Conduct disorder
Shy’s actions indicate that he has underlying psychological issues. The issues contribute to his socially unacceptable conduct. To illustrate, he has engaged in things such as spraying, snorting, smoking, swearing, stealing, cutting, punching, running, jumping, crashing an Escort, smashing a shop, trashing a hose, breaking another person’s nose, and stabbing his stepfather’s finger. This list of things he has done suggests that Shy is a difficult boy who has a tendency to land himself in trouble. His conduct disorder and psychological issues affect his family and those who interact with him. His involvement in undesirable activities warrants his parents’ decision to find him “special educational treatment.” The treatment is projected to help him become a better person who can function well in society. Apart from Shy, there are other teenagers who are at the Last Chance school. One of the narrators in the book affirms that these teenagers are both “the most disturbed and violent young offenders in the country.” Clearly, if they are left out there, they could engage in violent offences. Consequently, they are separated from the rest of the world with the anticipation that they could be rehabilitated.
Anger management issues
Before Shy is transferred to the Last Chance school, he attends a normal school. His anger management issues become evident in how he reacts when Mrs Fryn warns him about his attitude. He reacts angrily by telling her that he dislikes her face. When Mrs Fryn asks him to go and see the head, he smashes chemistry kits in a way that leaves his classmates gasping and giggling. He uses the f-word when addressing her. Additionally, he lights a “fag on his way across the playground.” This series of actions demonstrates that Shy cannot control his anger. Therefore, he is bound to be in trouble with his teachers, his mother and stepfather. Additionally, his anger issues manifest when he goes to the house of Gill and Michael, where he smashes glass, pictures and a bottle of vodka. From a psychological perspective, the smashing can be interpreted as a form of displacement; he is displacing his anger onto the items that he is smashing.
Culture and socialization
The black culture is a source of inspiration for Shy. Porter writes how “He (Shy) talked earnestly in class about everything that’s good in UK music coming from black culture.” As a result, Jamie concludes that Shy aspires to be black once he grows up. Shy reacts to Jamie’s remark by stuffing Jamie’s hoodie at “the back of the airing cupboard tank.” Nonetheless, Shy’s admiration of black music confirms that one can find inspiration and influence from outside his culture. The inspiration influences the thoughts that run through his mind most of the time. By and large, Shy is in a quest to discover himself as a young man in the throes of adolescence. Definitely, his love for black music contributes to the shaping of his identity.
