Wild East

Opening with the visceral imagery of ‘A glance as sharp as a shard of broken glass’ this heart-felt contemporary verse novel is a cautionary tale about the dangers facing young people who find themselves ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ or indoctrinated into a life of crime. It’s also a love letter to poetry and rap lyrics. Celebrating diversity and identity, its verses are influenced by the creativity of Dean Atta, Manjeet Mann and South African writer Katherine Kilalea. Hickson-Lovence uses his personal experiences as the backbone of his narrative. As a young black boy living in Hackney, he encountered fear, prejudice and violence. Compelled to move to a smaller city, his life changed. Later, his time spent teaching refugees at residentials inspired him to portray their plight.

Readers are able to listen to a relevant curated Spotify playlist, accessed by a QR code on the accompanying bookmark with the novel. It adds energy, rhythm and raw emotion to the free verse which uses bold type for emphasis.

Structured in the form of a monthly diary, the book follows Ronny’s fortunes over the course of a year as he heads to East Anglia where he discovers a talent for creative writing.

Obsessed by ‘the rhythm and beat, the lyrics and the delivery’ of rap music, Ronny is haunted by previous events which he buries by listening to Frankie Stew and Harvey Gun’s ‘Plants Don’t Grow’.  He meets non-binary Leigh who joyfully expresses their true self, the troubled and disruptive Malachi whose volatility is captured in the words ‘spiky energy and jagged lines’, kindred spirit Lana and traumatised Maher.

Wild East is a coming-of-age story with multiple themes encompassing racism, micro aggressions, drugs, football and gang violence, homelessness, mistaken identity, the poverty trap, first love and the power of music. Ashley’s training as a teacher is evident in his exploration of the freedom of sensory writing.

Poems like Black Is a Clenched Fist reverse racial stereotypes while Strange Feeling explores the joy of connecting with someone. At its heart the book is about listening to other people’s stories, believing in yourself, expressing your individuality, showing fortitude and following your dreams. Wild East’s mantra is ‘When life’s off track, put pen to paper and find your way back.’ It encourages interactivity offering a reading list at the back including D.D Armstrong’s Ugly Dogs Don’t Cry, which is a modern take on Steinbeck’s iconic classic, Of Mice and Men. Suffused with the author’s literary and musical tastes, Wild East empowers young adults to discover their own voices and to enjoy their creative abilities.

Trigger warnings- Alcohol, Violence, Drugs, Knife Crime, County Lines

Accompanying Play List with Explicit Content Warning