Blade: Playing Dead

First in a new series of short, accessibly written books aimed at teenagers, Blade: Playing Dead has so much feral street savvy that many adult readers will find it a bit discombobulating. As for most teenage readers of my acquaintance, this is as close as it gets to a real world. If literature for young people reflects current society, then things are volatile and bleak. However, all is not lost. For all his aggressive bravado and ruthless self-preservation skills, especially with a flick knife, 14-year-old Blade can spare a care for his fellow men and can be tender. He also enjoys reading Wind in the Willows and Treasure Island and quotes Nietzsche! Can’t be all bad.

This is a fast read with a plot that bowls along, full of suspense. The reader is artfully included into the narrative; in his fascinating street slang our anti-hero calls us Bigeyes and makes us a participant in the cat and mouse game he is caught up in. Read it before deciding to recommend it. It could be a very apt starter for a discussion of the current wave of teen violence blazoned through the press.