Stay a Little Longer

Barrington Stoke have long been producing excellent books for young people who find reading challenging. Stay A Little Longer punches way above its 104 page weight, delivering a story which never patronises, has an authentic teenage voice and tackles difficult issues head on.

Aman’s father’s death has hit her hard but she and her mother Jeet are close and trying to support each other through their grief, with the help of Aman’s best friend Lola and Olivia, her grandmother. When Aman is bullied by two local Asian boys Gurnam, a neighbour, comes to her rescue. He quickly becomes part of the family-generous, warm, kind.

However, he has problems of his own which lead him to the brink of suicide. He is gay, but he is also a Sikh, a Sikh who has left his wife, daughters and grandchildren. Aman, terrified of losing the man she regards as a grandfather, manages to prevent him taking his own life.

The story is fast-paced and affecting, exploring a range of sensitive and contemporary issues. Rai creates characters exceptionally well-contrasting, for example, Aman’s mother’s compassion with the hard-heartedness of all but one of Gurnam’s family. Community and family are at the heart of this thoroughly satisfying read.