Fifteen-year-old Laurence Roach just wants a normal life, but it's not easy when your mum is a depressed alcoholic, and your six-year-old brother thinks he's a dog. When Mum fails to come home one night, Laurence tells nobody, terrified he and his brother will be taken into care if anyone finds out. Instead, he attempts to keep up the pretence that Mum is still around: dressing up in her clothes to trick the neighbours and spinning an increasingly complicated tangle of lies. After two weeks on their own, running out of food and money, and with suspicious adults closing in, Laurence finally discovers what happened to his mother. And that's when the trouble really starts . . . A compelling thriller filled with some hilarious and surreal moments. Fifteen Days Without a Head is a tender, honest story about family, forgiveness and hope.

Two brothers. One cartoon dog. And a load of trouble.

About the Author
Dave Cousin's short story The Floodlight Man was broadcast on Radio Five Live, read by Dave himself. He also won a place in the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators Undiscovered Voices anthology beating lots of tough competition. Dave Cousins grew up in Birmingham, in a house full of books and records. Abandoning childhood plans to be an astronaut, Dave went to art college in Bradford, joined a band and moved to London. He spent the next ten years touring and recording, and was nearly famous. Dave's writing career began aged ten, with an attempt to create a script for Fawlty Towers. He has been writing songs, poems and stories ever since.

Reviews
Praise for 15 Days Without a Head: 'This heartfelt well-told debut is a delight.' The Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week. (1 January 2012) * Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times *
'Cousins' sheer inventiveness coupled with Laurence's sparky voice, keeps the story from becoming depressing or worthy.' * Suzi Feay, Financial Times *
'A tough, charged . . . gripping story.' * Julia Eccleshare, Lovereading4kids *
'Incredible lightness of touch and humour but also seriously weighty . . . reminded me a lot of Frank Cottrell Boyce.' * Anthony McGowan *
'An excellent debut. It's a tough and turbulent tale of growing up the hard way, but there's heart and soul on every page. I can't wait to see what Cousins does next.' * Keith Gray, the award-winning author of Ostrich Boys *
'Unputdownable . . . a jewel of a book.' * Candy Gourlay *
'Some books you read and find entertaining. And some books you read and never forget. This is one I will have in my mind for a long time.' * PaulaSHx, blogger *
'I want to put this book in every teenager's hand.' * Serendipity Reviews, blog *



Book Information
ISBN 9780192732569
Author Dave Cousins
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 202g
Dimensions(mm) 199mm * 130mm * 18mm