Losing It [Paperback]

Top teenage authors tell a range of touching and thought provoking stories about both the real and the much-fantasised about moment of first sexual experiences. Funny, sad, crude, lyrical, Anne Fine, Patrick Ness, Bali Rai, Melvin Burgess, Jenny Valentine and Keith Gray himself are among the authors each of whose stories tell some of the picture of this all important moment.
-- Julia Eccleshare, Lovereading

'This book shows that teenage literature can play a useful role when it comes to imparting felt knowledge rather than surface knowingness.' --The Independent, Nick Tucker

The formidable combined talents exceed in investing their subject matter with stylistic and thematic variety; overall quite serious yet there delightfully humorous moments, too. Witty, poignant, and clever - the pain of youthful yearning is not often as succinctly conveyed.

Chosen as Book of the Week. --Books for Keeps

'An inspired collection of stories...'Losing it' has raw brutality, dark humour, poignancy and some startling writing from a stellar line up of authors. --The Bookseller, Jake Hope

'Short stories about virginity by some of our leading writers for teens. Disparate, thoughtful, sweet and funny - they add a great deal to the conversation about teen sex that we all have, most importantly the teens themselves.' --The Bookbag, Jill Murphy

'Funny, sad, crude, lyrical.' --LoveReading4Kids, Julia Eccleshare

This dynamic collection of short stories comprises of eight voices well known in young adult fiction, creating unique settings to the theme of the loss of virginity. All the authors tackle the subject of first sex with a subtle openness that allows the reader to witness the very different dilemmas of the protagonists... There is something for everyone in this fine collection.
--Shelley Instone - Armadillobooks.com

"Disparate, thoughtful, sweet and funny" --Jill Murphy, The Bookbag

"There is something for every reader in this fine collection" --Shelley Instone, armadillomagazine.com

"Subject matter with stylistic and thematic variety... witty, poignant, and clever" --Robert Dunbar, Books for Keeps

"An inspired collection of stories...'Losing it' has raw brutality, dark humour, poignancy and some startling writing from a stellar line up of authors"
--Jake Hope, The Bookseller

'Absolutely amazing. In just 200 pages you will laugh, cry, cringe and be shocked. Everyone should be able to gain something from this book . . . a great insight into the teenage mind.' -- Empire of Books

'There is something for every reader in this fine collection.' --armadillomagazine.com

A collection of fiction short stories by leading teen writers about losing your virginity

Melvin Burgess, Keith Gray, Patrick Ness, Sophie McKenzie, Bali Rai, Jenny Valentine and Mary Hooper. Some of today's leading writers for teens are gathered here in a wonderful collection of original stories: some funny, some moving, some haunting but all revolving around the same subject - having sex for the first time!

You never forget your first time and you'll never forget this book!

Keith Gray is a highly-acclaimed teen author who has won the Scottish Booktrust Award and the Smarties Prize and been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, the Costa Book Award, the Booktrust Teen Award (twice) and the Guardian Fiction Award (twice). He has won the Smarties Prize and numerous regional book awards. He is also a reviewer for the Guardian and the Scotsman and has judged most of the major children's awards. He lives in Edinburgh with his partner, Jasmine, and spends most of the time when he isn't writing, doing school visits.