Tag

Pete and Motto get their kicks from executing daring graffiti raids. The exhilarating 'hit' fuels the craving for a bigger buzz and leads eventually to confrontation with intimidating rivals, the Sun Crew. Tag is a tense, tight thriller. Like Coleman's previous novel, Weirdo's War, it explores uneasy friendships between leaders and followers and the charismatic allure of the gang. Pete narrates his story retrospectively, reflecting on events that lead to the chilling climax. Coleman skilfully handles the change in mood from hard-edged tension to sharp poignancy, when Pete finally acknowledges the anger he feels about his father's death. The moral message in this gripping story is underlined without resorting to preaching.