Description

Nominated for the 2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing and shortlisted for the 2025 Branford Boase Award.

Heartfelt and up-to-the-minute…A reminder that even short lines can take you a long way – The Sunday Times.

The soaring debut YA verse-novel by Ashley Hickson-Lovence, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Manjeet Mann, and Dean Atta.

Pen in one hand, on my wrist, a ticking clock
I’ve got to make this work, just need a little luck…

When fourteen-year-old Ronny’s life is struck by tragedy, his mum decides it’s finally time they move out of London.

In his new city, as a Black teenager in a mostly white school, Ronny feels like a complete outsider and struggles to balance keeping his head down with his ambition of becoming a rapper.

But when a local poet comes into class, Ronny discovers a world he’s never considered before. Rap is like spoken word, bars equal poetry – and maybe the combination of both could be the key to achieving his dreams?

This empowering verse novel announces the arrival of an exciting new talent in YA fiction – Waterstones.com

Praise for Wild East:

A powerful story of resilience, friendship, discovery and growth – Jeffrey Boakye, author of Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer

An amazing tale of self-reflection, acceptance, and achieving your greatest aspirations – screenrant.com

Welcomes all types of readers…Hickson-Lovence has crafted a superb piece – DD Armstrong, author of Ugly Dogs Don’t Cry

Readers say:

“Although a YA novel, this is a book I think everyone should read.”

“Wild East is an outstanding piece of work.”

Publisher Review

A powerful story of resilience, friendship, discovery and growth…Ashley has that rare ability to draw you in quietly and leave you feeling totally invested. I’m certain that if I had this when I was younger it would have changed my life, genuinely. * Jeffrey Boakye, author of Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer * A cocktail of prose, poetry and creative writing that welcomes all types of readers…Hickson-Lovence has crafted a superb piece. * DD Armstrong, author of Ugly Dogs Don’t Cry * An astonishing and emotional story…an amazing tale of self-reflection, acceptance, and achieving your greatest aspirations * screenrant.com *