Year Twelve pupil George is passionate about his band and his music, even if the three other band members are a little more laid back about it. They play for all their friends parties, and just might, he hopes, hit the big time. But they have surprise competition from new girl Beth and shy fellow-pupil Tadhg. Then disaster strikes. Dealing with loss and grief the whole year group must work out how to rebuild their futures and who their true friends are. Comes with complete song lyrics and accompanying playlist!

Praise for Live

‘Palmer’s writing always sparkles, and add to that his ability to capture the cadence of adolescent boys’ voices and lives, in this he has added a worthy third to his brilliant Grow, Play, Live trilogy.‘ – Jo Nadin

‘Live is a triumph, a lyrical masterpiece.’ – Tom Griffiths

A white supremacist group and its violent leader target fifteen- year-old Josh, who is struggling to cope with his father’s recent death at the hands of terrorists. Will he find the strength to resist, and will unlikely accomplice Dana help him plant something good in the space grief has left inside him?

Praise for Grow

‘Had me hooked from the opening sentence. The voice is clever and engaging, and the story it tells is timely and important.’ – Jo Nadin

‘Powerful and honest, and very timely – a fine debut. I adore gritty stories that don’t shirk more difficult subject matter, and this is right up there.’ – Bali Rai

‘As Melvin Burgess’s Junk was to the dangers of drugs, this cautionary young adult novel is to the threat of radicalisation.’ – Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times

‘This unsettling yet compelling debut deserves a place on many bookshelves.’ – Claire Hennessy, The Irish Times

Four boys grow up together at school, itching to get out of their small town. They play games, scoring points from each other, anything to pass the time until they’re free. Matthew slips into his imagination, Luc pushes his body to the limit, and Johnny … well, who knows what Johnny’s up to.

Praise for Play

‘What an astonishing book. It’s profound, poetic, funny, heartbreaking and above all, real – every line, from the lyrical to the punchy, and every character rings with truth. Luke Palmer is up there with Melvyn Burgess, Patrick Ness and Anthony McGowan at showing us the joys, complications and fears of being a boy.’ – Jo Nadin

‘Boys will be boys but will strive to become so much more in Luke Palmer’s wonderfully astute and truthful story. It’s the best book of young male friendship I’ve read in years. Gut-wrenching and glorious.’ – Keith Gray

‘With a backdrop of toxic parents and the loss of innocence, Play shows how terrifyingly easy it is to fall from the tracks. I wanted to reach into the book and save these boys, but could only sit back and watch the horror unfold.’ – Lisa Heathfield