Simon Fairbanks
  • Home
  • The Sheriff
  • Besti Bori
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Boomsticks
  • Belljars
  • Treat or Trick
  • Circ
  • Blog

REVIEW: I Predict a Riot by Catherine Bruton

18/5/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
The third young adult novel by Catherine Bruton is inspired by the 2011 London riots. It follows the story of three young teenagers living around Coronation Road and explores their involvement in gangs, the community and the ensuing riots.

The central trio are a fascinating ensemble: Maggie, daughter of an MP; Tokes, a former drug runner trying to escape his father and former gang; and Little Pea, an excitable youngster still enamoured by gang culture. The vastly different social groups of this trio make for lots of drama and interesting social commentary.

Bruton's experience as a teacher and volunteer in the local community is evident in her depiction of the characters. The dialogue is authentic and she shows a close understanding of children living in the deprived parts of London.

Bruton is equally accomplished at presenting adult characters and the fleeting appearances of the central trio's mothers confirms this. Maggie's MP mother could easily have been a two-dimensional villain but Bruton makes her every bit as sympathetic as Maggie in their mother-daughter spats.

The pace of the plot is swift, starting with a Western-style showdown in a playground then building towards the titular riots, described in vivid and brutal detail which will cause readers to recall the shocking TV footage of August 2011.

I Predict A Riot is an accomplished and relevant novel. It is perfect reading material for a young adult audience and just as enjoyable for older readers too. I predict this will be a huge hit.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    July 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

© 2014 Simon Fairbanks. All rights reserved.
Proudly powered by Weebly