The Edge

We ve got to go. Now. It s early morning and Danny s mother is at his bedside, urging him to get up. They re on the run from Chris, his mother s boyfriend, a violent man who beats them both up, and won t let them go.

Chris pursues Danny and his mother from London to the north, where they take refuge with Danny s grandparents. But even there, nothing is safe. Danny is conspicuous as the only mixed-race boy in their small community, and with the ever-present threat of discovery, he has to learn how to live continually on the edge.

A tense and chilling story to which the chase gives terrific drama, THE EDGE shows the depth of character, and the understanding of the predicaments of children today, that gives Alan Gibbons his special quality.

Short-listed for Booktrust Teenage Prize 2003
Short-listed for Carnegie Medal 2003
Short-listed for LA Carnegie Medal 2003

“"This is a fast and compelling 'must read' that is disturbing in ways that is bound to make teenagers confront important issues like racism and endemic violence. I can't recommend it highly enough."”

Books for Keeps "...a brilliant thriller for 11 to 16 year olds. ...Indeed it is as if he takes such potential cliches and wrings them dry of easy answers before putting pen to paper... Gibbons' confident use of punchy snapshots focusing on each character's movements and preoccupations makes gripping reading. He is committed to writing books boys will read - and here he gives them something in which to sink their emotional, intellectual and creative teeth." -- Lindsey Fraser Sunday Herald, 7 July 2002 "[Alan Gibbons'] latest book, a tense piece of social realism, is his best yet. The writing grabs you from the first page and entwines you into the lives of the characters." The Herald "The characters are brilliantly drawn, particularly Chris; his self-righteousness, so closely linked with the urge to lash out, is chilling." Mail on Sunday "...an excellent, challenging, rough-tough read" -- Michael Rosen Socialist Review, September 2002 "a very well-written, hard-hitting novel told from many different viewpoints which give a well rounded picture and add excitement to the reader's involvement. It is well paced to a breathtaking climax. An excellent read." Primary Times, September 2002 'A prolific writer with a strong sense of social justice, Alan Gibbons is pacey and thorough. The Edge demonstrates skills honed throughout his career and shows a writer in a confident and committed mode...A brilliantly convincing thriller devoid of flabby cliches or stereotype.' -- Lindsey Fraser The Guardian, 24 September 2002 "...a tense and deepling story that encompasses racism and manipulative violence." Books for Keeps "...a fast moving, tense, emotional story which is a real page turner." Carousel, Autumn/Winter 2002 "My friend gave me this book for my birthday and I couldn't put it down...Each chapter is told by a different character so it really builds up the tension. It had me right on the edge of my seat!" -- Tammy from Bude (reader review) Mizz, 13 November 2002 "The story is fast paced and holds the readers attention...Many readers will be quickly drawn into the story and be absorbed by its pace and excitement" School Librarian, Autumn 2002 "Gibbons is passionate about making literature accessible to young people of all backgrounds and abilities. The Edge is a nail-biting thriller...touching and real and powerfully memorable. Alan Gibbons uses short, mini-chapters to tell his story and the effect is electric." -- Lindsey Fraser Booktrusted News (Booktrust), Winter 2002 "This book is brilliant with an excellently thought out plot, characterisation and a progressing storyline...This book certainly tingles and lingers" -- Oliver Daniels (Year 7), Somerset Books for Keeps

Alan Gibbons is a full-time writer and a visiting speaker and lecturer at schools, colleges and literary events nationwide, including the major book festivals. He lives in Liverpool with his wife and has four grown up children. He travels globally and is known the length and breadth of the country for his high profile Campaign for the Book and school visits.

Visit his website at , read his blog at , follow him on Twitter at , Facebook at gibbons.35 and Flickr at @N08.

Danny is a boy on the edge. A boy teetering on the brink of no return, living in fear.Cathy is his mother. She's been broken by fear.Chris Kane is fear - and they belong to him.But one day they escape. They're looking for freedom, for a promised land where they can start really living. Instead they find prejudice, and danger of another kind. Uncompromising and disturbing, Alan Gibbons' novel positively crackles with tension as he writes about a mother and her son desperate to start a new life.Winner of the Angus Book Award 2004 and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal."a brilliant thriller . . . No film or televising could compete with the immediacy of this intense plotting." Lindsey Fraser, Sunday Herald

"We've got to go. Now." It's early morning and Danny's mother is at his bedside, urging him to get up. They're on the run--from Chris, his mother's boyfriend, a violent man who beats them both up and won't let them go. Chris pursues Danny and his mother from London to the north, where they take refuge with Danny's grandparents. But even there, nothing is safe. Danny is conspicuous as the only mixed-race boy in their small community, and with the ever-present threat of discovery, he has to learn how to live continuously on the edge. A tense and thrilling story to which the chase gives terrific drama, this novel shows depth of character and understanding of the predicaments of children today.

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