Shots

This book was shortlisted for a phenomenal number of awards; I suspect due to its head-on approach to racist behaviour and realistic attitudes to a house-person father, who no sooner rids himself of one life-in girlfriend than he's taking on another, after the briefest acquaintance. Mr Gavin's liberal views and caring attitudes to his fellow men, whatever race, are sometimes drawn a bit heavy handedly but his fatherly devotion towards Sarah and Joe are very sensitively shown. As literature to make youngsters think, this will take some beating; I just wish it was a bit better written - maybe that's why it never won!