Rose, Interrupted

Description

Praise for Patrice Lawrence, the award-winning author of ORANGEBOY: 'Knuckle-in-the-mouth stuff... It's impossible not to gulp down this wonderful, intense story in one mouthful.' The Times on ORANGEBOY 'A vibrant, accomplished storyteller' The Observer 'A truly brilliant book' Malorie Blackman on ORANGEBOY Being a teenager is hard enough, but it's even harder in a world you've never known ... Eighteen months ago, 17-year-old Rose and 13-year-old Rudder escaped a strict religious sect with their mum. They are still trying to make sense of the world outside - no more rules about clothes and books, films and music, no more technology bans. But also no more friendship with the people they've known all their lives, no community and no certainty. It doesn't help that their mum has to work all hours to pay rent on their cramped, smelly, one-bed flat above a kebab shop in Hackney. While Rudder gorges on once-taboo Harry Potters and dances to Simon and Garfunkel and show tunes, Rose swaps the ankle skirts and uncut hair of the Woodford Pilgrims for Japanese-cute fairy dress and her new boyfriend, Kye. Kye, who she wants with all her being. But there's loads of scary stuff about their new life that Rose and Rudder have no idea how to handle - it's normal for girls to let their boyfriends take naked pictures of them, right? When Rudder accidently sets a devastating chain of events into action, Rose must decide whether to sacrifice everything and go back to the life she hates, in order to save the people she loves. A story about coming of age, slap-bang in the middle of a strange new world.

Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton and brought up in an Italian-Trinidadian household in Mid Sussex. This meant great holidays and even better food. Her first novel, Orangeboy, won the Waterstones Book Prize for Older Readers and the Bookseller YA Book Prize. Her second novel, Indigo Donut, and her fourth novel, Eight Pieces of Silva won the Crimefest Award for young adults. Eight Pieces of Silva was also awarded the inaugural Jhalak Prize for children and young people and the Woman & Home Bookclub Teen Drama of the Year. Patrice's ideal mixtape includes drum 'n' bass, Bruce Springsteen and Studio Ghibli soundtracks. Music can't help creeping into her books.

This powerful urban story will challenge preconceptions and melt the hardest heart. - The Sun on Orangeboy A truly brilliant book. I galloped through it. Spoiler alert! The car incident and standoff at the end... edge of the seat stuff! - Malorie Blackman on Orangeboy A contemporary urban thriller with a powerful family drama at its heart - The Bookseller on Orangeboy ...another brilliant story that will suck you in and leave you looking at the world through different eyes. Lawrence deserves all the awards that were heaped on Orangeboy, and her latest book is every bit as good. - Crime Review on Indigo Donut A passionate love story with mystery at its core. CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK. - Sunday Times on Indigo Donut A tender and complex story of first love, family and belonging... Lawrence is a vibrant, accomplished storyteller... but what really sets her writing apart is her skill in getting to the raw heart of her characters. YA BOOK OF THE WEEK. - The Observer on Indigo Donut Enthralling, resonant, unusual and thought-provoking - The Guardian Lawrence is a fine writer - The Times