Dead Straight Line

Bored and seeking thrills, Rory creates a game for his gang to play. Called 'Dead Straight Line', the idea is that you have to make your way home from a given point with no deviations, even if this means trespassing or facing danger. When new group member, Yell, plays, things go badly wrong, leading to a life-changing accident.

In the aftermath, Rory finds himself alone, ostracised by his friends, rejected by his girlfriend and expelled from school. Reeling in the fallout, Rory starts a new school and is asked to join a group which visits a care home. Reluctantly agreeing to participate, he meets Tanker, a Geordie Army veteran whose PTSD ruined his marriage and his life and things begin to change.

Dead Straight Line is an outstanding read. I have to admit that I was convinced that this would not be one which I would enjoy, but three pages in, I was completely hooked. Rory is a 'typical' teen from a loving family. Fond of breaking the rules and seeking adventure, he and his like-minded friends are up to all sorts of mischief. Peer pressure and a desire to stay as part of the group drive him and his friends to increasingly dangerous activities, but Rory is consistently depicted as a very likeable character, not someone who would willingly hurt others.

When Yell accuses Rory of pushing him and causing the injuries which have left him in a wheelchair, Rory is stunned. Prepared to take blame for creating the game and for pressuring Yell into taking part, he horrified by the tidal wave of hatred which hits both him and his family, including attacks on their home. Rory is bewildered and confused when even members of his own family seem to believe him to be capable of such an action and these feelings turn to anger as his sense of injustice increases.

Not only are Rory's emotions vividly portrayed, but the author has also caught those of his parents - the shock and anger, the instinct to punish, but also the hurt and worry, the feeling that they are somehow to blame. The story offers so much to reflect on and discuss here . . .

Rory's relationship with Tanker is a real turning point. Initially, the two do not get on. Tanker is unwelcoming and irritable on first meeting and Rory takes a dislike to him. However, the two come to understand one another and through Tanker gradually sharing some of his experiences, mistakes and wisdom, Rory is able to discuss his own problems and take advice. The power and importance of having someone you can talk to, someone who listens, is clearly captured.

This incredibly thought-provoking story raises many relevant issues such as peer pressure, the danger of unsubstantiated rumours, guilt, relationships . . . making it perfect for starting discussions and exploring responsibility and consequences for actions. Ultimately, Rory gets a kind of justice and is redeemed and Yell (Eliot) comes clean about the events of the fateful game, but there is no straightforward happy ending here as one final shock is revealed. An excellent read!

320 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 14+