Skinny B, Skaz and Me

Lee’s life is big on stress. His mother nags, but then she’s worried about the failing health of his little sister and his dad goes in for hollow rages. Whilst at school, besides not getting the attention of his beloved Ali, Lee is seen as a bit of a dork, a nice, sensitive boy from the posh road on the edge of the notorious estate. No wonder he indulges in a rich fantasy life, antidote to the real, scam-ridden, grasping world of Aunty, Sheister Skaz and Hoodz 5.

The language of this novel is happening and street cred rich. We can identify readily with Lee’s plight and hopefully deplore that there are neighbourhoods out there in GB 2005 where our youngsters are merely ‘keeping one scam ahead of the rest’ for their very survival.