'Enthralling, resonant, unusual and thought-provoking' The Guardian
'Lawrence is a fine writer' TheTimes
'A vibrant, accomplished storyteller' The Observer
'A truly brilliant book' Malorie Blackman on Orangeboy

Being a teenager is hard enough, but it's even harder in a world you've never known ...

Eighteen months ago, 17-year-old Rose and 13-year-old Rudder escaped a strict religious sect with their mum. They are still trying to make sense of the world outside - no more rules about clothes and books, films and music, no more technology bans. But also no more friendship with the people they've known all their lives, no community and no certainty. It doesn't help that their mum has to work all hours to pay rent on their cramped, smelly, one-bed flat above a kebab shop in Hackney.

While Rudder gorges on once-taboo Harry Potters and dances to Simon and Garfunkel and show tunes, Rose swaps the ankle skirts and uncut hair of the Woodford Pilgrims for Japanese-cute fairy dress and her new boyfriend, Kye. Kye, who she wants with all her being. But there's loads of scary stuff about their new life that Rose and Rudder have no idea how to handle - it's normal for girls to let their boyfriends take naked pictures of them, right?

When Rudder accidently sets a devastating chain of events into action, Rose must decide whether to sacrifice everything and go back to the life she hates, in order to save the people she loves.

A story about coming of age, slap-bang in the middle of a strange new world.

About the Author
Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton and brought up in an Italian-Trinidadian household in Mid Sussex. This meant great holidays and even better food. Her first novel, Orangeboy, won the Waterstones Book Prize for Older Readers and the Bookseller YA Book Prize. Her second novel, Indigo Donut, and her fourth novel, Eight Pieces of Silva won the Crimefest Award for young adults. Eight Pieces of Silva was also awarded the inaugural Jhalak Prize for children and young people and the Woman & Home Bookclub Teen Drama of the Year. Patrice's ideal mixtape includes drum 'n' bass, Bruce Springsteen and Studio Ghibli soundtracks. Music can't help creeping into her books.

Reviews
Lawrence is one of our finest writers of contemporary YA, with an enviable knack for complex, believable characters. * The Bookseller *



Book Information
ISBN 9781444940657
Author Patrice Lawrence
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Hodder Children's Books
Publisher Hachette Children's Group
Weight(grams) 364g
Dimensions(mm) 195mm * 128mm * 34mm