The Truth of Things (4) — LARK [not-CA, not-US, not-US territories]

WINNER OF THE 2020 CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL.Things are tense at home for Nicky and Kenny. Their mum's coming to visit and it will be the first time they've seen her in years. A lot has changed since they were little and Nicky's not so sure he's ready to see her again. When they head for a trek across the moors to take their minds off everything, a series of unforeseen circumstances leaves the brothers in a vulnerable and very dangerous position. There might even be a chance that this time not everyone will make it home alive... Review "Funny, scatological, terrifying, heartwarming and heartbreaking" Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week"A painful though uplifting conclusion ... The moment at which Nicky ... hears the "mad, ecstatic music" of a lark's song is especially transporting" Imogen Russell Williams, Guardian"Heart-stomping, gut-wrestling ... a decidedly Good/Sad thing. Buy it in January. Twice, at least" A.F Harrold, Author"The 4th book in what are, frankly, the finest YA books out there. Like the bastard son of Hines and Steinbeck, with a dollop of Shane Meadows" Phil Earle, Author"Not for a moment in these books do you feel you are reading something abridged or simplified. McGowan's prose is beautiful in its brevity and devastating in its emotional impact" Editor's Choice, The Bookseller"McGowan's understanding of masculine youth its brashness and unexpected tendernesses is evident, and there is a quiet worldliness underpinning the whole. It's intense and dark, full of sadness yet also hopeful" Philip Womack, Literary Review"As gorgeous and life-affirming and as bittersweet and heartbreaking as you imagine ... I'll miss Nicky and Kenny more than I can say" The Bookbag, blog"The quartet is a magnificent achievement and Lark is a totally fitting and superb finale. Simple, accessible yet immensely powerful writing of the highest order" Joy Court, SLA"Conveyed in immaculate prose of unrelenting tension, humour and affection. It reminds me of two of the very greatest novels about fellowship and suffering, A Kestrel for a Knave and Of Mice and Men" Amanda Craig, Author"Lyrical, warm, honest and unflinching, it's everything YA should be" --Andy Stanton, Author About the Author Anthony McGowan is the author of many critically acclaimed YA novels Hellbent, Henry Tumour and The Knife that Killed Me, the last of which has been released as a film. He won the 2006 BookTrust Teenage Prize, the 2007 Catalyst Award and has been shortlisted for a raft of other major children’s literature prizes, including the Carnegie Medal for Rook in 2018. McGowan was born in Manchester, attended school in Leeds and now lives in London.