By Luke Palmer (author)
"Growing up is always challenging, can four boys or their friendship survive?"
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The second novel from this Branford Boase shortlisted author certainly lives up to the promise of his debut Grow .
Apart from the deliberately anonymous first page, the story is narrated by three voices: Matt, Mark and Luc. Each voice is unique and distinctive and they vividly describe the lives of four young boys growing up in a small town in England, negotiating friendship, school and family and each desperate to get out and find freedom.
They play games, scoring points off each other, anything to break the boredom. But Mark gets involved in a very dangerous game and his drug dealing will have consequences for them all.
Undoubtedly the author’s teaching experience contributes to this subtle, yet powerful, examination of adolescent male friendships, the influence of father figures or the lack of them and to consider some quite weighty themes including drugs, sexuality and toxic masculinity. These characters are real flawed human beings who learn and grow and as readers we can feel compassion for their poor decision making, as well as hoping for their redemption.
Teen books with realistic male protagonists are rare and when they are as good as this they need to be treasured.
Four boys grow up together at school, itching to get out of their small town. They play games, scoring points from each other, anything to pass the time until they're free. Matthew slips into his imagination, Luc pushes his body to the limit, and Johnny ... well who knows what Johnny's up to.
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But when Mark starts running errands for his older brother's mysterious associate, he thinks he's found the best game of all.
Boys will be boys but will strive to become so much more in Luke Palmer's wonderfully astute and truthful story. It's the best book of young male friendship I've read in years. Gut-wrenching and glorious. Keith Gray
Profound, poetic, funny, heartbreaking and above all, real - every line, from the lyrical to the punchy, and every character rings with truth. Luke Palmer is up there with Melvyn Burgess, Patrick Ness and Anthony McGowan at showing us the joys, complications and fears of being a boy. Jo Nadin
Luke Palmer is an award-winning YA author, poet, and secondary school teacher. His debut novel, Grow , was recognized as a Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Year and earned nominations for prestigious awards including the Branford Boase and Carnegie Medals. His follow-up novel, Play , further solidified his reputation, being shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal
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Four boys grow up together at school, itching to get out of their small town. They play games, scoring points from each other, anything to pass the time until they're free.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Play and determined it is suitable for children aged 15-18 years old
Play features in the following genres: Gritty Reads, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for Young Adults
Paperback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
Play was written by Luke Palmer and published by Firefly Press Ltd
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
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