Smash hit

Kennen has captured magnificently the love-hate relationship that exists between Stephen and the beast. Stephen has a bleak background and appears to have few prospects yet, by the end of the book, he becomes more of a hero — freeing himself and taking back control.

If you like cheeky, realistic stories about people who aren’t all that law-abiding, then this book is for you.

ISABELLE ELLIS-COCKCROFT, 15

A SWIFT PURE CRY
by Siobhan Dowd
David Fickling Books, £12.99

Since the death of Shell’s mam, her father has lost touch with reality, leaving 15-year-old Shell to bring up her two younger siblings.

Shell’s parents were religious but, after the death of her mam, Shell lost her faith. When a new priest, Father Rose, comes to the small Irish town of Coolbar something extraordinary shifts in Shell’s world and her mam’s spirit seems to return to Earth. Then tragedy shakes Shell’s life and she is swept up in to the heart of a scandal that reverberates across the country. It takes all her courage just to carry on.

This story is told with perfectly chosen phrases and words for every moment, lifting the story off the page and fashioning the fresh vivid imagery from which this heart-wrenching story is woven.

RHONA CLARK, 15

ANGEL BLOOD
by John Singleton
Puffin, £9.99

This is the story of four children — X-Ray, Cough Cough, Lights Out and Chicken Wings — and their life in the “Bin”, a place for special children. It is written from the X-Ray’s point of view, and chronicles how their life in the Bin deteriorates after the dastardly Dr Dearly and his team of unfriendly staff take over. An unexpected twist is added with the introduction of Nail, a hard man with his own story to tell, and his girlfriend, Natalie. Eventually, they escape with the help of Nail and Natalie. But after spending all their lives in the secure, sterile Bin will they be able to survive on the outside? This is an innovative, bittersweet book which not only tells the story of four children’s struggle to reach the outside world but also of how the outside world views them.

TEEN CRITIC COMPETITION

Write us a review of any book (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc): it doesn’t matter whether you loved it or hated it. The only rules are that you can’t have studied it at school and the review must not be more than 150 words. Write your name, address, phone number and age (on October 23) on the review and email it to bookscomp@thetimes.co.uk with “Teen critic competition” in the subject-line.

Entries must be received by midnight on November 13. The competition will be judged by Erica Wagner, Literary Editor. The best review in each age-group (13-15 and 16-18) will win the six shortlisted books (above) as well as the three previous prizewinners (Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Anne Cassidy’s Looking for JJ, Sarah Singleton’s Century). Only one entry per person. Entries cannot be acknowledged or returned. Winners will be notified by November 17.

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