For David Starr, being cast as Nancy in the upcoming school production of
Oliver!
is quite a shock. But David is up to the challenge. Living in a three-bedroom semi in 1970s working-class East Dulwich, surrounded by his somewhat colorful relatives, he is bright, smart-mouthed, fanatical about pop music, and ready to shine. Rehearsals begin, and he strikes up a friendship with the handsome yet enigmatic Maxie Boswell, captain of the school football team. As their alliance deepens it appears they might become more than just good friends, but that can't be right, can it? Discovering a confidant in an empathetic teacher, Hamish McClarnon, and spurred on by his no-nonsense best friend, Frances Bassey, David takes on the school bully, the National Front, and anyone else who threatens to stand in the way of true love. Vibrant, warm, and full of life, this uproarious and touching coming-of-age novel, set against the backdrop of South-East London in the thrill of the late 1970s, will transport you straight back to your first music obsession and the highs and lows of your first love.