When the dam begins to crack open, and the water begins to overflow, Tom knows he's in trouble. But who is the mysterious stranger who comes to his rescue?
Bernard Ashley Books
January 1, 1935
Bernard Ashley is celebrated for his compassionate exploration of the vulnerable and overlooked, often set against the gritty realism of London's streets. His power lies in his ability to inhabit the minds of children and young people, revealing their inner worlds with empathy and insight. Ashley's works, marked by pacy plots and compelling characters, frequently engage with themes of justice and decency. His realistic approach, likened to honest social commentary, drives his resonant storytelling.
A Present for Paul
- 32 pages
- 2 hours of reading
Pleasure wants to buy her baby brother a present but when she lets go of her dad's hand in the busy market, suddenly she can't see him anywhere. Where has her dad gone?
Ronnie's War
- 190 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Four linked wartime stories of a street-smart 11-year-old living with his mum in south London during the Second World War: the Blitz, Evacuation, GIs, and VE Day.
When one of the big kids kicks Justin's football over the playground wall, a furious neighbour complains to the headmaster and Justin gets the blame. After confiscating the ball, the head decides to have a go, and ends up knocking a man's glasses off.
Cleversticks
- 32 pages
- 2 hours of reading
Wishing he had something to be clever at like each of the other children in his class, Ling Sung unexpectedly and happily discovers the others admire his prowess with chopsticks
This is a wonderful adaptation of Bernard Ashley's critically acclaimed novel of the same name, which was short listed for the Carnegie and the Guardian Fiction Awards. Kaninda is an ex-child soldier from East Africa, orphaned and living in London. When a child from a nearby estate is hit by a car, he is drawn into an inter-estate conflict. The story combines current conflicts in London with real war in Africa. Little Soldier is a gritty and gripping play with a fast-moving, exciting plot which will hook boys. The play can be used to different cultures (set in Africa in London) urban gang culture and moral questions literary and dramatic techniques and devices.
Aftershock
- 139 pages
- 5 hours of reading
The story of a Greek immigrant boy in 1950s North London whose love of football comes into conflict with his longing to help his mother.
Little Soldier
- 248 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Kaninda is an orphan from the war in East Africa, where he was a boy soldier, but even in a comprehensive school in south London he finds clan and tribal conflicts are very much alive.
A powerful look at the effects of war and the meaning of courage, told from both sides of the conflict
Dinner Ladies Don't Count
- 96 pages
- 4 hours of reading
Contains two books Dinner Ladies Don't Count in which Jason has to prove that he didn't take Donna's birthday cards; and Linda's Life in which Linda tells a lie about why she can't go on the school outing.