Doing It!: A Novel

Bibliographic Information: Burgess, M. (2003). Doing It! New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.


Plot Summary: Doing It! is about three British teenage boys (Dino, Jonathan and Ben) who talk constantly about females, sex and their sex organs. Chapters of the novel alternate between each boy's stories. Dino describes himself as the "golden boy." He is extremely good looking; his girlfriend, Jackie, is beautiful. There's just one problem. Jackie won't have sex with Dino. Dino's parents go away and Dino has a big party. He ends up sleeping with another girl, Zoe, who was big trouble. Zoe was a compulsive liar, thief and a bad girl. Later on in the novel Zoe finds out about Jackie and sabotages Dino. Zoe planted goods on him in a store and he got busted for shoplifting. Jackie found out about Zoe and broke up with Dino.

Jonathan is friends with Deborah and likes her a lot, but she is plump. Jonathan and Deborah end up making out at Dino's party and start dating even though friends give Jonathan a hard time about Deborah's weight. When the time comes to shag Deborah, Jonathan can't get his "knobber" up and panics. He pays a visit to the doctor thinking he has cancer on his penis but it turns out to be normal penis veins. Ben is having sex with his teacher, Alison. They have sex all the time but Ben gets tired of Alison and tries to break it off. Alison tries to kill herself by slitting her wrists because she is in love with Ben.


Critical Evaluation: Doing It! puts a comical spin on a sensitive topic. Because the author, Melvin Burgess, is British, some of the language is difficult to understand (except for "shagging," thanks to Austin Powers). This novel is definitely for the more mature teen. It would help alleviate teenage fears of sexuality.

Annotation: Doing It! is a comical lighthearted novel about three British teenage boys who are dealing with their sexuality and underage sex.

About the Author: Melvin Burgess was born in 1954 and is a British author. The Cry of the Wolf (1990) was Melvin's first novel. Next came Junk which dealt with heroin-addicted teenagers. Life As We Know It, a television show, was based on Burgess's novel Doing It! (2003). Burgess lives in Manchester, England, with his wife and children.

Retrieved April 9, 2010 at: http://www.melvinburgess.net/


Genre: Fiction, Interpersonal Relations/ Sex/Family Problems

Curriculum Ties: None

Talking Points: Is Jackie going to find out that Dino's been two timing him? What does Zoe do to Dino when she finds out he has a girlfriend? What happens when Dino has a huge party and his house is a mess and his parents are almost home?

Reading Level & Interest Age: 16 and up

Challenge Issues: Constant reference to sex, nudity, alcohol and language.

Reason for Inclusion: Pleasure reading, help to alleviate fears about one's sexuality.