Set on one of Britain’s tough and often brutal council estates, Gun Dog is a powerful story about the struggle to succeed in a place where the lawless operate without fear and the good are consistently failed by the agencies of law and order. Stevie Davies dreams of escaping from this misery by leaving to go to university. But all that changes when he is forced to hide an automatic pistol by a local teenage thug. Intoxicated by the apparent power the gun gives him in the local community, he is drawn down a perilous path, and his future hangs in the balance. Can the gun give him the freedom he’s been dreaming of? Or will it throw away the key for good? This fast-paced read is dynamic and gripping, perfect for teen readers who want all the characteristics of a long novel, dealing with teenage issues and tough topics, in a strong, condensed book. From a series written by some amazing authors, this book is everything a reluctant reader would want to get them engaged. Note: this book contains some strong language, graphic scenes and/or tough topics, so is only suitable for older YA readers.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Gun Dog is full of suspense from start to finish; this is brought to life by the vivid descriptions provided by our narrator Stevie. We see the world through his eyes and hear about it in his words which give the story a very personal and real touch. Stevie is normally a spectator to the violence that goes on around his estate and has hopes to escape it which makes him a reliable guide for the reader. His conversational descriptions helped me to identify with both him and his difficult situation. Stevie s university dreams are on the brink of shattering and I found myself hoping, for his sake, throughout the book that there might be a resolution. This leads to the suspense built in the action scenes; we are given short, dramatic sentences to heighten the anxiety. These nail-biting scenes gave a moment by moment account to make the reader feel a part of the story and create a good pace to the narrative. Ultimately Lancett uses the role of a narrator very effectively to engage the reader towards a satisfying yet very tense conclusion. –Dan Meakin
A brutally honest and hard-hitting read which hooks you from the start. The frustration and hopelessness of street youth is captured in every page, with the overpowering reality of drugs, sex and criminality. The fast paced prose of the book brilliantly conveys the everyday fear of becoming the next victim to violent vandals. The hope for the vulnerable Stevie and his endearing family to concur the incarceration of ASBO culture is experienced throughout. But the clutches of modern street-life crush Stevie s hope of release; a true eye-opener to the difficulties of breaking free from urban living. Gun Dog is a mesmerising read, captivating for struggling readers or not. If you’re looking for a book which you can t put down, I highly recommend Gun Dog. –Anne-Marie Plested
About the Author
Peter Lancett is a writer, fiction editor and film maker, living and working in New Zealand and Los Angeles. He is Series Editor for Cutting Edge, and the author of Seeing Red, another compelling title in the series. He is also the author of the highly acclaimed Dark Man series, winner of the Educational Books Award 2006. Hanging In The Mist, his third contribution to Cutting Edge, is due out in Autumn 2010.
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