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Gr 9 Up—Niku is a Romanian immigrant who is constantly bullied by his classmates. His parents temporarily came to England so they could make enough money for Niku to find a suitable wife before returning to Romania. Jess is rebellious at school, and at home, she is forced to witness—and often videotape—her mother's physical and verbal abuse by her mother's boyfriend. Following their separate arrests for shoplifting, the two teens form an unexpected bond during their mand...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Two troubled UK teens forge an unlikely romance in this novel in verse. Jess, a jaded tough girl, nicked some cosmetics with friends who let her take the fall. Nicu, an earnest Romanian boy, impulsively stole a candy bar to satisfy his hunger. They tell their stories in alternating free-verse poems distinguished primarily by voice--most noticeably by English-language-learner Nicu's ungrammatical but enthusiastic (and occasionally contrived-sounding) use of English. Their...Log In or Sign Up to Read More