I’m Not Scared is Niccolo Ammaniti’s third novel, originally released in his Native Italy, and since translated into English and published in the West.
The book has a familiar ring, as do most books about childhood. A kid who is part of a group of other kids in some sort of gang. He the quiet, reserved type, with another being the leader of the pack. The bully. Michele is this 9 year old quiet character, and the main focus of the title. Michele’s father spends most of his time in Northern Italy working to earn money for his son, the wife and Michele’s sister, Maria.
Skull, the bully of the gang, is both aggressive and manipulative about what he does and what he makes the others do. They often race, and should Skull lose, he often makes the others forfeit in his place. Should they disagree it often ends in physical beatings, and Skull always gets his way.
On one particular day, Skull decides to get everyone to climb a hill top, which they hadn’t seen before. The loser would carry out a forfeit – Michele hopes it isn’t him, since he has already been made to run through nettles in his underpants by Skull. Skull is out to get Barbara (the largest member of the group) who embarrassed him in front of a farmer; accusing him of having wild pigs that kill.
Annoyed by the shame, Skull wants Barbara to carry the forfeit out of revenge. Barbara herself has already been forced to show her breasts, and now with Michele having lost the climb, Skull decides to make Barbara take the forfeit. Barbara is obviously unhappy about this and holds her resentment and tears. Skull, malevolent as he is, decides to make Barbara show her “slit” to everyone. Michele intervenes and finally accepts the forfeit.
He still struggles with role of the elder brother, as his younger sister gets into trouble, and Michele is required to pay the punishment
The forfeit turns out to be a run, a dangerous one at that, as it leads Michele into a house/hut that holds a secret which he wasn’t expecting. Michele almost makes it to the other side, that is until he falls, and slams on his back. He is saved by a corrugated sheet, which seems to be hollow underneath. Michele, making his way to his feet, decides to feed his curiosity and removes the sheet.
Saying anymore would only spoil the story. The tale is a great, it is simple and a change from the complicated tangle of webs that are often the remit for books in the modern age. Ammaniti’s tale of a simple boy living a typical day in a small village is timeless. We’ve all been in similar situations, either with friends that are part of a group, the daring of each other to carry out forfeits, the maniacal behaviour of kids misbehaving. Everyone has been there, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Ammaniti has tapped into his own childhood to obtain the authenticity with which he recreates a childhood age.
Michele is sympathetic, and learning the rights and wrongs of life. He still struggles with role of the elder brother, as his younger sister gets into trouble, and Michele is required to pay the punishment. Michele’s mother is over protective and dramatic. She is perhaps typical of mothers from villages, where leaving the house and not returning for your dinner would cause 20 years of stress in a matter of hours.
isolation envelopes poor Michele as he tries to contain his frustration while rebelling against the wrongs of the village by doing the right thing
The fear of the “old man” is well handled, without seeming unrealistic. Michele is disgusted and fearful of the “old man”, not wanting to sleep in the same room. Yet he abides by the role of obedient child and follows orders as and when requested. The situation his parents are in only adds to Michele’s anxiety as he tries to cope with the secret, without being able to tell his parents. The fear perpetuates a fantastical horror in Michele’s head, fuelled further by his own imagination, which verges on the mentally disturbed.
Factor in the arrogance of Felice (Skull’s elder brother) and a feeling of isolation envelopes poor Michele as he tries to contain his frustration while rebelling against the wrongs of the village by doing the right thing, while at the same time, unaware, risking his own life. Just when Michele thinks that things cannot get worse, he tells his best friend of the secret. Salvatore (the friend, and family member of the richest type in the town) feigns interest in the secret much to Michele’s disappointment. Only for Salvatore to then betray Michele, causing a wound within their friendship.
Part of the charm of the book is perhaps the betrayal and reconciliation of the children. The innoncence lost, and the innocence gained. The children in this case are in fact the adults, as the adults behave like children, demonstrating violence, humiliation and threats. The children in contrast break friendships, and then forgive and forget, baring no grudge and only looking forward. There is trust and honesty, something lacking from the realtionships demonstrated by the adults.
From beginning to end, I’m Not Scared is a brilliant book. It draws you into a childlike state, and takes you through the world using the eyes and mind of a nine year old. You go through Michele’s distress, his childhood angst, the betrayal of his best friend, and the tragedy of his secret. Books about childhood have never been this good.
Verdict: Poetic, fun, frightening and tragic. Ammaniti’s novel is a delight.