Product Description

Julian and Nathan are outcasts at school, so when they stumble across a stash of money they try to buy themselves popularity. But when questions are asked they run away, and embark on an adventure across the country, pursued by police and parents. Winner of the Guardian Fiction Award 1988.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34266 in Books
• Published on: 1995-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Winner of the prestigious Guardian Children's Fiction Award in 1988, this book is the compelling and unique story of two children, Julian and Nathan, from inner city London. Outsiders at school and unhappy at home, the two are strangely drawn together. They stumble across some money with which they try to buy friendship in their class, but with teachers and parents closing in the two are forced to run away. The story centres on the brilliant and unusual friendship that develops between these two children, thrown together by force of circumstance.

A hard-hitting, well-crafted story of great emotional range that has an important message about personal growth and friendship, this novel is suitable for strong readers between the ages of 10 and 12.

Customer Reviews

A really gripping tale, I want to read it again & again!!!
This book is about two children, Nathan Browne & Julia Winter, who are totally unpopular at their school. Then, one day Julia and Nathan find an envelope full of £20 notes in Nathan's hideout. The pair try to use the money to buy some friends, but teachers and their parents are watching them and questions are asked. So the two decide to run away, away from snooping parents & teachers! It's a really great book. Definitely one to read. BEWARE: YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT
I first read this book when I was 10 years old, and I read it so much that it fell to pieces. Quite ironic really, after buying it from the school book fair because I merely liked the picture on the jacket.

I never tired of it. Each read was as enchanting and gripping as the very first time, and I am now about to buy a replacement...at 23 years of age. This really is a fantastic book, for both mature juvenile readers, adolescents (and adults) alike. <

I remember this well
It takes a special book to bring back memories 15 years later.
I read this when I was 11 years old and travelling across the country alone on a train. I remember being terrified for the first twenty minutes, and then lost myself in this book.
I think it can be quite easy for kids to imagine themselves as the characters in novels, and I really could identify with the sadness and loneliness that these kids experienced. This was one of the first books I read for older readers and pathed the way for Robert Cormier, SE Hinton and Melvin Burgess.
An excellent book - and one of the next things I will be buying on payday!