Review
'...a top novel...' --Paddington and Westminster Times, March 2010
'...a flare of teenage realism mixed with slang, palpable dialogue and interesting characters...' and 'Everyone will be able to relate to some aspect of the flawed personalities.' --Hot Gossip, Hot Reviews, February 2010
'...a compelling dialogue and impressive depth of character development...a slightly surreal rites-of-passage...I particularly enjoyed the boys' relationships with the girls, which felt suitably confused and hormonal.'
--H. Davis, Freelance Script Reader, October 2010
'Wow! What a read! This is a superb book with everything thrown into the melting pot! Romance, drugs, crime, teenage angst and social commentary are cleverly interwoven to produce a superb book. The reader will want to read it in one sitting.' -- Self Publishing Magazine, July 2011
'...a flare of teenage realism mixed with slang, palpable dialogue and interesting characters...' and 'Everyone will be able to relate to some aspect of the flawed personalities.' --Hot Gossip, Hot Reviews, February 2010
'...a compelling dialogue and impressive depth of character development...a slightly surreal rites-of-passage...I particularly enjoyed the boys' relationships with the girls, which felt suitably confused and hormonal.'
--H. Davis, Freelance Script Reader, October 2010
'Wow! What a read! This is a superb book with everything thrown into the melting pot! Romance, drugs, crime, teenage angst and social commentary are cleverly interwoven to produce a superb book. The reader will want to read it in one sitting.' -- Self Publishing Magazine, July 2011
Product Description
From the moment Ben Chapman – aka ‘Hoodie’ to the other Shady Boys – crashes out of school, determined never to return and, incidentally, seeking his revenge on the school’s drug dealer by stealing and concealing his stash in his trousers on the way out, you know that this is a boy to whom caution and reticence are alien concepts. Outwardly, he maintains that all he wants is to find a job, earn his own money and follow the tug of his heart towards the seemingly unattainable girl of his dreams, Isabelle.
But, underneath that concealing hoodie, Ben has a rich inner life, fed by dope, wine and the inner belief that he is someone special. During his ‘summer of love’, we follow his attempts to engage with the real world with frustration and compassion. Along the way he meets his previously unknown father in the most unexpected circumstances and discovers that there is more to his best friend’s loyalty than he ever suspected. His experiences of job-hunting will resonate with anyone who has gone down that road. He discovers that sex can be ugly and exploitative, and that maybe what he is really looking for is closer than he thinks.
His emotional roller-coaster ride through summer causes him to question today’s competitive, consumer-based values, eventually challenging his perception of reality and prompting him to reflect upon who and what his purpose in life is before finding himself faced with the definitive test of resolve and bravery.
Hoodie’s blend of up-to-date realism, dream-like escapism, fast-paced, hard-hitting action, wistful musings, humour and tragedy, all while the story navigates its way on a magical mystery tour of Ben’s mind, ensures an enjoyable read.
On a deeper level, there is a moral/spiritual sub-text, fed by Ben’s belief that he has a secret weapon; the simian lines on the palms of his hands. These describe the fusion of the head and heart lines, where only a single line cuts across the palm. They are extremely rare and noted as being a genetic abnormality shared by drug addicts, mass murderers, scientific researchers and religious fanatics (and, by sheer coincidence, Tony Blair). After a meeting with a former schoolmate’s mother, Ben becomes aware of the auras of those around him, boosting his confidence in his own supernatural powers. Could these lines hold the key to Ben’s future?
Hoodie provides the perfect antidote to alarmist reporting of youth issues, exploring the problems facing modern day Britain from the perspective of a disempowered, disaffected teenager.
But, underneath that concealing hoodie, Ben has a rich inner life, fed by dope, wine and the inner belief that he is someone special. During his ‘summer of love’, we follow his attempts to engage with the real world with frustration and compassion. Along the way he meets his previously unknown father in the most unexpected circumstances and discovers that there is more to his best friend’s loyalty than he ever suspected. His experiences of job-hunting will resonate with anyone who has gone down that road. He discovers that sex can be ugly and exploitative, and that maybe what he is really looking for is closer than he thinks.
His emotional roller-coaster ride through summer causes him to question today’s competitive, consumer-based values, eventually challenging his perception of reality and prompting him to reflect upon who and what his purpose in life is before finding himself faced with the definitive test of resolve and bravery.
Hoodie’s blend of up-to-date realism, dream-like escapism, fast-paced, hard-hitting action, wistful musings, humour and tragedy, all while the story navigates its way on a magical mystery tour of Ben’s mind, ensures an enjoyable read.
On a deeper level, there is a moral/spiritual sub-text, fed by Ben’s belief that he has a secret weapon; the simian lines on the palms of his hands. These describe the fusion of the head and heart lines, where only a single line cuts across the palm. They are extremely rare and noted as being a genetic abnormality shared by drug addicts, mass murderers, scientific researchers and religious fanatics (and, by sheer coincidence, Tony Blair). After a meeting with a former schoolmate’s mother, Ben becomes aware of the auras of those around him, boosting his confidence in his own supernatural powers. Could these lines hold the key to Ben’s future?
Hoodie provides the perfect antidote to alarmist reporting of youth issues, exploring the problems facing modern day Britain from the perspective of a disempowered, disaffected teenager.
