29 Locks

Product Information

Donny is an inspirational hero who seeks justice in the face of overwhelming obstacles – it’s impossible not to fall in love with him! She has taught in secondary schools for twenty-three years, including fifteen in an Islington comprehensive.

This book demonstrates the realities and continuous cycle of drugs and violence of childhood in poverty. I think because of the slang and language used its better for a British audience but its been written well and despite having some gangs and violence at the beginning it does have more uplifting moments after Donny leaves London and he is able to grow. The story is told with compassion but also with great skill- you will want to read right until the last word. Her first novel, 29 LOCKS , was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize ; Mslexia Children’s Novel Competition; Financial Times Best Books of 2021 and longlisted for the 2022 Branford Boase Award. I gather that this book is getting a great reception among teenagers, and I can imagine that lots of young people will see themselves in Donny.

Tackling issues of racial injustice, child poverty, gang violence and knife crime, this powerful coming-of-age novel was inspired by my fifteen years of teaching teenage boys at a comprehensive school in inner-city London. After all, it's all he knows from early childhood and having a single mum addicted yo crack and God knows what else.

August 2020 Reading: Small Pleasures; Echo Hall; The Vanishing Half; A Different Drummer; The Naseby Horses; For When I’m Gone; Inside The Beautiful Inside; Long Live the Post Horn!But as each lock is navigated and conquered, their adventures take on a new dimension, and life will never be the same again. Nicola Garrad has painted a harsh and vivid picture that is an immersive, entertaining and educating (for some anyway) read.

Facebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin. As someone who is interested in urban change and once really enjoyed a canal boating holiday this book instantly intrigued me. After some trouble and an unexpected death, Donny finds himself back in the system and on his way to County. Donny is a great narrator – his voice feels so fresh and real and engaging that I refuse to believe he does not exist in real life.Read my Guardian newspaper article about my work with Minority Matters and teaching in London h ere. But with his new family and life looking brighter it isn’t long before he’s exposed to grooming, drugs and gang life.