The List — Keith Gray

Can friendships survive as Denny relives the good times and rewrites the bad in this comic and compelling tale from award-winning author Keith Gray?

It's the end of the summer and Denny is having to move away with his mum now that she's found a good job, but he's not planning on leaving quietly. He's made a list of scores to settle and wrongs to right before he goes. He asks his best friend, Jake, to help.

Jake is absolutely gutted that Denny is leaving and worries what life will be like without him. Of course he'll do anything to help, no matter how weird or unrealistic the items on Denny's list might be. But the list is more powerful than either of them realise â€" it can make and break friendships.

Reviews

"Keith Gray absolutely nails the highs and lows of close friendship, in this expertly-plotted, no-frills portrait of village life." â€" Jonathan Meres

"The perfect novella. Friendship, revenge, deceit, brotherhood, love â€" The List simply has it all." â€" Phil Earle

"The List is one of the most life affirming books I've read. A warm, funny, and tender novel about friendship and joy and betrayal â€" I can't recommend it enough. It captures the essence of having people in your life you can count on. A book full of astonishing depth and clarity â€" I would give my right arm to write like this!" â€" Varsha Shah

"Gray has captured the fragile elasticity of boys' friendships perfectly â€" The List is a compulsive story, brilliantly written." â€" Martin Stewart

About the author

KEITH GRAY's debut novel Creepers was published when he was only 24 and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. His subsequent books include Ostrich Boys which was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal as well as the Costa Children's Book Award and has been adapted for the stage, The Last Soldier which was shortlisted for the Scottish Teen Book Awards, and The Runner which won the Smarties Silver Medal. Keith lives with his family in Vienna, Austria, where he co-founded the writer development community Kulturverein: Sunday Writers' Club.