Rejection is a quiet experience many boys grow up with, often unspoken and unseen.
In Discarded: Dealing With Rejection As Boys, author Lumkisile Baku Baku brings this hidden struggle to the surface, examining what it means for boys to feel unwanted, especially when parents are physically present but emotionally absent.
Drawing on his lived experiences, Baku Baku explores the profound emotional impact of growing up without consistent parental support. He challenges the idea that abandonment only happens when a parent is gone, showing instead how emotional absence can shape a boy’s sense of worth, identity, and belonging well into adulthood.
Beyond speaking directly to boys, Discarded also serves as a guide for mothers raising fatherless children and for step-parents seeking to support boys under their care.
Published in January 2025, the 122-page non-fiction work is a thoughtful contribution to conversations around masculinity, parenting, and emotional well-being, asking society to listen more closely to boys who feel discarded.
We caught up with the Author Lumkisile Baku Baku.