s parents separate, and he is forced to confront the instability of his family life. He finds unexpected support from his sister Julia, who returns home briefly.
October: Brontës
Jason’s poetry gains recognition at school, but he faces backlash from jealous classmates. He begins to accept his stammer as part of himself, no longer hiding behind pseudonyms.
November: Solstice
As winter sets in, Jason reflects on the year’s events. He realizes that growing up means embracing both pain and beauty, and he starts to find his own voice—both literally and metaphorically.
December: January Man
The year ends with Jason gaining a new sense of resilience. Though his family remains fractured, he begins to see a path forward, shaped by his experiences and newfound self-acceptance.
Key Ideas
- Coming-of-age in a small, restrictive community
- The struggle with identity and self-expression
- Family dysfunction and its impact on adolescence
- The power of art (poetry) as an escape
- The tension between conformity and individuality
Who should read this book?
- Readers who enjoy introspective coming-of-age stories
- Fans of David Mitchell’s lyrical prose
- Those interested in 1980s England and rural life
- People who appreciate themes of self-discovery