Books with author Alan Gibbons

Kev's a loner, a hard case. When his mom and dad split up, he goes off the rails. He's looking for trouble, but he never meant it to go that far—the fire, the shed, that old man. After the fire Kev is moved to a new school to build a new life, but his terrible secret is found out. The only way Kev knows how to deal with it is through another fire. But this time perhaps it's Kev's life that will go up in flames. Alan Gibbons writes with compassion and intuitive understanding about one boy's battle to survive against the odds.

Terrifying tales of vampire slayers, vengeful ghosts, rampaging werewolves, and demonic computers mean that this book has something for everyone. With action, excitement, danger, and suspense on every page, Dark Spaces will have you gripping the edge of your seat, scared to enter the darkness alone. Featuring illustrations and a special guest story by Robbie Gibbons, co-author with Alan Gibbons of the Read On series.

Guns, violence, mob rule, or defending the cause? We all have choices. Or do we? Who would choose blood, sacrifice, and exile? At the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland Ian's dad did. In this real-life thriller, 14-year-old Ian Moore walks a tightrope of fear as two strangers reveal the shocking truth about his father. His father thought he was fighting for a cause, for his people. But the price was too high—after the murder of his sister's husband and his own wife's death, he's paying for trying to get out. Somewhere along the line the cause got blurred by organized crime and revenge, and all it's left is a bitter taste. He's still a target, still a victim. Now he faces a lifetime of running with nowhere to go and constantly putting at rish the son he loves. This page turner tackes a controversial topic head-on and makes for powerful and memorable reading.

Alex and Ethan are brothers, growing up on an estate where there are just two choices: sport or crime. Ethan is a promising footballer, and when he is selected to go on a training programme in the US, he feels sure that he has found his chance to escape the gangs that dominate his streets. But as life spirals out of control for his brother, and things unexpectedly take a turn for the worse for Ethan, he finds himself drawn into the midst of an explosive feud with the gun at its heart.

A tense yet thrilling novel from Alan Gibbon that tackles the issues of domestic violence, fear and prejudice with great pace and vitality. Danny is a boy on the edge. A boy teetering on the brink of no return, living in fear. Cathy is his mother; she has been broken by fear. Chris is fear – and they belong to him…When Danny and Cathy break free of their fear and escape to start a new life, instead of freedom they find danger an prejudice of a different kind. The novel presents us with an account of domestic violence and racial prejudice from a number of different points of view. It is an excellent model for the study of multiple narration and explores emotive contemporary issues with sensitivity, linking to Citizenship and PSHE. A compelling plot involves even reluctant readers, and students will find many opportunities for discussion.

Late one night after a strange journey to Whitechapel in East London, Paul makes a new friend, John Redman—daring and enigmatic, just as Paul longs to be, away from his cloying mother (his only family, so he thinks). Redman immediately charms Paul as well as Jude—a girl they meet on a night on the town. A few days later, Paul learns that Jude has mysteriously died, and Redman has disappeared. Soon after, one of Paul's teachers dies suddenly—frightened to death—near where Jude's body was found. Paul senses that Redman is involved. His new friend is dangerous. But so, we learn, is Paul. In uncovering the truth about Redman he learns shocking facts about himself. There's an evil curse loose in his family and Paul is the latest inheritor. The spree of death—camouflaged as copycat Jack the Ripper-style murders—will continue until Paul confronts the demon in himself head on.

Davy's too chicken to stand up to bullying at school. He's been singled out as an easy target. His family aren't much help—they're all chicken too. Mom's frightened of learning to drive, big brother Carl is terrifying himself trying to impress his new friends. And Dad has too many problems of his own to be sympathetic. But in the end it's his little sisters strange secret which spurs Davy on—and surprises the whole family as well.

Aidan has it all - a happy home in leafy suburbia with two cars parked on the drive, and all a boy could ask for in terms of designer labels and gadgets. He's top of the class, captain of the swimming team and has the gorgeous Emily hanging on his every word. So a trip up North with Mum to visit his dying Grandfather doesn't go down well. But it does teach Aidan a thing or two about real life - and friendships, trust, loyalty and survival. He's shattered to discover his real father is a gangland drugs dealer recently released from prison and out to regain his scrap of turf whatever it takes. He's surprised and confused to find he's falling in love with the intriguing Jade even though she's already pregnant after a fling with one of the bad lads who hangs out on the estate. He's humbled by his grandparents, how little they have, but how much wisdom and love they offer him. In a crackingly paced, hard-hitting, real life thriller that deals with drugs and crime, Alan Gibbons also describes the summer of one boy who must grow up super-fast - from hormonal to responsible - in one huge leap of faith.