Wild East
- committee53
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Reviewed by Olivia Ackers
Ashley Hickson-Lovence (Penguin Random House: 2024)
Wild East is a Young Adult verse novel about an East London boy trying to navigate a move to East Anglia and pursuing his dream to become a rapper. What captured me first about this novel was how easily the rhythm of the language flows, and creates a wonderfully moving story. In fact, it was so quick and enjoyable to read, I finished in a day!
We follow Ronny, a fourteen year old boy, in the aftermath of a tragedy where his friend was killed in a gang attack. His mum decides that they must leave the area as it is too dangerous for her child, and they move to Norwich to start a new life. This is the best thing for him as his creativity starts to flourish when the classes he takes with Lucas, a local poet and teacher, give him tools to write in different ways than he is used to.
This is strengthened when Ronny and his newfound friend, Leigh, are given a chance to go on a trip to write and create. This is where Ronny meets one of his muses and another (closer) friend Lana. They bond over similar music tastes and a passion for using their struggles as a source of inspiration.
The story is heartwarming, with an overall feeling of finding identity and self growth which is a common theme in Young Adult fiction, and is likely influenced by Hickson-Lovence’s previous profession as a secondary school teacher. This also helps with the pacing of the novel, as well as creating a warm atmosphere for the reader, with different kinds of identities represented in the novel as well. The reader is engaged throughout Ronny's journey as he discovers a love for poetry (which is very similar to rap, he realises), his continued love for music, new friends, as well as hardships he has to overcome with the support of his friends and family.
Overall, this book is a lovely and a generally joyous read. It stands out with its verse storytelling, something influenced by the music that Ronny (and likely Hickson-Lovence himself) listens to. It is a book that is easy to read, and quick to love.
Ashley Hickson-Lovence will be talking to Suffolk Book League at an event on 14th May 2026.
You can buy tickets here:
Comments