Shacked Up

One of Cann's gifts is her ability to write in an utterly believable way about the sexual element of teenage relationships. In the Deep End contained the most sensitive description of the sexual act I have ever read in a book for young people and she has achieved exactly the same balance of delicacy and emotional commitment in Shacked Up. This sequel to Hard Cash tells the story of Rich, homeless after a series of arguments with his father, until a friend lends him an empty flat, rent-free. The only drawback is Bonny, also unable to live at home and endure the overwhelming emotional manipulation of her eccentric mother, Tigger. Rich must now share his space and his privacy. The book explores manipulation on several levels: parents and children; boyfriend and girlfriend; same sex friends - with no attempt to take the easy narrative route and little opportunity to second-guess the author. That the story is written from a male perspective is further testament to Cann's authorial talents. This is writing for young people at its best: subtle, humorous, sensitive and, above all, unafraid to tackle contentious issues with honesty and directness.