The Beck

When Kyle is forced to spend the day with his eccentric grandad, it’s fair to say it begins unexpectedly (involving a wig, half a sausage roll, and a three-legged dog called Rude Word). But when he is shown the beck at the end of the garden, Kyle becomes enthralled by the nature he finds in the small waterway.  

The pair bond over an ecological mission to protect their beck from developers, a mission which Kyle must complete alone once his grandad falls seriously ill. Along the way, he grows in confidence, navigates friendships, and resolves underlying familial tensions.   

This powerful story from Carnegie-winning Anthony McGowan connects you with its characters immediately. The dynamic between Kyle and his sharp-tongued, restless grandad is a driving force and is outrageously funny – the wig’s funeral will have you in stitches!   

Along with its humour, it should be noted that this book sensitively covers some serious topics, including a scene in which Kyle finds his grandad after he has suffered a stroke. There are also descriptions of bullying and one or two instances of light swearing. 

Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly formatting and the book’s shorter length make it well suited to secondary school students with a younger reading age.