If My Words Had Wings

By Author / Illustrator

Danielle Jawando

Genre

Personal Growth

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Simon & Schuster

ISBN

9781398514034

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

09-05-2024

Synopsis

A life affirming story of rehabilitation and hope after prison. The third novel from multi-award-winning Danielle Jawando, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas and Elizabeth Acevedo.

When 15-year-old Tyrell Forrester gets caught up in a high-profile armed robbery, he's sentenced to eighteen months in a young offenders' prison. Now he's getting out, and he's determined to turn his life around. Despite his release, systemic discrimination makes it difficult for Ty to truly be free. Inspired by a visiting poet while inside, Ty discovers a whole new world through spoken word and is finally finding his voice. But will society ever see him as anything other than a criminal?

Warning - this novel contains themes that some readers may find upsetting, including suicide and self harm.

Praise for And the Stars Were Burning Brightly: 'Jawando's writing is incredibly raw and real; I felt completely immersed' Alice Oseman, author of the Heartstopper series. 'An outstanding and compassionate debut' Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy. 'One of the brightest up and coming stars of the YA world' Alex Wheatle, author of Crongton Knights. 'An utter page turner from a storming new talent. Passionate, committed and shines a ray of light into the darkest places - the YA novel of 2020!' Melvin Burgess, author of Junk

Praise for When Our Worlds Collided: 'A raw, unflinching and powerful story that will stay with me for a long time' Manjeet Mann, author of The Crossing. 'A beautiful ode to found family, and a compassionate look at the power of connection borne from the ashes of tragedy and apathy' Christina Hammonds Reed, author of The Black Kids. 'Hard-hitting yet still hopeful, this is an emotional powerhouse of a book' Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods.

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Reviews

Clare

Ty Forrester's involvement in a high profile armed robbery results in an 18 month sentence in a Young Offenders' institution. Falling in with a crowd his close friends and family had warned him about has left him in Ryecroft and at the mercy of a chaotic system and an inmate hierarchy where anyone can be targeted, no reason necessary.

Whilst Ty forms a strong bond with another inmate, it's the unexpected impact of a spoken word poet, Malik, who conducts workshops in the prison, that gives Ty something tangible to believe in and a creative outlet for his hopes and fears. On his release, as bad influences continue to circle, family ties and old friendships are tested. Although nothing is worse than prison, being back at home and on probation has its own challenges. But with the support of his childhood friend Elisha, his probation officer Becky and the burgeoning patronage of Malik, Ty begins to think there might be another future for him, one that doesn't involve going back to prison.

If My Words Had Wings is a moving, sometimes difficult read. Whilst Ty doesn't deny being in the wrong place at the wrong time, you empathise with his difficulty in readjusting to life and his realisation that whilst his conviction might be spent, his past will always be with him. There's a hopeful tone though; Ty has strong ties with his mother and brothers and a desire to carve out a life that defies some societal expectations. A powerful and compassionate book, this is an unflinching account of what happens when a young life is derailed and what it takes to get back on track.

368 pages / Reviewed by Clare Wilkins, school librarian