Live (PRE-ORDER)
£9.99
By Luke Palmer | Cover to come by Anne Glenn
Publishing 5th June 2025 | ISBN 9781915444967
Year Twelve pupil George is passionate about his band and his music, even if the three other band members are a little more laid back about it. They play for all their friends parties, and just might, he hopes, hit the big time. But they have surprise competition from new girl Beth and shy fellow-pupil Taidgh. Then disaster strikes. Dealing with loss and grief the whole year group must work out how to rebuild their futures and who their true friends are. Comes with complete song lyrics and accompanying playlist!
Third book by Carnegie-longlisted and Branford Boase shortlisted poet and novelist Luke Palmer.
Praise for the book
Praise for Play:
•‘What an astonishing book. It’s profound, poetic, funny, heartbreaking and above all, real – every line, from the lyrical to the punchy, and every character rings with truth. Luke Palmer is up there with Melvyn Burgess, Patrick Ness and Anthony McGowan at showing us the joys, complications and fears of being a boy.’ Jo Nadin
• ‘Boys will be boys but will strive to become so much more in Luke Palmer’s wonderfully astute and truthful story. It’s the best book of young male friendship I’ve read in years. Gut-wrenching and glorious.’ Keith Gray
• ‘With a backdrop of toxic parents and the loss of innocence, Play shows how terrifyingly easy it is to fall from the tracks. I wanted to reach into the book and save these boys, but could only sit back and watch the horror unfold’ Lisa Heathfield
Praise for Grow:
• ‘As Melvin Burgess’s Junk was to the dangers of drugs, this cautionary young adult novel is to the threat of radicalisation.’ Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times, Children’s Book of the Week
• ‘This unsettling yet compelling debut deserves a place on many bookshelves.’ Claire Hennessy, The Irish Times
