CROSSING THE LINE
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An uncompromising exploration of the ruthless Darwinian world of teenagers. It's tough, rough-textured and assured, cynical where it needs to be, and demands respect.
Financial Times
Much more than a morality tale about the danger of carrying a knife to defend yourself ... much witty, well-observed detail.
Glasgow Herald
This is a love story. And it’s funny. You have to keep that in mind... it’s wonderful how Gillian Philip can keep both observations and dialogue quite so humorous, considering the gruesome subject.
Ann Giles, Bookwitch
Full review
Expertly characterised and grippingly plotted, Crossing the Line is a timely novel by a remarkable new voice in teen fiction. A realistically voiced modern novel of the consequences of knife crime, the narrative flips easily between flashback and present day... flows easily and naturally and keeps the reader turning the pages to the end.
Kelly Fuller. WriteAway
Full review
Beautifully written from Nick's point of view... for all his surly ways, he is immensely likeable. His character is handled with ease and his emotions are explored with great sensitivity. There is also a lot of humour, some black, some wry and some laugh out loud funny. It takes a very talented author to broach a topic such as knife crime and tell it from the point of view of one of the perceived baddies
Elizabeth de Jager, My Favourite Books
A chilling read... should appeal to fans of Kevin Brooks and Rachel Ward, or to anyone who likes their fiction to be realistic and believable.
Jenny Davies, Wondrous Reads
Fiction for teenagers often tries too hard to protect or lecture its readers, with sanitised characters and everything rounded off into a neat anti-drugs or anti-sex moral. It’s very rare, and exciting, to find a writer like Gillian Philip, who understands that adolescents are actually capable of sexual feelings and huge, true emotional understanding, and that they can knowingly inflict serious pain as Crossing the Line deals with the fallout of a school stabbing.
Philip’s protagonist is Nick, a former bully who carries a knife and graphically describes the beatings he’s administered. Out of this, somehow, grows a tender, touching and emotionally savvy examination of sibling relationships and adolescent angst, the taut thriller plot balanced by the problems of getting gorgeous Orla Mahon in the sixth year to even notice you exist. Philip’s grasp of schoolyard politics and power-plays is dead-on too, taking older readers kicking and scowling right back to the playground
The List
BAD FAITH
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Love story, political thriller, and murder mystery. I loved every element... chilling, but utterly credible.
Jill Murphy, TheBookbag.co.uk
Bad Faith is one of TheBookbag's Top Ten Dystopian Books for Children
Loved Bad Faith. Very sharp, observant characterisation... vividly convincing. It quite chilled me.
Susan Price, author of Feasting the Wolf and Odin's Son
Secrets that lurk in the family's past are gradually revealed by Philip with consummate skill...
Thematically and atmospherically Bad Faith recalls the early work of Kevin Brooks, a name I mention with due care, since I am eager to convey how very good I think this novel is; those who know my reviewing will know how highly I rate Brooks' work.
After I had finished it, I looked on Amazon to see if there were any reader reviews. There are (as of March '09) eight reviews, every single one of them 5-star reviews. So I am not alone by any means in thinking this a first-rate, five-achukachick read. I urge you to hunt it down.
Michael Thorn, achukareviews
see the full review here
Gillian Philip creates a believable and chilling 'dystopia' where some of the action is not for the faint-hearted, but the pace will keep readers moving on.... A compelling tale.
Stella Thebridge, WriteAway
Full review
This is, dare we say it, an important book...
Bad Faith is a very clever satire, written with pace and humour and wholly deserving of a wider audience.
Given the weight of her topic, Ms Philip wields her “pen” with a deft and surprisingly light touch. Never preaching, allowing her characters to perform their roles within her themes and bound by the confines of a tightly constructed plot. All of life is here; family secrets and delusions, a state-sanctioned serial killer called Holy Joe and a disconcerting demonstration of what might happen if fundamentalism were ever to overtake these shores.
5-star top rating
crimesquad.com
Blasted book! Kept me up until 2am. I couldn't put it down.
Caroley, BookCrossing.com
I loved it. It was the first book this year to make me cry.
Mazzlestar, BookCrossing.com
For more BookCrossing reviews see this link and this one.
One of the most talented novelists to emerge from Scotland in recent years...
By any standards whatsoever, this is a mature piece of work and whatever your age, you will not be able to put it down. From the first astonishing lines to the unbearably poignant ending, the story fairly gallops along, polished, satisfying... It is realised with such a deft touch, with such self consistency, that the reader is transported instantly into the completely credible world of the story.
Philip manages to combine lyrical writing about adult themes, absolutely believable characters and real dialogue, with a breathtaking switchback of a plot, by turns funny, moving and terrifying, that will have you reading on the edge of your seat...
Original, inventive, complex, there is nevertheless a 'truth' at the heart of this novel that is entirely the creation of an accomplished writer. But when you start it, remember to schedule in a good chunk of your time. Bad Faith will sweep you along and have you hoping for a sequel. I finished it in the early hours and spent the following day bleary eyed, and wondering exactly what had hit me.
Catherine Czerkawska, Vulpes Libris
A gritty storyline, complex characters and a chilling atmosphere makes this harrowing story a must-read.
Nairn Bookshop Customer Review
A cracking whodunit that will keep you guessing to the end...
The story rapidly develops into a twisting and turning whodunit... Like all good crime thrillers this one springs constant surprises and will keep you guessing to the end. Although aimed at young people, this book is a thrilling read for all age groups.
National Secular Society