Bursting with energy and heart, young readers will adore this empowering novel told in verse. A raw and relevant exploration of creativity, talent and what it means to be human.
Wild East is a soaring tale of empowerment, friendship and self-acceptance told in verse. Engaging, accessible and utterly compelling, it marks Ashley Hickson-Lovence as a vital voice in YA fiction.
When tragedy strikes, fourteen-year-old Ronny’s life is upended and he’s forced to move from East London to a new city. As a black teenager in a predominantly white school, Ronny feels like he doesn’t belong but when a poet visits his class, he discovers poetry isn’t so different from his beloved rap. As his writing flourishes, Ronny wonders if the collision of his two worlds might be the key to achieving his wildest dreams.
The reader falls into step with our hero as he navigates the familiar steady thrum of London, the sharp staccato of his new home, and the gentler cadences of Arvon’s hallowed halls, where Ronny discovers just what he’s made of.
His interior journey from a place of anxiety and fear to one of confidence and self-expression feels as authentic as it does inspiring, and Lovence boldly carves into misconceptions about youth, race, class and culture. The reader is drawn to the eye of the storm and remains there, enraptured by a reading experience that is gloriously raw and frighteningly relevant.
Bursting with energy and heart, Wild East is a celebration of rhyme, rap, and resilience, perfect for readers of Manjeet Mann, Jason Reynolds and Dean Atta.
Put a knife to hate And let music stir Words are powerful, bewitching and beguiling Unlived dreams And future players All have a chance In Norwich, a nice place.
Ronny lives in East London, the dangerous part. When his best friend dies from being stabbed, his mum has had enough, so takes him to a new life in Norwich. Here he has to start a new school and try not to stand out too much, even though he dreams of being a rapper. Having never read a book written in verse, this was a new experience for me, and I have to say, I wasn't sure at first. However, Ronnie is such a great character: his feelings and thoughts are laid out naked on the page and are very realistic for someone of that age. The story follows his life through the course of the first year in his new school and I was really inspired by hearing it. His teachers spot his talent and build his confidence in his writing. He's given special opportunities to succeed. Which may sound a little rose-tinted, but you hope this is what most schools are able to do.