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Terror Kid

by Benjamin Zephaniah

Interest age: 13 to 14
Reading age: 13+

Published by Hot Key, 2014

  • Coming-of-age
  • Thriller

About this book

Rico is honest, hardworking and very angry. His Roma background marks him out as a suspect and makes it hard not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Acutely socially and politically aware, Rico wants to make a difference, to put right some of the injustices he sees - to make someone listen. So when an enigmatic stranger offers him the chance to use his hacking skills in a peaceful but very public protest he finds it hard to refuse - never imagining the consequences.

Rico's feelings of powerlessness and marginalisation will be familiar to many young people. A powerful, accessible and revelatory novel with its finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary social and political issues.

About the author

Benjamin Zephaniah was a pioneer of the performance poetry scene. He recorded albums, wrote plays for stage, radio and television, and wrote poetry for children, adults, and novels for teenagers. He was also an actor and television presenter. His message was one of unity, peace and expression through creativity. He held 16 honorary doctorates and was visiting professor at De Montfort University and Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing at Brunel University.

His autobiography, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, was nominated for two major awards and he toured often with his band. Benjamin lived in Lincolnshire for much of his later life.

Benjamin passed away on 7 December 2023. 

Diana Gerald, Chief Executive of BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, said:  

“Everyone at BookTrust is devastated to hear the news about one of the nation’s favouritepoets Benjamin Zephaniah. 

“Benjamin Zephaniah was a pioneer of the performance poetry scene. He recorded albums, wrote plays for stage, radio and television, and he wrote poetry for children, adults, and novels for teenagers. He was also an actor and television presenter. His message was one of unity, peace and expression through creativity. He held 16 honorary doctorates and was visiting professor at De Montfort University and Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing at Brunel University. 

“His fiction and poetry collections for older children, including Face, Gangsta Rap, Teacher’s Dead, Refugee Boy and Terror Kid and Windrush Child, have become thought-provoking beloved classics to be treasured forever by children and the adults they turn into, and by teachers.   

“His picture book with Nila Aye, Nature Trail, was shortlisted for the BookTrust Storytime Prize 2023, because it brought wonder and joy in nature to children. Benjamin’s energy and love for words and their ability to change children's lives will be sorely missed.” 

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