The Scholar: A West-Side Story

(Paperback)

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Description

When his dad dies under police arrest after a pub brawl, Cory goes to live with his cousin, Sean. By their late teens the cousins, though close, have chosen different paths. Sean is trying to improve his life through education, whereas Cory has already become involved in petty crime - burglary and dealing E. However, everything changes when Cory stabs a man called Roger after a rave, putting him in hospital. This has grave repercussions for Cory - Roger was supposed to be taking part in an armed robbery with Levi, a notorious crack dealer. Levi now expects Cory to take his place. But Cory breaks his leg during a football match and Sean, unable to find a replacement for his cousin, and desperate to help him, agrees to join in on the robbery himself. However, having entered a world of (apparently) easy money and hard drugs, Sean finds it increasingly hard to return to his previous life as The Scholar......

Reviews

'Vividly rendered...Strong characterisation and richly authentic dialogue' TIME OUT 'A glimpse into an urban nightmare where violence is casual, drugs are the norm...a freshness in the details and in the dialogue - frighteningly believable.' THE INDEPENDENT 'Real tension and suspense... an abosorbing debut from a writer who clearly has important things to say.' OBSERVER 'A powerfully written debut novel.' WALES ON SUNDAY 'Sharp and fiesty, this west side story is dripping with real suspense.' IRELAND THE EXAMINER 'the characterisation and convincing sense of place give the story a confident air of plausibility... A distinctive and unsentimental perspective.' THE TIMES 'A debut novel that marks a major new talent- an authentic voice of Afro-Carribean experience on a West London housing estate.' BOOKS MAGAZINE 'Newland has produced a pot boiler of sorts, with a story line pacy enough to keep the reader interested... An entertaining and pertinent read.' PRIDE MAGAZINE 'full of street-smart wisdom and an ingenious narrative drive.' ARENA

Author Bio

Courttia Newland is twenty-five and has contributed to various anthologies including DISCO 2000, NEW WRITERS 8, AFROBEAT and TEENAGE KICKS. This is his first novel.