"McGowan writes in prose as spare and effective as that of Barry Hines … there’s an extraordinary depth and elegance to this story. An outstanding novel" – LoveReading4Kids

"A gut-wrenching tale of crime and punishment makes [Pike] compelling reading" – New Statesman

"Dazzlingly true to life, a succinct yet satisfying read" – INIS

"McGowan … manages to transform a relatively simple storyline into a gripping tale with a fresh outlook and edgy twist" – Reading Zone

"This story is an object lesson in the art of compression. In only 128 pages it touches on natural history, sibling relationships, living with mental disability, split families, fear of outsiders, dealing with bullies and coping with guilt" – Books For Keeps

NEW edition | From the Carnegie Medal-winning author of Lark (Dyslexia-friendly)