Concentr8 - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1408866242 ISBN 13: 9781408866245

Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books

Synopsis

In a future London, Concentr8 is a prescription drug intended to help kids with ADD. Soon every troubled teen is on it. It makes sense, doesn't it? Keep the undesirable elements in line. Keep people like us safe from people like them. What's good for society is good for everyone. Troy, Femi, Lee, Karen and Blaze have been taking Concentr8 as long as they can remember. They're not exactly a gang, but Blaze is their leader, and Troy has always been his quiet, watchful sidekick - the only one Blaze really trusts. They're not looking for trouble, but one hot summer day, when riots break out across the city, they find it. What makes five kids pick a man seemingly at random - a nobody, he works in the housing department, doesn't even have a good phone - hold a knife to his side, take him to a warehouse and chain him to a radiator? They've got a hostage, but don't really know what they want, or why they've done it. And across the course of five tense days, with a journalist, a floppy-haired mayor, a police negotiator, and the sinister face of the pharmaceutical industry, they - and we - begin to understand why ...This is a book about what how we label children. It's about how kids get lost and failed by the system. It's about how politicians manipulate them. Gripping and controversial reading for fans of Malorie Blackman and Patrick Ness.

About this title

About the Author

William Sutcliffe was born in London in 1971. He is the author of the international bestseller Are You Experienced?; The Love Hexagon; New Boy; Bad Influence, Whatever Makes You Happy and, most recently, The Wall. His work has been translated into more than twenty languages. He lives in Edinburgh.

Review

"The conclusions to be drawn about the state of the mental health of children, and adults who are medicating “problem” children, will be food for thought among savvy teens. Recommended." - School Library Connection

"Narration moves from teen to teen, and each distinctive voice creates nuance with a mixture of hard-luck histories, dead-end futures, and resignation about the present . . . the story itself never preaches, and the real-life connection will likely strike a chord with fans of Young’s The Program." - BCCB

"Thought-provoking and rife with book-discussion fodder, this should be paired with other near-future books that ask “what if?” like those by Cory Doctorow." - Booklist

"Sutcliffe (The Wall) blends scathing political commentary with Jonathan Swift's sarcasm and Lord of the Flies–esque anarchy . . . With a writing style that is both entertaining and stark, Sutcliffe uses broad, vivid strokes to highlight societal injustice while filling in details that focus on the interconnectedness of friendship and the dangers of unquestioningly following a single leader." - Publishers Weekly

"[A] deeply moving tale. . . . Through brilliant pacing and a relatable protagonist, Sutcliffe sensitively portrays the brutal realities of military occupation." - School Library Journal on THE WALL

"This is wholly realistic fiction detailing a boy's coming-of-age in a real-life political situation." - Kirkus Reviews on THE WALL

"A riveting story." - Publishers Weekly on THE WALL

"Will draw in young readers preoccupied with society, challenging parents, and their own fears . . . . An often suspenseful tale." - New York Times Book Review of THE WALL

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
• ISBN 10: 1408866242
• ISBN 13: 9781408866245
• Binding: Paperback