Pigeon English, By Stephen Kelman Bloomsbury

Thursday 04 October 2012 16:12 BST

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The story of 13-year-old Ghanian immigrant, Harri Opoku, whose new home is a gritty London estate and whose fate bears echoes of Damilola Taylor's murder, caused a publishing sensation and ended up on the Man Booker shortlist.

Kelman, a debut author, proves his skill for capturing dialogue authentically – teenage-speak and immigrant patios – as well as the interiors of other worlds. Harri's child's perspective is variously funny and moving, though the pigeon's point of view may have taken it a step too far.

Pigeon English By Stephen Kelman Bloomsbury, £7.99

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