Here is a very modern story about a young boy growing up in an urban area of London. His name is Shaun, but he likes to be known as MC Growls. This is because Shaun lives in a fantasy world where he wants to become a famous rapper. He uses rap music as an escape from his otherwise dismal life. Shaun lives on a large housing estate with his mother and older brother Adrian. He and Adrian used to be good mates, but now Adrian is well into his teenage years, he no longer wants his kid brother hanging around. In fact, it often seems that Adrian is often picking on Shaun for no reason.
At the start of the story , it is hard to decide weather Shaun`s mother is just a harassed working mum or if she is actually guilty of child neglect. Shaun never gets a decent meal although his mother is always cooking for other people.
When Shaun and his best friend, Shanks, get the chance to enter a rapping competition they do their entry live online. Unfortunately things go very wrong and the two boys become a laughing stock locally and at school.
When I started reading this story, I was laughing out loud at some of the things that Shaun said and did. Then , a few chapters in, I realised that this story actually covered some disturbing issues such as teenage depression, phone addiction, and loneliness.
At the start of the story , it is hard to decide weather Shaun`s mother is just a harassed working mum or if she is actually guilty of child neglect. Shaun never gets a decent meal although his mother is always cooking for other people.
When Shaun and his best friend, Shanks, get the chance to enter a rapping competition they do their entry live online. Unfortunately things go very wrong and the two boys become a laughing stock locally and at school.
When I started reading this story, I was laughing out loud at some of the things that Shaun said and did. Then , a few chapters in, I realised that this story actually covered some disturbing issues such as teenage depression, phone addiction, and loneliness.