Hello Mum

Hello Mum is an epistolary novella written by award-winning British-Nigerian author Bernardine Evaristo. The story follows fourteen-year-old Jerome, who writes letters to his mother from London's inner city. The narrative unfolds through Jerome's letters, which document his experiences navigating life in an urban environment filled with gangs and social pressures. His communications with his mother reveal the complex reality of teenage life in contemporary London. The book was published by Penguin in 2010 and distributed to schools across Suffolk as part of their Big Read initiative. It was later adapted into a BBC Radio 4 play in 2012, reaching new audiences through this format. At its core, Hello Mum examines the relationship between mother and son while addressing broader social issues of youth culture, urban life, and the challenges faced by young people in modern British society.

Readers find Hello Mum's short length (96 pages) allows for a quick but impactful read. The story resonates with parents and young people, with many noting its relevance to urban youth culture and gang violence in London. Readers liked: - The intimate letter format that creates emotional connection - Authentic portrayal of teenage voice and street dialogue - Clear depiction of how young people get drawn into dangerous situations Readers disliked: - Some found the text-speak writing style difficult to follow - A few wanted more character development - The brevity left some wanting more depth Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) Common reader comments: "Heartbreaking but necessary reading" "Made me understand my teenage son better" "The ending stayed with me for days" "Could be longer but packs a punch"

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🔹 Bernardine Evaristo made history as the first Black woman to win the Booker Prize in 2019 with her novel "Girl, Woman, Other" 🔹 The epistolary format (letters) used in "Hello Mum" was inspired by real-life testimonies of London teenagers involved in gang culture 🔹 London's youth gang-related crime saw a significant spike during the period this book was written, with a 20% increase in knife crime between 2008-2009 🔹 The book was originally commissioned by BBC Radio 4 as a radio play before being adapted into a novella 🔹 The character Jerome was partially inspired by the real-life story of Damilola Taylor, a 10-year-old boy whose death in 2000 sparked national conversations about youth violence in London