Teenage fiction reviewed

King Arthur has so far proved an exception in the otherwise terminal dearth of role-model heroes in teenage fiction. But his bluff has now been called in Philip Reeve's cleverly debunking Here Lies Arthur (Scholastic, £12.99). A greedy local warlord, Arthur is shown as only achieving his reputation due to the efforts of Merlin, more spin-doctor than magician. A loveless dynastic marriage to Guinevere, called here by her Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, fails to soften this blustering thug, whose mission to unite England is no more than Merlin's ultimate pipe-dream. Beautifully written without a dull word, the story is seen through the eyes of Gwyna, a young servant. Compassionate to all the victims of what was once seen as chivalry and drawing unmistakeable parallels from today's battlefields, this is new historical writing at its best.

James Riordan also looks to the past in Rebel Cargo (Frances Lincoln, £9.99). This searing tale of slavery during the 18th century is not subtly written, but its unflinching descriptions of the appalling cruelty of the time make matters of style seem unimportant. Bringing together the story of a neglected orphan in Britain and a young African slave in the West Indies, it still manages to come up with an almost happy ending. This is a book to read at a time when the national myopia over what slavery entailed is challenged as never before.

Allan Ahlberg's The Boyhood of Burglar Bill (Puffin, £8.99) is an affectionately downbeat memoir of his early childhood in the West Midlands 50 years ago. Neither bitter nor sentimental, it describes a time when nothing seemed to happen or else there was too much going on altogether. Quirky adults, at home or in neighbouring terrace houses, form the background to a story involving the near-victory of a scratch junior football side made up, as usual at this age, of ten centre-forwards and one goalkeeper. Joyful at one moment, wistful at the next, this artfully informal story has something for everyone.

So too does Henning Mankell's Shadows in the Twilight (Andersen Press, £5.99), well translated from the Swedish by Laurie Thompson. Set in 1957, it tells the story of Joel, a solitary child residing with his father. Living intensely in his own imaginative world, Joel sets himself a series of bizarre quests after surviving a road accident which could have killed him. As much a study of childhood as a story for children, this understated novella provides a powerful reminder of how different the early years can be from the later adult state. Sometimes sad, often bleakly humorous, this story says more than many twice its size.

Berserk (Marion Lloyd, £6.99) is Ally Kennen's second novel, written with a verve and confidence that never lets up. Very funny at times, it describes the chaotic life of Chas, a bright 15-year-old tearaway of the type more popular with novelists than head teachers. After he lands himself in a terrifying Young Offenders Institute, Chas's laid-back style is seriously at risk from bullies and his own best friend, appropriately known as Devil. Fortunate to be released early, Chas has to take on some sinister local issues as his story spins out of control in an over-extended climax. That apart, this excellent novel well deserves the large audience it should get.

Catherine Forde's Tug of War (Egmont, £4.99) is another gripping story, set in Glasgow and using rich local dialect. But its story of a teenage girl torn between her loving but ageing parents and the glamorous outsider who wants to adopt her is strong enough to keep the pages turning, however unfamiliar some of the words.

Living in a grim future when big cities are regularly gas-bombed, Molly welcomes a stay in the countryside, where she is spoiled rotten. Forgetting to look out for her older brother, who is having a bad time at a nearby farm, she is visited by the mother she has become ashamed of - good stuff from an author who never disappoints.

The same is true of Catherine Fisher, one of today's best fantasy writers. Her Incarceron (Hachette, £5.99) starts underground in a futuristic prison that has a horrible way of thinking for itself. Young Finn, trapped in this nightmare, dreams of escaping. Meanwhile, in the privileged outer world, a girl his age manages to make contact via a crystal key. With plenty of the strongest meat to come, readers can look forward to a deliciously dark and scary ride.