The Penalty
Publisher: Walker Books
Carnegie winner Peet reintroduces us to Paul Faustino (from Keeper), South America's top sports journalist, who is reluctantly drawn into investigating the disappearance of San Juan's teenage football prodigy El Brujito.
As the story of corruption and murder unfolds, he discovers the bitter history of slavery, and the continuing power of the occult in a twenty-first century world.
A gripping thriller, aimed to engage a teenage male audience, this novel actually addresses historical and cultural issues which underpin the heritage and attitudes of vast areas of the world today.
Faustino encounters not only evil, but prejudice, superstition and ignorance, and Peet shows that these are powerful forces against rationality and justice. A taut narrative with a tough, and thought-provoking message.
-
Our Favourite books for teens
Read our list of outstanding teenage books that either won or were shortlisted for the BookTrust Teenage Prize during its running from 2003-10. With fantasy, crime, horror and coming-of-age there is definitely something here for a book loving teen.
