29 Locks
Nicola Garrard
Growing up in Hackney with his loving but troubled single mum, fifteen-year-old Donny’s life has been shaped by poverty, crime and casual violence, including grooming by a local gang. When his mum is jailed for drugs offences, Donny is fostered outside London to the Hertfordshire countryside. Life in the rural Home Counties is a bit like landing on another planet but doing work experience on the Hertford Union Canal, Donny feels like he’s finally found his purpose.
When Donny’s posh new friend Zoe is offered a dubious modelling audition in London, the pair decide to ‘borrow’ a canal barge and navigate the 29 locks down to Kings Cross. As they start out on their journey the future looks as unpromising as Zoe’s fake audition. But as each lock is navigated and conquered, their adventures take on a new dimension, and life will never be the same again.
Media Reviews
‘It crackles off the page!’ —Alex Wheatle
‘Urgent, gripping, relevant and important: I loved 29 Locks’ —Anthony McGowan, winner, Carnegie Award 2020
‘Raw, unique and often-tender, this novel is an anthem for the ordinary spirit that burns so fiercely inside each of us. A must-read for all young adults’- Aoife Fitzpatrick, Winner of Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize’
‘An essential read for the many young people today who can relate to Donny, showing them that amidst all the pain and inequalities of the world, justice can still be served and a future can be built from learning and kindness’ –Ms Florence Bauhofer, PLS EAL Department
‘It’s a was a perfect book for people my age. My favourite character is Donny because he was so resilient even though he had a difficult life. He inspires me to always keep going even when things are tough. I also really liked that the novel was about family and friendship because both my family and my friends are very important to me’-Othman, age 15, Prendergast Ladywell School
‘The characters on these pages are real. If you have spent time around young people, you have seen how these relationships form and Nicola Garrard captures this in a way that feels truly natural and authentic’ –Casey Bailey, Birmingham Poet Laureate
‘The author really captured the life of a modern day teen and the struggles that life can present. I believe many young adults will enjoy and relate to this book. Excellent work! I finished the book looking at things differently’ – Reader in Brinsford Prison and Young Offenders Institution for men
‘An incredible debut – smart and funny, poignant yet uplifting. Donny is an unforgettable character who navigates life with humour and compassion. From the estates of north London to the leafy canals of Hertfordshire (via Peckham), 29 Locks is totally immersive and unlike anything I’ve read before’- Juliet West, author of The Faithful
‘Absolutely eye-opening about poverty in London. Great book for older children and young adults’ — The Reading Pioneers, Northampton International Academy
More from this author
