By Kel Duckhouse (author)
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Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2023
Blending prose and verse, this powerful coming-of-age YA novel about a 15-year-old boxer girl growing up on an East London council estate had us commending the way it offered a “gripping, thought-provoking, fresh voice for perennially powerful themes”, among them friendship, fighting for family and a different life, loyalty, and the limits of loyalty.
Living on an East London council estate has its worries - and life for 15 year old Molly hasn't always been easy. But she has a dream, a dream to be a boxer just like her older brother Denny. When he agrees to train her, she couldn't be more excited.
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But one night everything changes. There's an assault outside Molly's local boxing club, Denny's nowhere to be found and the police are after him. Molly must prove her brother's innocence and delve into the underbelly of East London, and her family history where new and old secrets are revealed.
'Brave and bold, a proper right hook to the senses.' - Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls
'I raced through this (.) you're all in for a treat with this fabulous verse/ prose novel. -- Manjeet Man, author of Run, Rebel Gutsy, gripping and dangerous yet full of heart, truth and soul. Duckhouse's exceptional debut floats like a butterfly, stings like a poet.' - Keith Gray, author of Ostrich Boys and The Climbers
'An uncompromising and unflinching novel that certainly packs a punch.' - Brian Conaghan, author of The Boy Who Made it Rain
'A thing of utter beauty!'' - Lesley Parr, author of When the War Came Home
'The Bones of Me is everything I'd hope and more- raw, edgy, beautiful and devastatingly beautiful.' - Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home
'The combination of verse and prose keeps the pace moving, and colloquialisms add to the sense of place. A textured coming-of-age story deeply rooted in a working-class community.' - Kirkus Reviews
'Dynamic verse and sincere prose [.] Prominent messages about classism and forgiveness add layers to this insightful rendering of the amateur boxing world.' - Publishers Weekly
'Incredible cover art by Tosin Akinkunmi' - Charlotte Hacking, CLPE on Twitter
'Think Sylvester Stallone's Rocky retold for a modern audience' - Imagining History
'With an immersive mix of verse and prose setting the pace and rhythm of the story, I tore through this book in one sitting and felt like my emotions had gone a few rounds in the ring with Molly.' - My Book Corner
'I loved the mix of prose and verse- it worked really well together. I also liked the way the author played around with the formatting to tell the story.' - @always_need_more_books on Instagram
'A brilliant mix of prose and verse that delivers some knockout blows. Perfectly capturing life on a London Estate and full of family secrets, intrigue, and drama this is a superb book' - Kevin Cobane (Empathy Lab judge)
'It's a book about aspiration and following your dreams, whatever the obstacles(..) I don't use these words lightly, but I think it's breathtakingly original.' - Maggie Brookes, author of Acts of Love and War
Kel Duckhouse was born in Leytonstone, London. She currently lives with her three children in Wiltshire, where she works as an Author, Poet and Spoken Word Artist. Kel graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University, where she studied a Masters in Writing for Young People. Kel started her career as a poet and performer and loves works with musicians to put her poetry to music. The Bones of Me is her debut novel. When she's not writing, she's campaigning for social causes or dying her hair pink. Her dream is to buy a camper van and travel the UK and Europe writing.
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Living on an East London council estate has its worries - and life for 15 year old Molly hasn't always been easy. But she has a dream, a dream to be a boxer just like her older brother Denny.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Bones of Me and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
The Bones of Me features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Crime & Mystery, Stories about Family and Friends, Animal Stories, Sporting Stories, Stories in Verse, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. Not Available.
The Bones of Me was written by Kel Duckhouse and published by Flying Eye Books
The Bones of Me has 206 pages
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