Brock: A Novel

by Anthony McGowan

Overview

The first book in the powerful, authentic young adult book series Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths), expertly designed to engage reluctant readers and provide an accessible reading experience for all.

Life’s not easy for Nicky. His mother is gone, his dad’s out on bail, and his older brother, Kenny, needs looking after like a little kid. When Kenny drags Nicky out of bed one dark morning, Nicky has no idea that he is about to witness a terrible act of destruction, and the senseless killing of an innocent animal. But Nicky manages to save something precious from the disaster, and his and Kenny’s lives are changed forever . . .

Perfect for anyone seeking gritty, realistic books for teen boys, the Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths) hi-lo book series presents accessible coming-of-age tales in an easy-to-read style. Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books utilize dyslexia reading tools like specialized fonts and paper tones, and are carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454954774
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Series:	Everyone Can Be a Reader Series
Edition description:	High readability
Pages:	136
Sales rank:	30,450
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Anthony McGowan is the author of many critically acclaimed YA novels, including Hellbent, Henry Tumour, and The Knife That Killed Me. His Rook was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and judges described the 2020 Carnegie Medal winner Lark as “a standalone masterpiece.” He lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

Natural dialogue and short, fast-paced chapters will sustain readers’ interest. An absorbing read.”—Kirkus

From the Publisher

2024-01-05
A teenager and his intellectually disabled older brother rescue an injured dog and a young badger from a trio of vicious bullies in this first of four interconnected episodes.

In this wrenching, accessibly written tale, their father’s inability to stay employed or sober in the wake of their mother’s departure has thrown Kenny—who was oxygen-deprived at birth—and Nicky, his protective younger brother, into an ongoing struggle just to get by. Sneering older teen Jezbo and twin punks Rich and Rob send Tina, the twins’ Jack Russell terrier, into a badger’s sett, resulting in her being savagely wounded. The boys then beat an old badger to death and abandon Tina. Kenny runs off in shock, but Nicky brings home both the dog and a baby badger left trapped in the bullies’ net. Before setting out to search for the baby’s mother, Nicky cautions his brother that he mustn’t tell anyone, or Jezbo and his gang will return. But Kenny, who has joyfully adopted both animals, proves incapable of keeping the secret, and a confrontation becomes inevitable. The timely arrival of Kenny and Nicky’s father, who’s at last showing signs of recovery, narrowly heads off further violence and allows the story to end on a rising note, which is highlighted by a badger family reunion. Aside from a friend of Kenny’s named Samit, the entire English cast reads as white. Natural dialogue and short, fast-paced chapters will sustain readers’ interest.

An absorbing read. (Fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews