Liccle Bit: Book 1 (Crongton)

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In 2010, he wrote and toured the one-man autobiographical performance, Uprising. His play, Shame & Scandal, had its debut at the Albany Theatre, Deptford in October 2015. Since being eliminated from season 15, Princess Poppy said the following in an interview with Entertainment Weekly: “I want to fall off the face of the planet. I don’t want to be famous. I want to fade into obscurity. That’s not a bad thing. I think people put so much emphasis on success and fame, and it’s okay to not want to be famous. It’s totally valid to not want to be known by a bunch of people. That’s just not what I want. I don’t want that for my life.” Touring Literature Festivals & Theatres in 2012 marking the 50th year of Jamaican Independence". Uprising (2011 & 2012) . Retrieved 9 December 2020. [ permanent dead link] This book is a blast of fresh air and will appeal to all types of teenagers, from the booky to absolute reluctants (Barrington Stoke’s dyslexic sensitive publishing standards also help here).

He now visits schools, colleges, universities, libraries and prisons facilitating creative writing classes and performing inspiring speeches. He has also narrated an audio guide to the streets of Brixton for soundmap. He wrote and performed Uprising, a one-man play based on his own life at Tara Arts Studios, Wandsworth, London. In 2011, he took Uprising on tour and performed it at the Writing On The Wall Festival, Liverpool, the Oxford Playhouse, the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, the Ilkley Playhouse and the Albany Theatre, Deptford. [ citation needed] The play re-toured theatres and literature festivals in 2012, marking the 50th year of Jamaican Independence. [10] How much of yourself do you bring into these characters, is there any of your characters you are particularly like or is particularly like you? F or all the latest reality TV news and gossip and for the best memes and quizzes, like The Holy Church of Love Island on Facebook. Related stories recommended by this writer:Alex Wheatle has a history in adult fiction, and it shows in his first outing for younger readers. While the subject matter is much lighter, the plot is just as racing and the dialogue just as witty as his other books. Wheatle perfectly captures the highs and lows of teenage life, while also highlighting the humanity and tragedy occuring in the lives of some of London's poorest teenagers. As a new gang war breaks out on his estate, Lemar discovers that South Crongton’s notorious gang leader has taken an interest in him. Before he knows what’s happening, he’s running errands. When he puts his own family in danger, Liccle Bit will be forced to question his choices. How can he possibly put things right? Wheatle lives in London. He is a member of English PEN, and he now visits various institutions facilitating creative writing classes and making speeches. He has also narrated an audio guide to the streets of Brixton. [11] Awards and honours [ edit ]

Today we have a variety of narratives and different perspectives. It's very diverse now. We've been talking about diversity for a number of years but I think we're getting there now. So really if we see a troubled young person in a school now, a very good librarian can say: try reading this. This might help you get over whichever issue you're contending with and I think that's a great place to be right now. I think YA and children's books are on the march on this, I think they're in front of adult literature which can sway away from these issues. In fact now I've been immersed in children's writing and young adult narratives I find it very difficult to get into adult literature. For me, it's too slow, the plot doesn't get going, and I can find it very hard to engage with what the author's trying to do or say. Again I think that evade and avoid the issues of today, issues that children have to go through. For me it’s a rollercoaster of emotions that I’m trying to manipulate the reader into’ - Alex Wheatle on fictional world building, creating new language and seeing yourself in a book It's crucial. We see how the world is today, with lots of hate going on, lots of misunderstanding, lots of people with opposing views screaming and shouting at each other and not giving eachother time to understand each other's point of view. But books help... it's not the final solution, it's not that if you give someone a book, they'll totally understand each other's point of view but at least it will help other people sympathise or empathise with someone who's not from your world, or your social world. The more children read of other, the more empathy and understanding they'll have of other. What effect does it have on children to have an author come into their school - and particularly for a child of colour to meet an author or illustrator of colour? The second shortest 14 year old in his class, Lemar – Liccle Bit to his friends – feels he may never get a chance with Venetia, the hottest girl in school. At home life is crazy too with a mother too busy to pay him any attention, a sister with a foul temper and a baby by the local gang leader, a dad who left when he was seven. He does have his two best friends, his grandmother’s cooking and his talent for drawing. Just when Venetia asks him to draw her portrait, he is pulled deeper into the gang scene with the pressure mounting and the local inter-gang war escalating. He needs to get out of this mess and save his family from. With all of Alex’s brilliance for dialogue, LICCLE BIT is a story of redemption, of love, of family, of trying to hold your head up, of one boy’s journey. Sales Wheatle has since spoken about the Brixton riots, most prominently in the 2006 BBC programme Battle for Brixton. [6] His early books are based on his life in Brixton as a teenager and his time in social services' care. [7]He has since been called upon to talk on the subject of the Brixton riots, most prominently in the 2006 BBC programme “Battle for Brixton”. His early books are based on experiences from his life living in Brixton as a teenager and his time in social services care. JRR Tolkien in 1956: He created new words, new phrases and indeed, two or three different languages. Photograph: Haywood Magee/Getty Images Yes I do, I keep it in here (points to bag) I'm not going to show you but I have a little pencil and notepad in there just in case. When I'm walking from Clapham Junction to BookTrust offices, who knows what phrase or cool saying I'll come across. I bank that or I write it down in my little notepad! How important is humour in your novels? He wrote and performed UPRISING, a one man play based on his own life at TARA ARTS STUDIOS, Wandsworth, London. Armitstead, Claire (17 November 2016). "Alex Wheatle wins 2016 Guardian children's fiction prize". The Guardian . Retrieved 23 November 2016.

His second novel, East of Acre Lane (2001), has a similar setting, and won a London Arts Board New Writers Award. A prequel, Island Songs, set in Jamaica, was published in 2005, and a sequel, Dirty South, in 2008.He has since been called upon to talk on the subject of the Brixton riots, most prominently in the 2006 BBC programme "Battle for Brixton". His early books are based on experiences from his life living in Brixton as a teenager and his time in social services care. Sometimes it keeps me awake at night, and that's okay because sometimes being British we have to maintain the stiff upper lip, but it's okay to feel that at times because you're getting in touch with your younger self and you're processing the pain of your younger years. When I hear people say you must not dwell on that I think that's wrong. Sometimes we have to look at those instances of our younger life, process the pain and hurt in a healthy way. So I'm always doing that with my books and my characters. It's a long journey, I'm able to talk about it freely today because I've done that work and that processing in my poetry and so forth, when I was a teenager and up to the present day when I'm writing characters such as Mo and Naomi, because part of me is in them. What would it have been like for you to have books like the Crongton series when you were a child? Season six’s Magnolia Crawford has since left the persona behind, but is still active on social media under his out of drag name Reynolds Engelhart. And yep, he’s still quite sexy. Robbie Turner Enter our competition to win the Crongton series by Alex Wheatle Can you explain how you created the Crongton dialect?

Now Lemar’s secrets are building and the stress is about to bury him. He doesn’t want to hurt his family, but he’s not sure how to keep them safe anymore. A tense novel bringing the very real situation lots of young teens find themselves in to light, Liccle Bit makes you stop and think. A wonderful cast of characters bring this story to life and draw you in. A bit of a weird one: Robbie Turner said in 2018 she’d been in a car crash with an Uber driver who died but she made it out with a few scratches. Then a few days later, Uber announced this never happened and no driver had died. Robbie subsequently posted a huge statement and then hasn’t been seen publicly since, and hasn’t returned to drag. Princess Poppy This is a brutal, bloody, terrifying story, compellingly written and heartstopping to read. Moa’s life before the rebellion makes the violence of the uprising feel like a release in the novel. Cane Warriorsisa book about doing the right thing, unbelievable bravery and deep friendship; but most importantly this book is about a part of British and Jamaican history that is hardly known, and the stories of these hard-won human rights need to be heard even though it’s uncomfortable. His 2016 book Crongton Knights won the 50th Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. S. F. Said, one of the judging panel, said of the book: "Wheatle's writing is poetic, rhythmic and unique, remaking the English language with tremendous verve. Though Crongton is his invention, it resonates with many urban situations, not only in Britain but around the world. Crongton Knights is a major novel from a major voice in British children's literature." [13] [14]

How important do you think it is for children to see someone at least bit like them or coming from a bit like the same background as them in a book?

Books are absolutely crucial in getting us to think about new worlds': we speak to the award-winning author, Onjali Q Rauf Breathing new life into a genre currently obsessed with vampires, dystopian visions or mawkishly sentimental stories, this tale set in a contemporary high-rise estate is topical and also a triumph of language ... Wise as well as witty, understanding rather than blinkered, this novel is a joy to read - Independent In 2008, Wheatle was awarded the MBE for services to literature in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. What a gripping tale of family and friends, love and loyalty... Lemar's voice is so strong and I loved the humour in it too.' The book contains graphic descriptions of violence and brutality throughout, so this is one best for older children aged thirteen and up.