Brock

Nicky and Kenny are brothers living with their father in a working-class neighborhood in England. When Kenny finds an injured badger, the boys become determined to protect local wildlife from a gang of teens who engage in illegal badger baiting. Their mission puts them at odds with dangerous people in their community, forcing them to make difficult choices. The story follows their attempts to save the badgers while navigating family struggles, school challenges, and Kenny's developmental disabilities. The short novel moves at a fast pace through its exploration of brotherhood, courage, and standing up for what's right. Through its depiction of working-class life and human-animal relationships, Brock examines themes of loyalty, resilience, and the bonds between siblings in the face of adversity.

Readers consistently highlight the book's realistic portrayal of bullying and its impact on young teens. Parents and teachers note its effectiveness in starting conversations about difficult topics with middle-grade students. Positive feedback focuses on: - Clear, accessible writing style for reluctant readers - Authentic sibling relationships - Treatment of moral dilemmas - Strong emotional impact in a short page count Common criticisms: - Some find it too dark for the target age group - A few readers wanted more character development - References to animal cruelty upset sensitive readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (50+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.2/5 (25+ ratings) "Perfect for engaging struggling readers" - Teacher review on Amazon "Tackles tough subjects without talking down to kids" - Parent reviewer on Goodreads "The ending stayed with me" - Student review on BookTrust

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🦡 Author Anthony McGowan drew inspiration from his own childhood in a Leeds council estate to create the authentic working-class setting and characters. 📚 "Brock" is the first book in the Truth of Things series, which follows brothers Kenny and Nicky through four connected novellas. 🏆 The book was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2014 and won the Catalyst Book Award. 🌟 Though written for young readers, the novella tackles complex themes including disability, animal cruelty, and family loyalty in just 123 pages. 🐾 The title "Brock" comes from the Old English word for badger, and the story's central conflict revolves around protecting these animals from illegal badger baiting.