Troublemakers (Paperback)
Catherine Barter (author)- In stock online
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018
Described by the Guardian as 'A thought-provoking, richly layered YA novel about politics, love, grief and coming of age' Troublemakers brings together contemporary social issues with a moving story of growing up and learning how to navigate family loyalty and personal belief.
In three years I will be able to vote and I will still have less power than I did at the moment that I saw that email, which was such a tiny thing but look what happened.
Fifteen-year-old Alena never really knew her political activist mother, who died when she was a baby. She has grown up with her older half-brother Danny and his boyfriend Nick in the east end of London.
Now the area is threatened by a bomber who has been leaving explosive devices in supermarkets. It is only a matter of time before a bomb goes off.
Against this increasingly fearful backdrop, Alena seeks to discover more about her past, while Danny takes a job working for a controversial politician.
As her family life implodes, and the threat to Londoners mounts, Alena starts getting into trouble. Then she does something truly rebellious.
A searing, heartbreaking coming-of-age tale for fans of Lisa Williamson, Jenny Downham and Sarah Crossan.
British author Catherine Barter's career as a writer began when she won the 2014 Bath Novel Award. When not writing, she is the co-manager of the radical London bookshop Housmans. Troublemakers is her first novel.
Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd
ISBN: 9781783445240
Number of pages: 384
Weight: 305 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 23 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A thought-provoking, richly layered YA novel about politics, love, grief and coming of age.' - Imogen Russell Williams, Guardian
'A touching, truthful depiction of an unconventional family life... written before London's current summer of discontent but captures the effect of a constant climate of unease on young people and the permanently anxious adults who care for them.' - Geraldine Brennan, Observer
'A clever, thoughtful novel with a wonderfully realistic main character' - Sarah Webb, Irish Independent
'It's refreshing to see a contemporary YA novel that focuses so much on family and politics and allows its heroine to escape the narrative without a boyfriend in tow' - Claire Hennessy, Irish Times
'Family tensions and uncertainty are contrasted against the current political situation in this excellent novel' - Marilyn Brocklehurst, Guardian, The Best New Children's Books supplement
'I loved it, so much so that as soon as I finished I started reading it again. Completely brilliant' - Keren David, author of Salvage
'I couldn't put Troublemakers down. It's a real page-turner, with utterly believable characters who are all trying to do their best. Barter is a fresh, exciting new voice, and I can't wait to see what she does next.' - Susin Nielsen
'I think it's really brilliant and I absolutely loved it - the voice is terrific. I hope it's loved as much as Jenny Downham's Unbecoming.' - Aoife Walsh, author of Too Close To Home
'A sparky and timely coming-of-age tale about politics, activism & morality' - Katherine Woodfine
'One of the most woke YA novels EVER and will quickly make you question your own political knowledge and outspokenness' - Maximum Pop! Books
'Politics and the personal combine in a thoughtful, well-told and moving story' - Andrea Reece, Lovereading4Kids
'Intelligent and thought-provoking, this is an absorbing novel, and a highly impressive debut.' - Books for Keeps
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“Surprising”
When I received this book I thought I had an idea of what it would be about and how it would pan out.
I was totally wrong! This book is very engaging and you just want to keep on reading it even after the last page....
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“A magnificent read ”
Alena has never known her mum. When her brother starts working for a controversial politician and she starts to uncover her mum's activist life, she gets into the kind of trouble that changes everything.... More
“Powerful and Important”
I finished Troublemakers in a single day, it was hard to put it down between my breaks at work! I loved it - the voices are so strong, Alena's especially but the other characters as well - they're so real... More
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