A Flower of Jet

Set in the north of England during the miners' strikes, this novel follows the fortunes of two families and the difficult friendship between teenagers Tom and Melanie. Melanie's parents are ardent strike supporters, while Tom's father is labelled 'scab' for his belief that pit closures are inevitable; this allows the author to present the implications of the conflict from opposing sides. Credibility is somewhat strained by two combined strokes of luck with enable Tom's family to escape, but the straightforward style and abundance of incident will appeal to readers of 12 and over.