Orangeboy

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What to expect

'A truly brilliant book. I galloped through it... edge of the seat stuff!' Malorie Blackman

'Pitch-perfect teen voices and a bruising, thrilling pace.' Metro

'Direct and punchy.' The Guardian

'A contemporary urban thriller with a powerful family drama at its heart.' The Bookseller

"What a book! Such a gripping, gritty storyline, with such wonderful, believable characters. Loved it." (Tanya Landman, author of Buffalo Soldier)

Not cool enough, not clever enough, not street enough for anyone to notice me. I was the kid people looked straight through.

NOT ANY MORE. NOT SINCE MR ORANGE.

Sixteen-year-old Marlon has made his mum a promise - he'll never follow his big brother, Andre, down the wrong path. So far, it's been easy, but when a date ends in tragedy, Marlon finds himself hunted. They're after the mysterious Mr Orange, and they're going to use Marlon to get to him. Marlon's out of choices - can he become the person he never wanted to be, to protect everyone he loves?

(P) 2017 Hodder Children's Books

Critics Review

Promoted as a gritty coming-of-age drama urban thriller with a powerful message and an irresistable central character
The Voice
A contemporary urban thriller with a powerful family drama at its heart
The Bookseller
I liked the lack of judgement the author made and the fact this is ultimately an action packed story with a strong male protagonist
Bibliomaniac
Keeps the reader enthralled and wanting more
Nudge.com
One of those books I wish had been written when I was a teenager...simply brilliant
Medieval Jenga
What a book! Such a gripping, gritty storyline, with such wonderful, believable characters. Loved it
Tanya Landman, author
'I absolutely adored this story...it's a truthful and powerful story that is much needed in the UK YA scene
Charlie in a Book
Pacey crime thriller that feels unique, realistic and truthful
Book Trust
A gripping debut about gang culture and the consequences of making bad decisions
The Guardian
It is direct and punchy
The Guardian
The book travels at speed to a climax that is both sudden and shocking. This story of family ties, gang culture and the dangers of drugs is without a doubt one of the finest YA debuts I've read and Marlon Sunday is a character that you won't forget in a hurry.
The Crime Review
This powerful coming-of-age drama -- both violent and sensitive -- keeps the reader on the edge of their seat
Optima Magazine
Readers with strong stomachs can expect to be entirely hooked into a story that is well written, pacy and within its own terms horribly convincing
Books For Keeps
Patrice Lawrence's Orangeboy - an exploration of gang culture centred around Marlon, who follows in his older brother's footsteps when an innocent date ends in tragedy - won the 2017 YA book Prize.
Independent
Orange Boy is a page turner. It gripped my heart from page one and didn't let go.

Marlon goes on a date with the hottest girl in school and his world begins to tip. And it doesn't stop until everything in his life is upside down.
Faced with almost impossible choices, Marlon has to grow up fast and work out exactly who he is at the same time as working out how to survive.

This is a book that explores the meaning of family, friendship and loyalty. And it does so with intelligence and sensitivity.

It's fast, clever, often funny and always truthful. Patrice Lawrence is a writer to watch.
Jenny Downham, author of 'Before I Die'
What a book! Such a gripping, gritty storyline, with such wonderful, believable characters. Loved it.
Tanya Landman, author of 'Buffalo Soldier'

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