Spray

The tension never lets up in this exciting novel about water wars in an un-named city. Eight main gamesters fight it out with water pistols in a three-week contest, governed by defined rules set by the elusive Gamekeeper.

However, some players’ motives are not quite in the true fun and thrill-seeking spirit of the game and the ammunition is running dry; there is a serious drought! The plot structure and the pace of the writing evoke the exhilarating nature of the game right through to the final showdown. The characters all have their charms and each is ingeniously resourceful and adept at problem solving. This should engage any teen reader who rises to the challenge of a complex storyline and who likes sussing subtly woven sub-texts. Definitely amongst the best I’ve read this year.