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A review by katykelly
Born Scared by Kevin Brooks
5.0
One for reluctant readers - a gripping short story with tension, excitement, criminals and an unusual protagonist.
Elliott is scared of almost everything. He can't leave the house, he can't function as a normal child would, and only his pills keep him feeling halfway in control.
So when he finds himself on a snowy Christmas Eve down to the last few, and his mum runs out to replenish the supply, he has to hold himself together until she returns.... but she doesn't... What should he do? What CAN he do?
In just a few short chapters, Brooks sets up a very tense story, involving a boy with a serious mental health condition that is very well characterised, and a story involving his mum entangled in criminal activity. It doesn't feel too full, it's a series of unfortunate accidents really, in which Elliot will have to face his fears to help both himself and the person he loves most in the world.
It would make a great TV one-off at Christmas! Brooks is a great writer of exciting situation pieces (The Bunker Diary is hard to forget), and this is a fantastic piece to appeal to young teenagers that won't be persuaded to try anything longer, while exhibiting excellent writing and structure.
More like this, please!
WIth thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
Elliott is scared of almost everything. He can't leave the house, he can't function as a normal child would, and only his pills keep him feeling halfway in control.
So when he finds himself on a snowy Christmas Eve down to the last few, and his mum runs out to replenish the supply, he has to hold himself together until she returns.... but she doesn't... What should he do? What CAN he do?
In just a few short chapters, Brooks sets up a very tense story, involving a boy with a serious mental health condition that is very well characterised, and a story involving his mum entangled in criminal activity. It doesn't feel too full, it's a series of unfortunate accidents really, in which Elliot will have to face his fears to help both himself and the person he loves most in the world.
It would make a great TV one-off at Christmas! Brooks is a great writer of exciting situation pieces (The Bunker Diary is hard to forget), and this is a fantastic piece to appeal to young teenagers that won't be persuaded to try anything longer, while exhibiting excellent writing and structure.
More like this, please!
WIth thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.