Anger is Only a Shadow
From the Carnegie-winning author of THE POET X
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Hot Key Books
Published:15th Sep '26
Should be back in stock very soon
From New York Times bestselling and Carnegie Medal winning author Elizabeth Acevedo comes a huge-hearted, blistering journey to self-understanding and doing the right thing, whatever the cost
Lil wants to be free.
Because Lil is on probation, and she's trying really hard to be New Lil - follow the rules, keep her head down, take a breath and smile till her court hearing in three weeks' time.
How am I spun from such good people?
When did I unravel?
The stunning new novel from the Carnegie Medal winning, Waterstones Book Prize shortlisted author of THE POET X, full of poetry, heart and humour
Seventeen-year-old Lil is anything but small. She's rebellious, she's loyal; she's figuring out what kind of good person she wants to be, or if she wants to be a good person at all. But more than anything? Lil wants to be free.
Because Lil is on probation, and she's trying really hard to be New Lil - follow the rules, keep her head down, take a breath and smile till her court hearing in three weeks' time. But Old Lil keeps rearing her head - the one that wants to go, run, find a way to open the pot lid to let the angry steam out.
And when Aldwin's silences turn to something more alarming - to talk of nightmares, of hearing voices - Lil knows that she is the only one who can help him. But he's hundreds of miles away and a stark truth is staring Lil directly in the face: how can she get to him without putting her future freedom on the line?
Does doing the right thing mean losing everything?
A poignant, complex, thought-provoking YA novel by a Carnegie-winning author. * The Guardian *
Memorable for its treatment of grief, depiction of family ties, and
lyrical strength,
Eloquent, moving and suspenseful * The Sunday Times, Book of the Week *
An impressive and moving read * The Irish Times *
Transporting and powerful. * Guardian *
[An] unforgettable portrait of grief, loss and forgiveness * Observer *
The ways in which neurodivergence, trauma, and mental illness collide with race and class are depicted deftly in Anger is Only a Shadow (Hot Key Books, {8.99), the latest novel from the acclaimed Elizabeth Acevedo. * The Irish Times *
This story is blessed with...divinely piercing language throughout... Overflowing with truths of the heart...I can't praise this highly enough * LoveReading4Kids *
A simultaneously heart-breaking and heartening novel * Cultrefly *
A stunning new novel about resilience and growth. . . Theauthor's blend of prose and poetry results in a beautifully written andunique form of storytelling. . .The novel flawlessly juggles a host ofissues that many young readers will relate to. * Inis Magazine *
Through contemplative poetry and incisive humour, this stunning contemporary novel for 14+ year olds explores family ties, self-understanding and the cost of doing the right thing. Highly recommended. * The School Reading List *
a humane and realistic novel that captures the reality of mental health issues, the ignorance of adults in positions of power and responsibility, and the rigidity of the youth criminal justice system. Acevedo weaves her narrative together with deep, sensitive verse, and the dialogue, both between Lil and her peers and between Lil and her parents, feels authentic throughout. [...]A moving, thought-provoking read that would suit mature teens and the adults who care for them. * The School Reading List *
ISBN: 9781471409448
Dimensions: 200mm x 131mm x 21mm
Weight: 228g
336 pages