Zephaniah

 
Benjamin Zephaniah published his first novel in 1999 – Face.The storyline is - a teenaged boy, Martin, who is the leader of his gang and in the beginning has the whole package: ‘loyal andsupportive friends,’ confidence, likability, looks, and a sense of humour. After Martin is seriously injured in a car crash, his personality changes and he sees things differently.Our first impressions ofMartin are that he is relaxed, usuallycasual and overall, an easy-going person. “Martin saw school assomewhere he went because he had to by law, so the least hecould do while he was there was have some fun.” While Martinwas at school, his main job was to pull pranks on teachers andentertain the class. To girls he appeared to be handsome;“Natalie loved Martin’s looks- his brown eyes, his long,thick  brown hair, which just rested on his shoulders, and his slim build.” His looks were his best trait; this gave him the edge toother boys.When Natalie suggests to Martin that they go toDancemania, he appears to be a little racist. “I’m not going inthere it’s all black music.” He doesn’t want to go there becausethey’re different, Martin even has the courage to comment on Natalie’s friends – “I didn’tknow you had black friends.’Martin spoke in almost a whisper.” He doesn’t seem to acceptthe fact that their skin colour doesn’t affect their personality.Finally, Natalie achieves bribing Martin into going toDancemania and she’s pleased with herself, as Martin looks as if he’s actually enjoying himself. “In the past when she saw himdancing he looked as if he was being forced – now he was thestar ofthe show.” This shows that Martin has changed hisopinion on black music; he might even be forgiven by Natalieand get away with his racist remark.Martin accepts the lift home from Pete, he wants to getMartin to agree with him too. “Martin was now working on theother side. ‘ Don’t worry it’s just a lift home; we’ll be there in
 
five minutes, even less.” This event tells us how gullible Martincanbe; even though he’s sure that something is going to happen.Martin realises that it was wrong of him to accept the lift,after he’s been chased by cops. However, he is too late, as thecar has already crashed. Martin is severely injured and unawareof his surroundings. “Martin was unconscious. His bloody head just flopped down and Mark was unable to shift Martin’s deadweight.”The car crash is the keyto Martin’s change of character and it isan important turning point in the novel. Waking up in hospital,Martin feels as good as dead. “Apart from the confusion in hishead, he could feel no pain elsewhere on his body – in fact hecouldn’t even take things step by step.” He found it hard to takecontrol of his body and it appeared to him none of his fivesenses would work.Even though he finds it hardto recognise his face in themirror, he wants to try and get used to it. “It was bright red in places, and brown in others. He notices pinky white bits, whichlooked like flesh with no skin cover, where he could see veins.His whole face had swollen and changed shape. His right cheek was blistered; his left cheek had swollen…” Martin finds it hardto believe that the reflection is of his face.Mark,Mathew, and Natalie pay a visit to Martin in thehospital. They don’t talk much and avoid any possible eyecontact. “Martin was left not knowing what to think. These werehis closest friends and they found it so difficult facing him. Hefelt a kind of anger towards them but then he thought of how hewould have reacted if he had been in their position.” SinceMartin’s best trait – his looks – aren’t thereanymore (his face is bruised and scarred), people are starting to react to himdifferently; even the ones he called ‘friends.’The day of the operation, Martin bumps into a boy his ownage – Anthony, he also has severe facial injuries. “Martin wason high. Anthony had really cheered him up.” Anthony inspiredMartin with his bravery.
 
On Martin’s first day of school, he feels as if everyone is...