Steady For This: the laugh-out-loud and unforgettable teen novel of the year!

By Author / Illustrator

Nathanael Lessore

Genre

Funny Stories

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Hot Key Books

ISBN

9781471413223

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

27-04-2023

Synopsis

Meet MC Growls, wannabe rapper and start of the show in this hilarious and heartwarming teen debut.

Yeah they call me Growls, I'm like a tiger on the prowl.
King of jungles so you better take a bow.
King of concrete so you better say it loud!

Shaun (aka MC Growls) is ready to drop his best bars and smash the competition at Raptology. That way, he's convinced Tanisha, his crush, will finally give him a chance. But when a livestream practice goes epically wrong, Growls's dirty laundry is literally exposed. He's finally achieved his dreams of going viral - not in the good way.

Now Tanisha won't look at him, he's the joke of the school and there's no way he can show his face at the competition. Will he ever catch a break? Then a new girl on the block appears who might be just the friend Growls needs. Especially when she points out that Raptology could be the answer to his problems after all. . .

Step up to the mic! It's MC Growls and he's ready for this. He's steady for this. It's comeback season and they call him comeback king for a reason. A hilarious debut from breakout star Nathanael Lessore, perfect for teen readers of Alex Wheatle and Jason Reynolds.

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Reviews

Steady For This follows the main character, Shaun, aka MC Growls. He is an aspiring Rap artist and performs with his best friend Shanks. Shaun is desperate to impress Tanisha but when his livestream video goes viral for all the wrong reasons, she won't give him the time of day. He becomes a social outcast at school, while at home there are serious money worries. They're facing eviction.

Shaun, though, has not lost hope and new friend Siobhan gives him the confidence to carry on. He decides to put himself back out there, to perform at Raptology; which comes with a cash prize that could potentially turn his family's life around.

Initially, I found the street language/slang difficult to read as an adult reader but I am so glad that I persevered. Nathanael Lessore has created a main character that I ended up really caring about. This book is written in an open and honest way with a lot of humour and witty observation. I really liked Shaun's relationship with his teacher, Mr Rix, and the school counsellor, Karen. It was really good to see school staff portrayed in a positive light for a change.

It was also great to see mental health tackled in a book with male characters so that we could see them work through their difficulties and open up to each other. Steady For This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that tackles some tough and important issues and has been shortlisted for the YOTO Carnegie Medal 2024.

This is a book that would appeal to fans of Rap music, Alex Wheatle and Jason Reynolds. It focusses on the positive and Shaun never gives up hope and, of course, with hope everything seems possible.

Content of note: - Mental health, Eviction, poverty, young carers, cyber bullying.

272 pages / Reviewed by Clair Bossons, school librarian