Pike

This story is an object lesson in the art of compression. In only 128 pages it touches on natural history, sibling relationships, living with mental disability, split families, fear of outsiders, dealing with bullies and coping with guilt. There is also an exciting adventure quest which stays credible by eschewing any silly improbabilities. The pair of brothers in the thick of all this describe themselves so well in their dialogue there is no need to add anything else. Best of all, the ‘dyslexia friendly’ vocabulary employed, as always in Barrington Stoke books, is embodied  in good, clear prose which is a model for any sort of writing for young readers. One or two descriptions of imaginary violence feel out of place in such an otherwise warm and affectionate story. It also seems a bit hard on pikes for Nicky, who tells this story, to describe them as ‘evil’ when all they are doing is angling for their next meal. Anthony McGowan’s Brock, his last story about these two brothers, was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal. This one deserves to be too. NT