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Recommended by Jennifer Webb @FunkyPedagogy
Author: Anthony McGowan
Form: Prose novel
Length: 136 pages
Brief synopsis: Realistic story about a teenager living in challenging circumstances and being bullied at school. This is one of the OUP Rollercoaster Reads which are written specifically for teenagers who struggle to read independently – they are accessible but also age appropriate and literary.
Age recommendation and challenging content: Fine for students Y7 and upwards. The novel explores the life of a minor living in poverty and includes child neglect, a young carer, references to social services and mental health. All of these things are dealt with sensitively.
Notable reasons for recommending this book: It is short and simple, but has McGowan’s literary style – it is very well written and an excellent choice for a quick intervention group read or for an independent reading book.