By Jim Carrington (author)
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A very, very pacy and unputdownable contemporary novel that will be relevant to all teenagers. With sharp teen dialogue and a keen eye for a teenager’s world this punchy novel’s themes of friendship, bullying, the importance of family life and the need to communicate are incredibly well drawn.
Very much in the style of Melvin Burgess and Kevin Brooks this powerful debut novel focuses on three very different teenagers, whose lives become unavoidably interlinked. The cleverly constructed narrative consists of three points of view: of Gary, constantly victimised by the school bully in a nasty, name-calling and vindictive way; the bully’s friend, David and a new girl to the school, the independent thinking and brave, Zoë.
Three view points, three interconnected stories. Gary reveals the painful and often unsuccessful attempts by a young man to control his anger under great provocation - and his inability to communicate. David is someone who is uncomfortable with the bullying but doesn't dare to do anything about it - until the end.
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Zoe is a young woman who can see Gary through different eyes and is independent, freethinking and brave. Also featured in this title are rampaging tractors, shotguns and cheese puffs.
Review of ‘Inside My Head’ by Books for Keeps [4 stars]
Gary is both from a troubled home and the victim of the school bully. He is unable to communicate the rage and hurt that bedevil every waking hour, even to Zoë, a confident new girl to the area, who befriends him. These two are the narrators of this moving tale along with the bully’s best friend, himself troubled by doubt and fear; should he defend Gary or stick to Kids’ rules and not snitch on his vicious, taunting mate?
We literally spend a lot of time inside the protagonists’ heads and, for all three, it is a convincing place to be. Each perspective sees the character struggling with action versus inaction and this never lets up, right through to the tense climax. What started out as a short story for Anti-bullying Week had been transformed into a novel well worth promoting. Be aware that there is some strong language, thoroughly justified in the context of the story.
Inside My Head, published by Bloomsbury in May 2010, is Jim Carrington’s first novel. He is a teacher and lives with his family in Raynes Park, south-west London.
Photo © Sonja Timpson
Three view points, three interconnected stories. Gary reveals the painful and often unsuccessful attempts by a young man to control his anger under great provocation - and his inability to communicate.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Inside My Head and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-14 years old
Inside My Head features in the following genres: Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback. Not Available.
Inside My Head was written by Jim Carrington and published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Inside My Head has 340 pages
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