Pike

Description

A stunning companion piece to Brock from award-winning Anthony McGowan. Nicky and Kenny return in Pike as a fishing expedition nosedives into near tragedy. The Bacon Pond is famous for its monster-sized fish and Kenny is determined to catch one. And as usual, Nicky is dragged along for the ride. But when the boys glimpse what could be a body in the water - the body of a well-known local criminal who's just been announced missing - the secrets of the Bacon Pond might just take them all down. Sometimes it's better not to look too deep. A poignant and powerful companion piece to Carnegie longlisted Brock. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+

Born in Manchester, Anthony McGowan went to school in Leeds. He has worked as a nightclub bouncer, civil servant and Open University tutor in Philosophy. He published his first novel for teenagers, Hellbent, in 2005. It was described by The Times as a 'brilliantly nauseating thriller.' His other books for teenagers include Henry Tumour and The Knife that Killed Me, the film of which was released in 2013.

"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" -- LoveReading4Kids "A gut-wrenching tale of crime and punishment makes [Pike] compelling reading" -- New Statesman "Dazzlingly true to life, a succinct yet satisfying read" -- INIS "McGowan ... manages to transform a relatively simple storyline into a gripping tale with a fresh outlook and edgy twist" -- Reading Zone "This story is an object lesson in the art of compression. In only 128 pages it touches on natural history, sibling relationships, living with mental disability, split families, fear of outsiders, dealing with bullies and coping with guilt" -- Books For Keeps