Twelve publishers vie for Pigeon English

19 February 2010

Author Stephen Kelman has been given a £200,000 advance for his debut novel, Pigeon English. A story about the experiences of Harrison, a twelve year old boy who is a recent migrant from Ghana. The story is a first person account told through his innocent and optimistic eyes, of life on an a housing estate in England. Extracts from the book give a tantalising insight into why so many publishers were keen to market the novel aimed at young people.
 

The timing of Kelman's work with the wider social discourse about racism, gang culture and the increasing interest in research into childhood experiences, explains what is seen by many in the literary world to be an extremely rare achievement. To have crossed so many hurdles to the extent that so many publishers want to take on the new writer is phenomenal. Jo Unwin, Kelman's literary agent, has a particular interest in finding books that young people want to read and here at find-book we await with interest, as will many others who are interested in children's voices, for this exciting book prospect.

Sources: Today Programme – Radio 4 and Conville and Walsh