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Kerb-Stain Boys: The Crongton Broadway Robbery

by Alex Wheatle

Interest age: 12 to 16
Reading age: 12+

Published by Barrington Stoke, 2018

  • Coming-of-age
  • Funny

About this book

Briggsy (AKA Capleton), his best friend Terror and the love of Terror’s life, Caldonia, are 14 year olds living on the wrong side of the tracks in South Crong: the fictional location, which feels something like south London, where all Alex Wheatle’s books for teenagers are set.

When Caldonia points out the boys' lives don’t seem to be going places, their vague fantasy of robbing a post office is chivvied into reality. The plans descend into pure farce, including painted Star Wars toy blasters as their heist weapons! 

This book is a blast of fresh air and will appeal to all types of teenagers, from the booky to absolute reluctants (Barrington Stoke’s dyslexic sensitive publishing standards also help here).

The humorous cusses bandied about by the main characters are like a book version of a rap battle, and as always with Alex Wheatle’s writing, there’s a core of morality and exploring the real feelings of teenagers honestly.

Drug references and swearing give this book a 12+ recommendation.

A hilarious, thrilling and ultimately uplifting read.

About the author

Born in 1963 to Jamaican parents, Wheatle grew up in Brixton, South London. At 16 he was a founder member of the Crucial Rocker sound system; his DJ name was Yardman Irie. He wrote lyrics about everyday Brixton life. By 1980 Wheatle was living in a social services hostel in Brixton, South London, and he participated in the 1981 Brixton riots and aftermath. While serving his resulting sentence he read authors such as Chester Himes, Richard Wright, C. L. R. James and John Steinbeck. He claims that a Rastafarian was his cellmate, and he was the one who encouraged Wheatle to start reading books and care about his education.

He received the London Arts Board New Writers Award in 1999 for his debut novel Brixton Rock, which was later adapted for the stage and performed at the Young Vic in July 2010. Wheatle turned to writing for teenagers in 2015 with Liccle Bit the first of his South Crongton series of books.

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