Kerb-Stain Boys

A sharp, witty and heartfelt tale of the ups and downs of teenage life on one of London's toughest (fictional) estates, from multi-award-winning Alex Wheatle.

Life on the Crongton estate can be rough for Briggy. Dad's lost his job, Mum's working so hard to make ends meet, and big brother Kingsley just wants out. With all of the shouting and arguing it's difficult not to get lost in the mix. So when his best mate Terror and coolest chick in the year Caldonia, cook up a plan to make a quick buck, Briggy hopes this time it might be his chance to shine. Robbing the Post Office … what could go wrong?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 13+ with a reading age of 9.

Reviews

“A welcome return to one of London’s toughest estates in a wise, witty urban novella” – The Bookseller

“A novella as appallingly riveting as a car crash in slow motion … Wheatle’s characteristic invented slang is the perfect medium for this hilarious yet hard-hitting story” – Guardian

“Wheatle revisits his popular Crongton estate universe with Kerb-Stain Boys … a gripping and quick read for both reluctant and sophisticated readers” – The Irish Times

“This book is a blast of fresh air and will appeal to all types of teenagers, from the booky to absolute reluctants … as always with Alex Wheatle’s writing, there’s a core morality and exploring the real feelings of teenagers honestly” – BookTrust

“This wickedly sharp teen-noir novella ticks all the right boxes for an inspiring read for teens who feel trampled in the wake of this unforgiving world … a compelling, voice-driven narrative packed with action and humour from start to finish” – Common Space

About the author

Alex Wheatle is a best-selling and multi-award-winning author. Liccle Bit, Alex’s first YA novel and the first story of the now beloved Crongton series, was published in 2015 to critical acclaim. Crongton Knights and Straight Outta Crongton quickly followed, and Alex became renowned for his ingenious use of language and his honest portrayal of inner city, teenage life. In 2008, Alex received an MBE for his services to literature and was shortlisted in 2020 for the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature. Most recently, Alex received the 2021 Young Quills Award for Cane Warriors.