29 Locks by Nicola Garrard

29 Locks by Nicola Garrard

Coming-of-age novel set in contemporary London and Hertfordshire. Fifteen-year-old Donald Leroy Samson is the son of an absentee St Lucian father and a drug-addicted English mother. Growing up in dire poverty in Hackney, East London, his life is shaped by casual violence, gang initiation, drug-dealing and knife crime. When Donny’s bored, rich, white girlfriend Zoe is offered a dubious modelling audition, the couple ‘borrow’ a barge and navigate the 29 locks on the canal system from Hertfordshire down into Kings Cross.

When they start out on their journey, the future for both of them looks unpromising, like the fake audition, but as each lock is navigated and conquered, as the waters fall then rise again, their adventure takes on a new dimension. Life will never be the same again. A gritty, urban tale of redemption!

'It crackles off the page!' (ALEX WHEATLE); 'Urgent, gripping, relevant and important: I loved 29 Locks' (Anthony McGowan, winner, Carnegie Award 2020); 'Raw, unique and often-tender, this novel is an anthem for the ordinary spirit that burns so fiercely inside each of usA must-read for all young adults' (Aoife Fitzpatrick, Winner of Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize'); 'An essential read for the many young people today who can relate to Donny, showing them that amidst all the pain and inequalities of the world, justice can still be served and a future can be built from learning and kindness' (Ms Florence Bauhofer, PLS EAL Department ); 'It's a was a perfect book for people my age. My favourite character is Donny because he was so resilient even though he had a difficult life. He inspires me to always keep going even when things are tough. I also really liked that the novel was about family and friendship because both my family and my friends are very important to me' (Othman, age 15, Prendergast Ladywell School); 'The characters on these pages are real. If you have spent time around young people, you have seen how these relationships form and Nicola Garrard captures this in a way that feels truly natural and authentic'); (Casey Bailey, Birmingham Poet Laureate); 'The author really captured the life of a modern day teen and the struggles that life can present. I believe many young adults will enjoy and relate to this book. Excellent work! I finished the book looking at things differently' (Reader in Brinsford Prison and Young Offenders Institution for men); 'An incredible debut - smart and funny, poignant yet uplifting. Donny is an unforgettable character who navigates life with humour and compassion. From the estates of north London to the leafy canals of Hertfordshire (via Peckham), 29 Locks is totally immersive and unlike anything I've read before' (Juliet West, author of The Faithful ); 'Absolutely eye-opening about poverty in London. Great book for older children and young adults' (The Reading Pioneers, Northampton International Academy);

Nicola Garrard has taught English in secondary schools for twenty-three years, including fifteen years at an Islington comprehensive. Her first novel, 29 LOCKS, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and the Mslexia Children’s Novel competition, and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2022 and the Berkshire Book Award. It was picked by Suzi Feay in the Financial Times as one of their ‘Best Books of 2021’.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781913109844
ISBN 10	1913109844
Title	29 Locks
Author	Nicola Garrard
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	HopeRoad Publishing Ltd
Year published	2021-09-30
Number of pages	352
Prizes	Short-listed for Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2019
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.