I found this novel started slowly but built in tension around the middle. Once you hit that point, it’s hard to put the book down. Following Lemar as he tries to work out how to keep his life in balance, this book draws you in for the ride right to the end.

The humorous cusses bandied about by the main characters are like a book version of a rap battle, and as always with Alex Wheatle’s writing, there’s a core of morality and exploring the real feelings of teenagers honestly. He wrote and performed UPRISING, a one man play based on his own life at TARA ARTS STUDIOS, Wandsworth, London.Since being eliminated from season 15, Princess Poppy said the following in an interview with Entertainment Weekly: “I want to fall off the face of the planet. I don’t want to be famous. I want to fade into obscurity. That’s not a bad thing. I think people put so much emphasis on success and fame, and it’s okay to not want to be famous. It’s totally valid to not want to be known by a bunch of people. That’s just not what I want. I don’t want that for my life.” When Caldonia points out the boys' lives don’t seem to be going places, their vague fantasy of robbing a post office is chivvied into reality.The plans descend into pure farce, including painted Star Wars toyblasters as their heist weapons! Deep down, Jonas knew that he shouldn't have taken the gun home: shouldn't have hidden it, shouldn't have shown it to Kamal and should definitely not have let him take it away. This is a brutal, bloody, terrifying story, compellingly written and heartstopping to read. Moa’s life before the rebellion makes the violence of the uprising feel like a release in the novel. Cane Warriorsisa book about doing the right thing, unbelievable bravery and deep friendship; but most importantly this book is about a part of British and Jamaican history that is hardly known, and the stories of these hard-won human rights need to be heard even though it’s uncomfortable.

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He now visits schools, colleges, universities, libraries and prisons facilitating creative writing classes and performing inspiring speeches. He has also narrated an audio guide to the streets of Brixton for soundmap. Now Lemar’s secrets are building and the stress is about to bury him. He doesn’t want to hurt his family, but he’s not sure how to keep them safe anymore. A tense novel bringing the very real situation lots of young teens find themselves in to light, Liccle Bit makes you stop and think. A wonderful cast of characters bring this story to life and draw you in. This is a brilliant adventure story that manages to give young readers a really important insight into slavery without being so upsetting that it’s impossible to read: a very fine balance, masterfully achieved. At least Lemar has art to help him escape, and it's even getting him some attention from the girl he likes, Venetia King. Yet Lemar has also gained the attention of South Crongton's most notorious gangster, and it's not long before he has Lemar running errands for him. Soon a chain of events will see Lemar down a road he never wanted to go down, will he be able to stop it? This book is a blast of fresh air and will appeal to all types of teenagers, from the booky to absolute reluctants (Barrington Stoke’s dyslexic sensitive publishing standards also help here).

verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ A bit of a weird one: Robbie Turner said in 2018 she’d been in a car crash with an Uber driver who died but she made it out with a few scratches. Then a few days later, Uber announced this never happened and no driver had died. Robbie subsequently posted a huge statement and then hasn’t been seen publicly since, and hasn’t returned to drag. Princess PoppyWhat a gripping tale of family and friends, love and loyalty... Lemar's voice is so strong and I loved the humour in it too.' Alex Wheatle has a history in adult fiction, and it shows in his first outing for younger readers. While the subject matter is much lighter, the plot is just as racing and the dialogue just as witty as his other books. Wheatle perfectly captures the highs and lows of teenage life, while also highlighting the humanity and tragedy occuring in the lives of some of London's poorest teenagers. He has since been called upon to talk on the subject of the Brixton riots, most prominently in the 2006 BBC programme “Battle for Brixton”. His early books are based on experiences from his life living in Brixton as a teenager and his time in social services care. Season six’s Magnolia Crawford has since left the persona behind, but is still active on social media under his out of drag name Reynolds Engelhart. And yep, he’s still quite sexy. Robbie Turner A boy that no one notices becomes a target on the run, when a tragic event prompts him to mix with a world of street gangs and drug dealers. This pacey crime thriller feels unique, realistic and truthful.