Anything by Alex Wheatle is brilliant and this made me laugh and hold my breath - the licked bit series is just perfect

I enjoyed this book and feel it’s written in a way that would mean some of my older more reluctant readers would enjoy it, but it does contain some swearing which makes it unsuitable for my primary kids. The story is good. It has a realism that I see in some of the children I’ve met; the anxiety but also the acceptance of the world of area wars. Jonah’s family are struggling for money and this is causing problems between his mum and dad. When the local gang leader sets him on a quest to find some, Jonah works with his friends to try and solve the puzzle. It takes them from South Crong to North Crong and into dangerous territory. But is the money worth the risk?

A return to Crongton and another great story from Alex Wheatle. Gritty, realistic and fast paced, the main themes are friendship, family troubles and aspirations . Alex’s books paint a clear picture of the difficulties faced by kids growing up on tough estates but there’s always humour and camaraderie too , and relatable, likeable characters.