29 Locks

Product Information

An adventure with Zoe leads to them following the waterways from Hartfordshire to London so Zoe can live out her dream, and Donny can see his Mum again when she's released from prison. I missed him when I finished reading 29 Locks, and I think that’s the best compliment I can pay a character! This is a gritty, harsh story of someone's life who hasn't had it easy and hasn't had the chances a lot of people have in their lives. The story that unfolds brings in elements of our society that are hard to imagine for most people but the reality is they cut across, through and under our lives.

The story itself is great – there are moments of sadness and tragedy, but there is also an adventure, and one that is both unusual and very funny. It all feels very original – I don’t think I have come across a YA novel that I could compare 29 Locks to, it’s so much Donny’s individual story.The different sections of Donny’s life keep the book fast-paced and attention-grabbing, while allowing for small moments of reflection which add depth and tenderness to the story. Donny's inner strength is one to be admired and whilst you nay want to scream at the pages, you will also cheer him on. Locks is suitable for students over 13 years of age and provides a nuanced route to discussing issues such as poverty, drugs, knife crime and racism.

Growing up in dire poverty in Hackney, East London, his life is shaped by casual violence, gang initiation, drug-dealing and knife crime. I was rooting for Donny from the off, and the unwavering love he had for his mother despite the crappy life she gave him, was heart warming. I am a child of a underprivileged family and could empathise with Donny on some levels and Nicola Garrard has excellently portrayed this in 29 Locks. The main character starts his journey in London and is involved in a gang so you really get to care about him and what he's going through in his life. I loved the scenes of Donny and Zoe escaping down the canal – it was especially engaging for me, as I lived in Hertfordshire briefly, and I can picture that stretch of the canal so vividly.Locks does not shy away from the realities of growing up in poverty, and it is an eye-opening read, but most of all, it is a tender, fully-realised portrait of a wonderful character that everyone needs to meet. Donny is an inspirational hero who seeks justice in the face of overwhelming obstacles – it’s impossible not to fall in love with him! Donny is a great narrator – his voice feels so fresh and real and engaging that I refuse to believe he does not exist in real life. Donny's fate as I say, seems sealed and he's to be either an addict or responsible for others no matter what he does.