Another Life by Keren David (Young Adult)

6th September 2012, Frances Lincoln
384 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: post traumatic stress disorder, complexity of gangs, realities of drugs, fugitive, going into hiding, trying to learn more about friends, blurred reality (with lies sounding true), naievity, terror, answers which are unexpected, loyalty, never giving up, homelessness, lots of plot twists, teen romance, occasional high violence, a little humour, tissues needed

Summary from Frances Lincoln
Kicked out of yet another boarding school, Archie couldn't be happier to find himself back in London with old friends and an exciting social life.

But he's worried about his cousin Ty, who is facing a sentence in a Young Offender Institution and doesn't seem to be coping.

And he's finding that his old friends have moved on and it's a struggle to keep up with their new lives.

When he begins to learn surprising things about Ty, Archie goes on a mission to discover the truth about his cousin's past. But who is the real Ty?

Nayuleska's thoughts
In some ways I've little to say, because this thrilling conclusion to Ty's story blew my mind away. Having Archie's pov for most of the book shed light on how othera viewed Ty, how outside of Ty's head some of the things that happen seem impossible. Ty has an awful lot to cope with which is why it's not a bad thing that we aren't in his thoughts all the time. I thought Archie was often stupid, but his heart is mostly in the right place while he learns some huge life lessons, that's after he ignores good advice.

I loved seeing Claire again. She has a moment of madness, she is very confused about Ty for a little while but once she makes a stand she digs in her heels and doesn't budge. Lily and Shannon are also strong characters who I didn't necessarily like, but I enjoyed the roles they played in the story.

There's constant action, misdirection, and suspense. Reality gets blurred a lot, both for Ty, Archie, and the reader. I could reread the trilogy right now and still be wowed by the complexity of a 10/10 story that started with knife crime and ended with love.

You can find out more on Keren's website.

Suggested read

(This is the old cover - it's the edition I've got)
 

You simply must read the other books where the story starts, When I Was Joe, and where everything keeps getting complicated in Almost True.

(Again this is the old edition cover)