The Edge (novel)

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infobox Book |
name = The Edge


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Alan Gibbons
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Children's
publisher = Orion
pub_date = 1 July 2002
pages = 192
isbn = ISBN 978-1842550946
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Edge" is a young adult novel by Alan Gibbons, published in 2002. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. [ [http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/ The CILIP Carnegie Medal & Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards] ] It features a unique feature of changing character every so often. For example, when scenes change from one place to another, the character who it is based around changes. There is a lot of action in the book.

Plot summary

At the start of the book, a mother and her son escape from the evil stepfather. The stepfather, named Chris, hears them and chased them to the local tube station. He is unsuccessful in his efforts to catch them. Unknown to Chris, the mother, Cathy, and the son, Danny, are going to live with Cathy's mother and father, named Joan and Harry. Chris believes that he owns Cathy, and tries to get her back. Cathy appeared to have destroyed all of the evidence which may lead Chris to her. At first, Harry refuses to accept Danny because he is half-caste. As the book progresses, Harry accepts Danny as his grandson. Danny has a lot of trouble at school with a bully named Steve Parker and his friends. He is also racist. Danny befriends a girl called Nikki, who Steve fancies. Eventually, Danny breaks Steve's nose. Chris, meanwhile, tried to get details off the school Danny used to attend, although the headteacher, Mr. Dickson, refuses to give Chris those details as requested by Cathy. He then tries to get clues from Danny's old friend, Abbie. Chris is halted at this attempt as well.

Characters

Danny

Danny is the main character in the book; he is half-caste and finds himself treated unfairly because of it. Danny is very talented at cross country running.

Cathy

Cathy is the mother of Danny, she often worries about what she has put Danny through. She gets a job at a cafe.

Chris

Chris is the stepfather of Danny, and he feels that Cathy is her woman and property of Chris Kane. He does all he can to get Cathy back.

Harry

Harry is the father of Cathy, the grandfather of Danny and the husband of Joan. He has a strong rivalry with the family next door, and is racist. He drove Cathy out of the house after she became pregnant with a black man.

Joan

Joan is the grandmother of Danny, the mother of Cathy and the wife of Harry. She doesn't feature very much, and was very happy to have her daughter living with her again.

Nikki

Nikki is the friend of Danny and the former girlfriend of Steve. She supports Danny in the battle against the bullies, and the couple form a relationship.She is a looker and quite .

teve

Steve Parker lives next door to Danny and he and his friends Craig and Jamie give Danny a really hard time because of the colour of his skin. Steve suffers a broken nose when Danny punches him in retaliation to a racist comment.

Abbie

Abbie is one of Danny's friends from when he was living with Chris. He fought Chris and refused to give him any details on the whereabouts of Danny. (he didn't know anything about the location of Danny)

Des

Des is Danny's father. He appeared several times throughout the book.

PC Daniels

PC Daniels is one of the minor characters in the book, she had two cases relevant to the novel.

Footnotes