Becoming Dinah

by Kit de Waal

Paperback, 2019

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Genres

Collections

Publication

Orion Children's Books (2019)

Description

"A gripping, heart-wrenching coming-of-age story" - Guardian In her first YA novel, Costa-shortlisted Kit de Waal responds to classic Moby Dick by tearing the power away from obsessive Captain Ahab and giving it to a teenage girl. Dinah's whole world is upside down, dead things and angry men and cuts all over her head that are beginning to sting.... Seventeen-year-old Dinah needs to leave her home, the weird commune where she grew up. She needs a whole new identity, starting with how she looks, starting with shaving off her hair, her 'crowning glory'. She has to do it quickly, because she has to go now. Dinah was going to go alone and hitch a ride down south. Except, she ends up being persuaded to illegally drive a VW campervan for hundreds of miles, accompanied by a grumpy man with one leg. This wasn't the plan. But while she's driving, Dinah will be forced to confront everything that led her here, everything that will finally show her which direction to turn... In her first YA novel, Costa-shortlisted author Kit de Waal responds to the classic Moby Dick with entirely new characters, a VW campervan, and by tearing the power away from obsessive Captain Ahab and giving it to a teenage girl who's determined to find a new life, far away from her unconventional upbringing. "An emotionally charged book" - Daily Mail "Fresh and defiantly original ... what a beautiful book" - Sarah Moore Fitzgerald "An emotional coming of age tale of escape, mission, and ultimately, self-knowledge" - The Big Issue… (more)

Awards

The Children's Book Award (Shortlist — Older Readers — 2020)
Books Are My Bag Readers Award (Shortlist — 2019)
Diverse Book Awards (Longlist — Young Adult — 2020)

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

7.72 inches

ISBN

1510105700 / 9781510105706

Barcode

91100000188405

DDC/MDS

823.92
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