By Anthony McGowan (author) Part of the The Truth of Things series
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Winner of the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020 | Longlisted for the UKLA Book Awards 2020 | February 2019 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month July 2020 | Interest Age Teen Reading Age 9
Cleverly set within a gripping adventure, Lark is a deeply touching story of the special bond between brothers.
Older brother Nicky narrates the story of the day he and his younger brother Kenny set out on a simple day out on the moors. Proposed by their father as a way of filling time while they wait nervously for their mum to return from her new life in Canada, it is meant to a fun day out tinged with a bit of nostalgia as they are retracing a walk that he used to enjoy.
But the simple walk which begins in a light hearted way soon becomes a deadly dangerous adventure as the weather conditions close in, the boys get completely lost and Nicky has to show exceptional courage and intelligence to make sure he can get Kenny home safely. Anthony McGowan maintains the intensity of the story throughout while also keeping the writing simple.
Things are tense at home for Nicky and Kenny. Their mum's coming to visit and it will be the first time they've seen her in years. A lot has changed since they were little and Nicky's not so sure he's ready to see her again. When they head for a trek across the moors to take their minds off everything, a series of unforeseen circumstances leaves the brothers in a vulnerable and very dangerous position. There might even be a chance that this time not everyone will make it home alive...
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An uncompromising and heartbreaking end to the story of Nicky and Kenny, the beloved brothers of the Carnegie shortlisted Rook , beautifully told in McGowan’s gritty realism.
A message from the author; “When I began Brock, I never planned on writing a sequel. I certainly never thought there would be four books. But each time I typed ‘The End’ I had a feeling that somehow Nicky and Kenny’s story was unfinished. I’ve come to know them better than any of the hundreds of characters I’ve created over the years, and I felt an obligation to them.
Their lives began in poverty and turmoil. Together we made it through to a brighter place. But I wanted one last trial, one last adventure”
The critically acclaimed The Truth of Things quartet is being repackaged into a stunning and cohesive set for 2025 to coincide with the eagerly anticipated new novella The Beck
Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant, or dyslexic readers aged 13+.
“Never have three sparsely written novellas packed such an emotional punch. Not a word is wasted and, for me, they are the absolute definition of the word ‘classic’” - Phil Earle, Guardian
Praise for the novellas Brook, Pike and Rook;
“McGowan … freights every word with truth and feeling … Few other writers for the young better understand the pull of the gang and the fear of the bully” The Times “[Nature] provides a moment of epiphany that resounds. Simply told, yet laced with urgency, this will spellbind” Philip Womack, Daily Telegraph
“Rook is an outstanding piece of writing … unflinching and authentic, funny and gritty and a treasured addition to my bookshelves” Waterstones Bookseller
“A gut-wrenching tale of crime and punishment makes compelling reading” New Stateman
“Gritty, unflinching and authentic ...with a life-affirming warmth” Carnegie Judging Panel
“Lucid and sharp as broken glass, it’s a book filled with raw, elemental emotion” Guardian
“McGowan writes in prose as spare and effective as that of Barry Hines … there’s an extraordinary depth and elegance to this story. An outstanding novel” Andrea Reece. Lovereading4Kids
Anthony McGowan is one of the most widely acclaimed young adult and children’s authors in the UK. His books have won numerous major awards. In 2020, he was awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Lark . He was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal with Rook and won the Booktrust Teenage Prize and the Catalyst Award for Henry Tumour . His YA novel The Knife that Killed Me was made into a critically-lauded film in 2014.
Anthony lives in London, with his wife, two children and dog.
Photo credit Michael Thorn
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Carnegie Medal | Kate Greenaway Medal 2021
UKLA Book Awards - 2020
Yoto Carnegie Medal | Kate Greenaway Medal 2022
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Things are tense at home for Nicky and Kenny. Their mum's coming to visit and it will be the first time they've seen her in years.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Lark and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-18 years old
Lark features in the following genres: Featured Books for 11+ readers, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults, Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Animal Stories, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Dyslexia Friendly Books for Teens, Books to Motivate Teenage Reluctant Readers, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children's and Young Adult Fiction
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Lark was written by Anthony McGowan and published by Barrington Stoke an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Yes it is part of The Truth of Things series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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