Waiting for Gonzo
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Oz 's parents have dragged him and his sister Meg away from their lives in London to live in a dilapidated farmhouse in the middle of a sleepy village. On day one at his new school, he manages to make a fool of himself and become the victim of school hard case Isobel Skinner, nicknamed 'Psycho'. Meanwhile, Meg has a problem of her own - she has split up from her boyfriend, but has now discovered she is pregnant. Hiding his sister's secret, Oz nicknames the baby 'Gonzo' and begins sharing the hard-fought wisdom of his teenage years with this new person who will soon be coming into his life.
Dave Cousins has created a distinctive narrator in Oz, as well as a hugely believable cast of supporting characters in this heart-warming and humorous novel. Dealing with some serious issues, Waiting for Gonzo manages to be simultaneously funny and thought-provoking, and the relationship between Oz and his sister is particualrly well drawn.
