The Edge by Alan Gibbons

Book of the Week: 24 January 2016

Our Literary Festival takes place this week and we are looking forward to welcoming our guest, Alan Gibbons, on Thursday. Here is one of his best-known books, ‘The Edge’, which was one of the seven books shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2002.

The story opens with Danny being woken by his Mum, Cathy, so they can escape her abusive partner Chris, followed by a dramatic race for freedom as Chris, whom Danny has named ‘The Animal’, chases them through the streets of London.

Together they make their way north to Cathy’s home town and the Edgecliff estate where her parents, Harry and Joan, still live. Danny is relieved to be away from the controlling, short-tempered Chris but he finds himself exposed to a new set of problems: his grandfather is harsh and resentful and he has to confront the racist attitudes of people on the estate and in his new school, something that was never a problem in multicultural London. Then there is the constant, underlying worry that one day Chris will find them and exact his revenge.

The tension and feelings of unease are ever-present in this story told from multiple viewpoints that provide insights into even the most dislikable characters’ motives, including the bullying and violent Chris Kane – a thoroughly chilling villain.

If you would like to find out more about Alan Gibbons and his books, his website is here.