Anthony McGowan

Carnegie Medal winning author Anthony McGowan weaves a bleakly poetic tale about one boy’s determination to save a badger cub from the destructive hands of a local gang. Life’s not easy for Nicky. His mum’s gone, his dad’s on bail and his brother Kenny needs looking after all the time. When Kenny drags Nicky out of bed one dark morning, Nicky has no idea that he is about to witness a terrible act of destruction and the senseless killing of an innocent animal. But Nicky manages to save something precious from the disaster, and his and Kenny’s lives are changed for ever … Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.

The first book in the powerful, authentic young adult book series Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths), expertly designed to engage reluctant readers and provide an accessible reading experience for all. Life's not easy for Nicky. His mother is gone, his dad's out on bail, and his older brother, Kenny, needs looking after like a little kid. When Kenny drags Nicky out of bed one dark morning, Nicky has no idea that he is about to witness a terrible act of destruction, and the senseless killing of an innocent animal. But Nicky manages to save something precious from the disaster, and his and Kenny's lives are changed forever . . . Perfect for anyone seeking gritty, realistic books for teen boys, the Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths) hi-lo book series presents accessible coming-of-age tales in an easy-to-read style. Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books utilize dyslexia reading tools like specialized fonts and paper tones, and are carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

Hector Brunty, has a dilemma: a talking brain tumour. Henry Tumour advises Hector on haircuts, high-fashion, and tactics for snogging the best-looking girl in school, Uma Upshaw. Can Hector overpower his tumour in order to get what he really wants ... before they both go under the knife?

A delightfully witty and tender-hearted Christmas story like no other, featuring a unique author and illustrator collaboration. Jo-Jo is convinced that Christmas is cancelled – and it's all his fault. To make amends, he decides he must become Father Christmas. An old coat of his mum's, a sack of outgrown toys and a sudden snowfall are all he needs – along with a little help from some very Christmassy magic. Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Mog's friendship with his best friend, the charismatic Chris, is everything. It protects him from the relentless group of bullies at school and even gives him a certain amount of clout among their friends who are all outsiders in their own way. Then Chris befriends loner Duffy who is a walking target for the worst sort of bullying. Suddenly Mog feels threatened and makes a move-a simple act that reverberates among the friends and changes everything.

Life can be tough when you’re a bird, and is especially tough for Herman, Beaky and Pidge. But when the cantankerous crow, young jackdaw and flighty pigeon band together as an unlikely flock, they set off for a place where they are promised shelter and food aplenty. As they set out into the wild, the trio find themselves facing a series of threats both human and animal. Will the three birds survive to make it to their final destination? And if they do, will it be everything they are hoping for?

Jealousy drives Mog to make a terrible mistake in this tragic and gritty tale of betrayal, sparsely and finely told by a master of teen storytelling. Mog might be a loser, but he’s not as much of a loser as Duffy, poster child for victims everywhere. So he's not best pleased when Duffy tries to get in with his best mate. Mog decides to take action, but when he lands Duffy in the beck, a rancid stream behind the school, he has no idea how far the ripples will spread … Particularly suitable for readers aged 13+ with a reading age of 7. Please note that this book contains mature content (with themes of violence and bullying) and language that some may find offensive.

Nature’s fury tests a brother’s courage and a dog’s loyalty in this Carnegie Medal winning ending to the story of the beloved brothers of the Truth of Things series. WINNER OF THE 2020 CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL Things are tense at home for Nicky and Kenny. Their mum's coming to visit and it will be the first time they've seen her in years. A lot has changed since they were little and Nicky's not so sure he's ready to see her again. When they head for a trek across the moors to take their minds off everything, a series of unforeseen circumstances leaves the brothers in a vulnerable and very dangerous position. There might even be a chance that this time not everyone will make it home alive… Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.

In the shadow of a bully, a rescued rook becomes a symbol of hope in this poignant, Carnegie Medal shortlisted novella about growing up and family. Shortlisted for the 2018 Carnegie Medal. When Kenny and Nicky rescue a rook left for dead, Kenny is determined to keep it alive. Nicky doubts the scruffy bird will make it, but then Nicky has plenty else to worry about. This time, it’s not his dad or Kenny who need help – his dad’s sorting his life out and Kenny’s busy making plans with his new best mate. Now it’s Nicky’s turn to struggle – with a school bully, his first love and the fact that everything is about to go very, very wrong. Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.

Family bonds are tested when a fishing expedition nosedives into near tragedy in this second Truth of Things novella from Carnegie Medal winner Anthony McGowan. When Nicky spots a glint of gold down in the murky depths of Bacon Pond, he can't ignore it. It could mean money for his family, and money helps patch things up when you haven't got any. But sometimes it's better not to look too deep. Not when there are local gangsters involved and tough questions about your family's past. Nicky knows it's a bad idea to go back – it could ruin everything. But if he can't leave it alone, will the secrets of Bacon Pond drag them all down? Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.

From Carnegie Medal winning author Anthony McGowan comes an environmental tale packed full of his signature grit, heart and humour, as Kyle and his grandad execute a plan to save the local beck. Kyle is less than happy about getting dumped at his eccentric old grandad’s on a Saturday afternoon. Embarrassed by his grandad’s ratty old Elvis wig and his weird three-legged dog, Kyle thinks the day is going to be a nightmare until his grandad introduces him to the marvels in the beck at the bottom of his garden. Once filthy and full of rubbish, the stream has been cleaned up and is now home to some amazing creatures. But this magical world is under threat from a new development. Kyle’s grandad is determined to stop the builders and has an audacious plan to save the beck, but when he falls ill, will Kyle find the courage to carry it out by himself? Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.

The third book in the powerful, authentic young adult book series Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths), expertly designed to engage reluctant readers and provide an accessible reading experience for all. When Kenny and Nicky rescue a rook left for dead, Kenny is determined to keep it alive. Nicky doubts the scruffy bird will make it, but then Nicky has plenty else to worry about. This time, it's not his dad or Kenny who needs help - his dad's sorting his life out and Kenny's busy making plans with his new best friend. Now it's Nicky's turn to struggle--with a school bully, his first love, and the fact that everything is about to go very, very wrong. Perfect for anyone seeking gritty, realistic books for teen boys, the Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths) hi-lo book series presents accessible coming-of-age tales in an easy-to-read style. Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books utilize dyslexia reading tools like specialized fonts and paper tones, and are carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

The second book in the powerful, authentic young adult book series Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths), expertly designed to engage reluctant readers and provide an accessible reading experience for all. When Kenny and Nicky spot a glint of gold in the murky waters of Bacon Pond, they can't leave it alone. It means money, and money helps patch things up when you haven't got any. But sometimes it's better not to look too deep. Not when there are local gangsters involved, and tough questions about your own family's past. But Nicky can't help looking back. He knows it's a bad idea, and it could ruin everything. Can he save himself and his family, or will the secrets of the lake take them all down? Perfect for anyone seeking gritty, realistic books for teen boys, the Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths) hi-lo book series presents accessible coming-of-age tales in an easy-to-read style. Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books utilize dyslexia reading tools like specialized fonts and paper tones, and are carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

‘It broke my heart and then splinted it back together again... Magnificent.’ Hannah Gold, bestselling author of The Last Bear ‘A dog’s eye perspective that’s so vivid you can almost taste the earthworms.’ FT, YA Book of the Year ‘This visceral story of heartbreak and survival...has the memorable feel of a classic.’ Guardian, Best children’s and YA books of 2022 Chernobyl, 1986. Natasha’s world is coming to an end. Forced to evacuate her home in the middle of the night, she must leave her puppy behind and has no idea if she’ll ever return. Some time later, growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan have to learn how to live in the wild—and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, claws, and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods. And they’re watching the brothers’ every move… But will the dogs survive without humans? And can humans live without them?

'This book It broke my heart and then splinted it back together again. Full of hope and love and wildness... Imagine Watership Down meets The Animals of Farthing Wood but fiercer.' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear Chernobyl, 1986. Without humans, how will dogs survive? As humans fled the nuclear disaster, they were forced to leave their pets behind. Without people, nature began to return to the woods surrounding the power plant--lynx, bear, and wolves. But the overgrown forest is no place for dogs. Can Zoya, and her pups Misha and Luka, learn to survive in the deadlands? And will Zoya ever find her way home to her beloved owner? Praise for Anthony McGowan: 'McGowan's prose is beautiful in its brevity and devastating in its emotional impact.' Bookseller 'The Carnegie medal winner McGowan is superb at stories about children who do not have all the advantages.' The Sunday Times

Monty is a dog, not a financial genius, but economics still shapes his everyday life. Over the course of seventeen walks, Dr Rebecca Campbell chews over economic concepts and investigates how they apply to our lives – people and mutts alike. There are no graphs, no charts (Monty can’t read them) and definitely no calculus! How to Teach Economics to Your Dog tackles the knotty question of what economics actually is. Is it a mathematical science like physics? Or a moral and philosophical investigation of how societies should manage scarce resources? Along the way we meet some of the great thinkers from Adam Smith to Thomas Piketty, and ponder questions such as: What on earth does quantitative easing mean? And why are some countries so much richer than others?

'This book It broke my heart and then splinted it back together again. Full of hope and love and wildness... Imagine Watership Down meets The Animals of Farthing Wood but fiercer.' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear Chernobyl, 1986. Without humans, how will dogs survive? As humans fled the nuclear disaster, they were forced to leave their pets behind. Without people, nature began to return to the woods surrounding the power plant--lynx, bear, and wolves. But the overgrown forest is no place for dogs. Can Zoya, and her pups Misha and Luka, learn to survive in the deadlands? And will Zoya ever find her way home to her beloved owner? Praise for Anthony McGowan: 'McGowan's prose is beautiful in its brevity and devastating in its emotional impact.' Bookseller 'The Carnegie medal winner McGowan is superb at stories about children who do not have all the advantages.' The Sunday Times

Matthew is 14 and is struggling to fit in - something that's extra hard when you're taking care of your mum, being bullied at school, and have earned the nickname Stinky Mog because of your poor personal hygiene. On top of all that, he wants to catch the attention of one of the coolest girls in school, Ari. Ari doesn't walk: she floats, like mist on the water. And she's as sporty as she is cool. When Ari's brand new bike is stolen, Matthew spots his chance to make a good impression by getting it back for her... But will he just end up in even more trouble or is Matthew is about to learn that friendship and heroes can be found in unlikely places? This is a gritty yet touching story of one teenager's struggles with bullying and isolation, written by Carnegie Medal Winning author Anthony McGowan, and is perfect for less-confident readers.