Humorous and heartbreaking debut novel with the fresh, funny, honest voice of a 14-year-old Geordie lad recounting the trials and tribulations of family life and finding first love. Nominated for the 2019 Carnegie Medal.
Danny’s mam has a new boyfriend. Initially, all is good – Callum seems nice enough, and Danny can’t deny he’s got a cool set up; big house, fast car, massive TV, and Mam seems to really like him.
But cracks begin to show, and they’re not the sort that can be easily repaired. As Danny witnesses Mam suffer and Callum spiral out of control he goes in search of his dad.
The Dad he’s never met.
Set in Newcastle and Edinburgh, this supremely readable coming-of-age drama tackles domestic violence head on, but finds humour and hope in the most unlikely of places
Bethan, Y7 says:
This book is about a boy called Danny who lives with his Mum. His Dad has run off and his Mum has just found a new boyfriend. It would be happy families except that Mum’s boyfriend hits her, a lot.
Ella, Y7 says:
Danny loves his life, just him and his mum! But then Callum joins them and everything goes pear-shaped. Danny hates Callum but things get worse when the fighting and hitting starts. Danny finds out that 2 women a week are killed by their boyfriends. These figures scare Danny and he goes to see his dad, who he has never met before. his dad, after a LOT of persuasion, kills Callum. After that, Danny has a funny feeling in his heart – guilt. But then he remembers he now knows his dad. Life doesn’t get much better than that.
Riveting Reads 