Outwalkers

 

 

A future England –but not very far in the future.

Alone in the world except for his dog Jet, hunted by the authorities, Jake sets out to find the only family he has left. If he’s caught, he’ll be locked up in his hated school again, and what will happen to Jet?Liste

He’s running, but they’re hunting him and they’re getting close…

A gang of kids on a perilous journey through a country that will lock them up first and ask questions afterwards. They must live on their wits, all of them – even Jake’s dog, Jet – and they must work as a gang to survive.

Listen to Fiona reading from Outwalkers

 

Shortlisted for YA Book Prize, longlisted for Branford Boase Award, nominated for Carnegie Medal.

Reviews

This is a great, heart-stopping adventure for 12-plus about a burning hunger for freedom that shakes the soul with its contemporary political echoes. It has a moral compass that should put it bang in the centre of our kids’ imaginations.

Amanda Craig, New Statesman

 

Gripping, action-packed, but with moments of tenderness, Shaw’s first YA novel tackles contemporary issues, balancing them with timeless themes of love, loyalty and freedom.

Daily Mail 

 

The picture of England which Shaw creates is at once recognisable but also truly horrifying and all too plausible…This has the feel of a post-Brexit novel yet I can see it staying relevant for years to come. Shaw tackles difficult moral issues and her characters have to make uncomfortable and frightening decisions. Their naivety is often exposed as a weakness and the child’s willingness to trust sometimes leads to great danger.

Now more than ever, people of all ages are reading young adult books, and some of the best writers around (like Shaw) are providing them… I very much hope she is working on a follow-up to this.

York Press

 

The detail in the world building… makes this book so impactful. Hours and days after putting it down, I found certain images stayed with me … The plot is gripping and the hard hitting nature of the book meant I was in constant fear that one or more of the gang were not going to make it to the end of the story…This is a beautifully written, powerful and moving story that will appeal to teens and adults alike.

The Bookbag