Nick's Blues

Adults come out of this tale quite well. The teen protagonists are not so accommodating and all seem well on their way to ASBOs. That is, except Nick. He is confused about his singer father’s suicide nine years ago and is desperately trying to keep on a strife-free route through the destructive, socially deprived urban jungle in which he lives. That is the true villain of the novel.

There is nothing condescending about the writing in this book and the way Harvey handles the issues. The language has its raw edges and the action its nastier aspects but Nick and his closest friends win our unbiased sympathy as they try to make sense of their present and future. Well worth recommending to teen boys who’ll handle the slight romantic inclusion easily.