Fifteen Days Without a Head

by Dave Cousins

Fifteen-year-old Laurence Roach just wants a normal life, but it's not easy when your mum is a depressed alcoholic, and your six-year-old brother thinks he's a dog.

When Mum fails to come home one night, Laurence tells nobody, terrified he and his brother will be taken into care if anyone finds out. Instead, he attempts to keep up the pretence that Mum is still around: dressing up in her clothes to trick the neighbours and spinning an increasingly complicated tangle of lies. After two weeks on their own, running out of food and money, and with suspicious adults closing in, Laurence finally discovers what happened to his mother. And that's when the trouble really starts . . .

A compelling thriller filled with some hilarious and surreal moments. Fifteen Days Without a Head is a tender, honest story about family, forgiveness and hope.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Mental Illness, Family, Realistic Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2011

About the author

Dave Cousins’ books have been hailed as "teen realism with action, humour and heart". He is also the author/illustrator of the "Charlie Merrick's Misfits" series, and the "Robot Babysitter" stories for younger readers.

Abandoning childhood plans to be an astronaut or Batman, Dave went to art college in Bradford, joined a band and was nearly famous. His writing career began aged ten, drawing comics and penning lyrics for an imaginary pop group. Dave says that reading and writing stories helped him navigate the bumpy roads of teenage life and hopes that his own books will play a similar role for today’s readers.

Published in over twelve languages, "15 Days without a Head" was a Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week, a Junior Library Guild Selection in the US, and has won awards in both the UK and Europe. "Waiting for Gonzo" won the Grampian Children's Book Award, and was shortlisted for the prestigious German Children’s Literature Prize in 2017. Gonzo also has its own original soundtrack album and music videos. Both books were nominated for the Carnegie Medal.

When not scribbling stories, Dave tours extensively giving talks and running workshops in schools and at literary events across the UK and abroad. The events have been described as “stand-up with books”, or as one student put it: “well funny!” A mix of anecdotes, pictures, readings and leaping about, the underlying message being that we all have a story to tell! Audiences learn some of the true tales that inspired the books, as well as tips on writing and drawing their own stories.

Dave lives on a rock by the sea in Wales, with his wife and a grumpy cat.

Reviews

[Serendipity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

On finishing this book, the first question that came to mind was - where the hell has Dave Cousins been hiding?

This book is fantastic. I loved it from the first word until the last. In fact this book really took me by surprise, because when I first heard about it, I really wasn't sure it would be one for me. How wrong was I? This book made me feel so comfortable and right at home as soon as I entered the Roach household. The story was refreshing and original and kept me entranced all the way through. I found that the author's writing just sucked me into the story until I felt like an invisible member of the Roach family.

The story is written in first person from the point of view of Laurence Roach, a lovely teenage boy who is struggling to help his mother with her alcohol addiction and depression. A few pages into the book, she goes AWOL. She had obviously reached the point of no return and disappears without a forwarding address from Laurence's life; leaving him hungry, penniless and in charge of his mischievous little brother, Jay, who has that innocence about him until you upset him and his feral side is let loose, which will result in a nasty bite!

This book will play with your emotions. One minute you will be laughing, before tears of sadness sneak up behind you and take your breath away. I honestly didn't know what to expect next as Laurence battled with everyone and everything around him in order to stay at home. I would like to say the ending was magical and happy, but this story is about real life and no one lives like that.

This is one of the best contemporary novels I have read this year. I would put it up there with My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece. I want to put this book in every teenager's hand and make them read it, especially the ones who whinge about how their lives suck! Pah! They know nothing.

I really want to see this made into a TV drama on the BBC! I could just envisage it playing on the screen as I read it.

My only worry is whether or not Dave Cousins will be able to follow up such a fantastic book. I really hope so!

[Lindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, wow. This book is kind of heartbreaking, but beautiful.

Life pretty much sucks for Laurence Roach. His dad died when he was young. His mother is nearly always drunk, with the violent mood swings that goes with. His little brother is both and adorable and unbearably obnoxious at the same time. Their family is strapped for cash and they live in a dump. He is often late for class because he has to take his little brother to school. And that is all before his mother goes missing.

No matter what happens, Laurence doesn’t give up hope. That is where the beauty of this story lies. This 15 year old kid who will do anything to keep his family going. He spends his evenings in a telephone booth with a stolen call card, imitating his father (with a Scottish accent lifted from a Teacher), play a trivia game on a radio show in the hopes that he can win his family an all expenses paid vacation. Surely that would cheer his depressed mother up. They could get away, if even for a little while, and live like normal, carefree people.

Then the worst happens, and his mother doesn’t come home. Days pass with no sign of her. Money runs out. Food runs out. Jay becomes ill. It’s all Laurence can do to keep it together.

Laurence and Jay form their own little Scoobygang, with Laurence as Shaggy and Jay as Scooby, and a girl from school as Velma. Together they set out to find the missing mother, but real live sleuthing isn’t as easy as it looks in cartoons.

It’s a tale of courage and determination. It even has a lovely, quiet romance for our lovely, quiet hero. My heart goes out to Laurence, to everyone who’s ever been a victim of bad and neglectful parenting, to the amazing souls who have risen above it to be more than what they know.

There are a couple of good chuckles mixed in, as well. For as sad as the subject matter is, at no point did I feel like it was a downer. Or that the book lacked action. With all the in your face male characters and bad boys of YA floating around, reading about a guy like Laurence gives me hope, you know? Sometimes the overlooked boys are the most beautiful of all.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The trouble begins when Laurence's mom disappears or runs away. We don't really know why she doesn't come home, and the hours turn into days. Laurence, the older brother, is left to care for his bratty baby brother. He misses school, scrounges for money for food, dodges neighbors, lies and searches for his mother, all while trying to win a vacation through a radio contest. It sure is convenient he has phone cards to use at the booth! Although all the focus is placed on Laurence and his brother's two-week struggle, I was left wondering what drove the single mother to do what she did? The obvious assumption provided by the author is depression and addiction, but the actual turning point and precise moment when the decision is made to abandon the children is never witnessed. I believe a missed opportunity happened here. If included, it would have contributed incredibly to the story, both emotionally and psychologically. Without this experience, as a reader, my sympathy was lessened and my understanding, diminished. I felt I needed to see more, feel more and understand the mother better in order to relate to Laurence's bond and loyalty. Sure I cared, but I wasn't all that invested.

15 Days Without A Head is a decent, steady read that would fit well in a school library or used as a classroom reader. In fact, it's as if the book was purposefully written with this demographic in mind. I wouldn't be surprised if this one ended up on summer reading lists and those approved to be selected for book reports. It touches on several domestic issues that impact families, but without the nitty-gritty imaginary that could ruffle educational planning boards. Simply put, this book is as safe as an after school special, but does it really portray reality? It provides obvious themes that can be easily selected for discussion without profound exploration. The plot leads to formulaic questions such as what should/could have Laurence done in this situation? What was the better choice?

I understand some topics can pack a powerful punch without the use of over-the-top violence or shocking situations, but despite the subject matter, 15 Days Without A Head is too sterile and transparent for my taste. Compared to the newly released Sketchy by Olivia Samms, where thematically the multi-layered plot addresses issues of drug abuse, recovery and neglect in a way that is also neither too graphic or shocking, 15 Days Without A Head cannot contend with similar, but harder-working novels.

[Shine Mozor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a funny book, but it was oddly depressing. I'm really not sure how i feel about their mom still having custody over them. She doesn't deserve them, but everyone deserves a second chance I guess, or in her case a 1000th chance. I dont know, still conflicted about that. Enjoyed the radio game show aspect of this book, learned a lot of interesting facts from it, that I have already forgotten. Laurence was a very strong protagonist and i just wanted to give him a hug, but i can't cause he stinks. I loved his pov, and it was refreshing to read from a male's pov. Most ya books are written from a female's. Jay was very adorable and i loved mina as well. Amazing fun read.

[dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's probably impossible not to fall in love with Laurence Roach. it's definitely impossible not to fall in love with his little brother, Jay, who thinks he’s a dog. and it’s completely impossible not to want to rip their mother’s head off. but that’s really the point here. you can’t. Laurence can’t, Jay can’t and even Nosy Nelly can’t.

Mrs. Roach is a pathetic alcoholic, frequent liar and overall whiner, but she’s family. and you can’t give up on family even when you really really want to. this is the story of how a son teaches his mother to become one.

It’s amazing. Read it.

[Logan Mendivil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heartbreaking book that tells the tale of two brothers when their mother goes missing. It was beautifully written and helped convey the sense of dread and panic that our main character felt during this traumatizing experience and trying to care for his brother. I will admit, it bother's me that she still had custody of the children and didn't face any actual repercussions for her actions.

[Xwhateveruwant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naprawdę wciągająca

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books need to be read while you’re eating pickled onion Monster Munch and I think this is just one of those books.

Let me explain.

I find pickled onion Monster Munch e a very underrated crisp. They aren’t the coolest crisps on the shelf. Not everyone thinks of them instantly when they think of a delicious savoury snack. I mean, they don’t have Gary Lineker and Lionel Richie advertising them. They can’t be dipped in…um…dip. Or at least easily. I guess you would really have to want some dip to dip Monster Munch in dip.*

But they are the kind of crisp that you would buy because you’d not had a packet in yonks and then two seconds later, you’ve eaten the entire bag (well probably half, because the other half would be all down your jumper and in your hair. Is that just me and my ability to eat Monster Munch?).

They’re underrated in the savoury snacks stakes but they’re there if you look for them.

If you squint dead carefully at the above paragraph, you will see an eversoslightly passive aggressive commentary of the YA publishing industry.

I’m going to stop talking about crisps now just in case you get confused thinking you’ve stumbled onto my secret spin-off blog called ‘Eat the Delicious Crisp” where I eat crisps and blog.

However, I have to say quickly- that there is mention of Monster Munch in this book. I’m not just hungry, I swear.
This book was brilliant. I actually had never heard about it until Keren David recommended it to me in her interview. As you know, I’m a huge Keren David fan and I know her style of writing so I’m pretty confident if she said a book is good.

I didn’t actually realise how good though.

First up, I get a bit nervous when I find out a book (especially by an author I’ve never read) is about mental illness. I’m very critical about it and I’ve given up on books that have dealt with it in a pithy, flippant or sometimes downright offensive way.

This was good though, great actually. It was the perfect mix of sadness and humour without belittling the seriousness of the illness but also, just as importantly, not making it gratuitous. I know gratuitous is my favourite word for serious books but I really dislike it when an author writes a subject in a certain way because they want you to feel a certain way. Gah.

It’s not always an easy book to read because when I was laughing (and I laughed a lot) there was always a sad under tone niggling in the back of my mind. Like if you were drawing a picture and did a bit wrong but thought “Ahh, I’ll just colour over it in bright colours and no one will know” but you can still see the mistake under your colouring in. I really loved how the issues were always present, even when they didn’t seem like they were because the story was going through a more light-hearted patch, and weren’t conveniently forgotten about when the story moved on.

There are some bits that were extremely infuriating but not because of Mr Cousins’ writing ability, but because of his great ability to write teenagers. When Laurence is wearing a wig and pretending to be his mum so he and his brother Jay don’t get separated by the social services, I admit I did roll my eyes a little bit. Because, let’s face it, it sounds stupid, right?

But let’s remember that I’m an adult…. ish.

And as an adult, I’m screaming at him to go and get help, to stop hiding the fact that they’re living with cockroaches and living off Mars Bars. But that’s when I forgot he was fifteen, he was scared, he was alone and he had to look after his brother. Of course he’s going to make silly mistakes, he’s fifteen! What do you expect?

I liked how Mr Cousins seemed to find the balance between the silly and the sad. I think that’s important in books like this not because we need to water down the silly with sad or vice versa, but because it’s real. That’s what life’s like, it’s not all doom and gloom, but then again it’s not all rainbows and unicorns.

Before I go, I should probably mention Mina because she was brilliant. What? What? No I am not biased because she’s Northern and has a funny accent. I mean, Northern accents are definitely the worst… yes?

But she was great and had the right amount of love for our hero and “What on earth are you doing?”
And yes, she was a sassy Northerner. I probably am a little biased.

Anyway…. this is a remarkable book and Mr Cousins is definitely an author you should be reading.

While eating pickled onion Monster Munch.

*dipdipdipdip. Did I mention dip?

[Yelania Nightwalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recibí este libro como un "obsequio" de la editorial y me intrigaron un par de cuestiones, además los libros de Nube de Tinta suelen ser muy buenos, con temas profundos y conmovedores (por lo menos los que había leído hasta ahora). Sabiendo eso, no dudé ni un segundo en lanzarme con éste.

Tenemos a Laurence, un chico de 15 años que tiene que lidiar con el alcoholismo de su madre. Sabemos que la adicción que provoca el alcohol consume a las personas, las transforma y con ello, destruye también a quienes los rodean. Sabiendo ésto, yo esperaba una historia diferente, profunda, que tocara una fibra dentro de mí. No quería un libro que me matara de tanta lágrima pero esperaba algo mucho más que lo que encontré en sus páginas.

Una de las cosas que me cansó fue la poca evolución de la historia. Fue como ir manejando en una gran carretera recta con unos cuantos baches. No sé si me explico. Esos baches serían los momentos de angustia de Laurence, cuando descubre que su madre ha desaparecido, por ejemplo. O cuando se da cuenta que no hay nada que comer y que no tiene dinero. Y así, hay fragmentos que son conmovedores, nuestros baches. No obstante, como lector, necesitas momentos de tensión en las que que te comas las uñas por la preocupación... necesitamos esas curvas para mantenernos despiertos. Y pues, llámenme vieja o lo que sea pero no hubo gran acción en este libro para mantenerme enganchada.

Creo que la novela está dirigida a un público más juvenil y en ese sentido, no dudo que los adolescentes puedan en determinado momento, adorar la historia. Sobre todo porque mucho del comportamiento de Laurence es ambiguo, tenemos cosas que parecen maduras y cosas que parecen infantiles. No hay una definición total en ese aspecto de su personalidad, algo que no es extraño dada la edad que tiene. Hubieron cosas que le aplaudí, no lo niego.

Los personajes son pocos y no están bien dimensionados. De hecho, son bastante planos. El señor Buchan por ejemplo, podría haber cobrado protagonismo pero fue desaprovechado, dejando un hueco en la historia. Nelly, me pareció la típica vieja chismosa, pero sin crear un problema real para que nuestro protagonista lidiara con ello. Fue un nudo que quedó muy suelto. Mina, podría haber destacado pero no pasa de la chica buena, que está enamorada del Grandote y decide ayudarlo en todo lo que pueda. Se convierte en un personaje que llegó de la nada y se quedó. Phil, parecía que iba a ser la piedra en el camino pero no pasó de ser un alcohólico gruñón. La mamá que ya sabemos que cayó en el alcoholismo a causa de una depresión, tenía un potencial enooooorme, creando caos absoluto, ¡ya hasta lo imaginaba!, pero al final nada de nada. Te pongo, te quito, te pongo, fin. Jay fue otro personaje desaprovechado. Se nos dice que tiene complejo de perro y yo esperaba hallar un niño con problemas a causa del ambiente en que vive, pero no. Jay saltaba de niño a perro sin ton ni son; creando una gran discrepancia en su personaje.

El tema del concurso en el participa Laurence fue interesante y me agradó leerlo porque de alguna manera, me preguntaba, ¿cuán desesperado debe de estar un chico como él, intentando salvar a su mamá, para hacer algo como eso? ¿Qué no se da cuenta que incluso si lo gana, jamás podrá reclamarlo?

Aunque al final gana ese premio y en efecto no puede reclamarlo, siento que de alguna manera fue lo que hizo que la mamá "reaccionara". Pero también, le faltó fuerza a esta parte y faltó fuerza en el personaje de la mamá. Sentí que era otro punto que podría haberse trabajado mejor y quedó muy suelto. Sabemos que la mamá empieza una rehabilitación y todo, pero es una parte de la trama, muy hueca.

Al final tenemos una historia contada desde el punto de vista de Laurence, un chico que ha vivido de cerca lo destructivo que es el alcoholismo. Un joven de quince años que ha sufrido, que tiene un hogar destruido y que un día se enfrenta a la necesidad de cuidar de su hermanito, a quien adora y que, por su edad, no es consciente de todo lo que su hermano mayor está pasando. Pero no hay más que eso, no hay más que una historia sin tantas complicaciones que puede usarse como ejemplo para que los jóvenes se den cuenta que sus problemas, que consideran enormes, no lo son tanto y que hay gente en este mundo que sufre más, mucho más.

*Libro enviado por la editorial a cambio de una reseña honesta.

[Adri G.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo lamento mucho, pero el final me decepcionó. Con una madre así ¿de verdad no hubieran estado mejor los niños en algún hogar adoptivo? La mujer regresa después de abandonarlos SOLO porque se enfrenta a la idea de que su hijo menor podría haber muerto, no porque realmente lo deseara, y aún así, cambia la bebida por pastillas, y el pobre infeliz de Laurence no puede salir de su casa sin el alma en un hilo por miedo de descubrir al volver que su madre se haya marchado otra vez. Perdón pero en definitiva, la madre tenía razón cada vez que decía "no los merezco", porque no, no los merecía.

[Gerardo Zambrano Reyes · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

No se me hizo un mal libro, pero la historia se me hizo estresante y no siento que se haya resuelto de una manera justa, además es demasiado abrupta y muy conveniente; Laurence es un buen personaje y admiro lo que hizo pero a la vez es muy injusto lo que tuvo que pasar y no comparto todas las decisiones que tomó.

[Bright Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurence hizo todo para cuidar de su hermano, pero la decisión más importante no fue la correcta. Quedarse con su mamá??? En serio??? Mucho mejor hubieran estado con otra familia, su mamá no merecía que la hubieran salvado.

[Isaiah S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very good! Good detail, good plot, but there were some parts I didn't understand but that was Laurence! Amazing book I would recommend!

[Greenglasses · Rating 3 out of 5]

twas good but i didnt finish it. cant remember why. i just didnt. :P

[paege ☮︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this must be my favourite book I've ever read. I was hooked from beginning to end! I could not put it down - I am so impressed. I first read this book in primary school, which on reflection I realise was odd considering it is not really child appropriate. I never forgot about the book, and so decided to purchase it again and re-read it 7 years later! It was rather nostalgic, and I can relate to the book very closely due to my childhood being quite similar on Jay's end (the younger brother). A beautiful story based around love, trust, secrets, perseverance and determination. I am shocked this book is not more widely known. I cannot wait to read more of Cousin's work. Phenomenal!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifteen Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins was a book that my Mom forced me to read to stop me from looking at my computer, and I expected a dull, uninteresting and lame book. I also thought that it would be a book more filled with jokes than a serious subject, but I was proven wrong. Almost instantly after reading the first chapter, I fell in love with it. I read it for four hours straight until the very last word, and it blew me away. The story is told by Laurence Roach, a 15 year old boy whose father left him when he was younger, his mother is an alcoholic and his little brother, well, like all other 6 yea old boys are annoying, loud and obnoxious. To top it all off, his mother spends all the money she earns on cigarettes and alcohol, so the two boys have no money to themselves. One day, the mother goes missing after going to work one morning, and for the two boys, it is the story of survival. Either try to live off a couple pounds and make it seem like everything is normal, or turn themselves into the foster house and live a miserable life.

One part that I really enjoyed reading was how every single morning, when Laurence and his little brother leave for school, Nosy Nancy is always waiting at the front door of their apartment, stalking everyone and everything that goes in or out of the door. Everybody dislikes her but that does not keep her from asking everybody about their personal life, work, and even how their family members are. After Laurence's mother goes missing, Laurence is always trying to refrain that piece of news to leak out to Nosy Nancy, because she will tell the whole of England. One morning, after countless days of Nancy asking where their mother is, he himself dresses up to look like his own mother, and meet Nosy Nancy! That I found truly hilarious.

One part of the book that I found intense was when Laurence, his little brother and Mina, his girlfriend all leave for the annual fair that takes place in their neighborhood, and while he is there, he noticed something very strange. A silver haired man was dragging a very drunk woman around the fair, and for a weird reason, Laurence could somehow feel that this woman was his mother, who went missing a couple days back. Laurence immediately goes chasing after the two, until he ends up in the house of mirrors. For a split second, he thought that he could see the silver haired man, but with all the movement around him, and the mirrors reflecting everyones movement, he gets extremely dizzy, and by the way he described it, the whole world was becoming a blur and passes out. Despite not being able to get his mom back, Laurence found out very valuable information. His mother was not dead yet.

The part that I enjoyed mot about this great book was how through the whole story, Laurence is pretending to be his own father on some sort of a radio station challenge, where every night, three difficult questions would be asked to the participants, and after six rounds, the person who gets the least wrong will win two free tickets for a vacation in the sun. Laurence, desperate to impress his mother and bring her out to a vacation (before she went missing) goes out every second night to the local phone booth and despite everything that is going on in his life. He always has to put on a grown up imitation and voice, and it was always interesting to see if he got something wrong of right.

Overall, Fifteen Days Without a Head is a wonderful and beautifully written book and I enjoyed every part of it. There were some bits of the book where the writer might have gone a little overboard in describing someone of something, take Laurence's little brother for example but nevertheless the book is too good that a minor problem does not matter much. I recommend this book to anybody of any age, mostly from 10 to 15 years old. There is no foul language that would be inappropriate and I would even recommend this book to people who like romance, because not only is there action and lots of intense moments there is also a time where Laurence falls in love with a girl. Dace Cousins is a writer who can satisfy a reader even if this book does not fit their genre, and that is something difficult to do.

[Yazmin Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fue una sorpresa para mí el haber recibido este libro en mi casa, no lo esperaba. Y cuando lo vi en la pila de libros pendientes estaba muy indecisa si leerlo o no. Por lo que he visto, Nube de Tinta se caracteriza por tener libros bastante emotivos y con historias más “reales”, y como en ese momento andaba un poco sensible estaba indecisa si leerlo o esperar a que mejoraran mis emociones, pero la curiosidad me ganó.

Es una historia bastante fuerte, donde nos muestra lo rápido que pueden crecer emocionalmente los niños y adolescentes en situaciones difíciles, como en el caso de Laurence y de Jay, que crecieron demasiado rápido por culpa de los desordenes emocionales de su madre. Al desaparecer la madre de estos dos hermanos, Laurence tiene que hacerse cargo de su hermano Jay, procurar que él esté bien mientras pregunta “¿dónde está mamá?”, y evitar que los vecinos se den cuenta de que están solos para que así no llamen a los Servicios Sociales y los separen.

Mientras Laurence se hace cargo de su hermano tendrá que hacer hasta lo imposible por conseguir dinero para alimentarse, hasta pensar en robar. Él piensa que si se hace pasar por su padre para ganar unas maravillosas vacaciones para su mamá todo mejorará y su madre cambiará de actitud, pero en una situación poco conveniente para él descubre que ni con vacaciones su madre volverá a ser la de antes. Que tu madre te rechace es un golpe muy duro para cualquiera, y es ahí donde se pierde el último rastro de inocencia. Pero como dicen por ahí: después de la tormenta viene la calma.

Es una historia realmente fuerte, donde nos muestra la realidad de muchas personas, pero con una moraleja bastante útil y significativa, nunca hay que rendirse aunque haya días difíciles (siempre los habrá).

Admiro la decisión de Laurence y el amor que siente por su familia, siempre decidido a encontrar a su madre y a sacar adelante a su pequeño hermano sin el apoyo de nadie; es en ese momento donde un niño crece si haber disfrutado de su infancia.

El final del libro queda abierto, y es ahí donde nosotros suponemos lo que pasará enseguida, pensando si mejorarán las cosas o seguirán igual. Pero creo que todo mejoró, y más porque entre los personajes hubo iniciativa, iniciativa para mejorar.

15 días sin cabeza es un libro muy emotivo, con personajes muy humanos y una historia encantadora donde nos muestra lo dura que puede ser la vida; un libro que no lo lees, lo devoras; y con una enseñanza que nos queda a todos: siempre habrá días oscuros, lo importante es ver cuando sale el sol.

[IzamaRi H. Fabela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como ya es costumbre, el sello Nube de Tinta nos hace entrega de una historia real, conmovedora y cruel que dejara pensando a más de a uno.

Estoy realmente sorprendida por la fresca narración del autor que me atrapo desde la primera palabra y no me soltó hasta que llegue a la última. Y a pesar de contarnos una historia cruel, es imposible no querer saber más de lo que pasa en la vida de estos dos hermanos.

– ¿Si esta noche tampoco hay comida, vamos a tener que ser caníbales y encontrar a alguien para comérnoslo?

La historia está contada en primera persona desde el punto de vista de Laurence Roach, un adolescente que a su corta edad debe de ser responsable de su hermanito, pero como cualquier adolescente no tiene ni idea de lo que debe de hacer para mantener a su hermano con vida y lejos de los servicios sociales.

De verdad disfrute mucho, MUCHO, ser testigo de la difícil batalla que Laurence tiene en la cabeza. No solo está su hermano, si no también esta lo del concurso de la radio por unas vacaciones, una linda chica y el misterioso paradero de su madre.

Ningún adolescente tendría que pasar esto, de echo cuando el libro llego a mi pensé que la historia me iba a resultar a mar de triste, pero para mi sorpresa el autor logra entregarnos una historia muy humana que no cae para nada en lo afligido.

– ¡Quiero ver la TV! – me amenaza con el puño.
– No me pegues. ¿Qué dice mamá de pegar?
– ¡A ti bien que te pega!

Otro de los personajes que me encanto, fue Jay. El medio hermano que se cree perro.
Como todo niño de seis años, Jay solo quiere ver a su mami y no es capaz de comprender todo lo que su hermano mayor debe de hacer por él.


Así que una vez más les voy hablar de lo genial que es Laurence, pues supo jugar con las fantasías de su hermano para sacar todo adelante y con juego de Scooby-Doo logra controlar a su berrinchudo hermano y dar por fin el paradero de su madre.

Pero estoy harto de correr. A veces hay que afrontar y pelear. Miro de reojo por el hombro y allí están; las apretadas filas de mi ejército, que me miran desde sus puertas: una mujer que no puede levantarse de la cama sin ayuda de un whisky SavaShoppa y un niño de seis años que piensa que es Scooby-Doo.

Si dependiera de mí, daría este libro a todos los adolescentes que se quejan de sus vidas, porque si quieren tener una vida difícil, definitivamente deberían de ser testigo de la difícil realidad de Laurence.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that I love a good contemporary novel. In particular I love those gritty contemporaries that British writers seem to have perfected. 15 Days Without a Head is no exception. Seriously, you need to read this book.

This was everything I’ve come to expect from a British contemporary; compelling, challenging and heartbreaking. Although the novel was in-your-face confronting, so much so that I felt overwhelmed with emotion at times, there were lighter, funnier elements in there and they worked really well without taking away from the heavier issues.

The entire situation was frustrating and heartbreaking and the writing perfectly matched this. Cousins really managed to manipulate my emotions throughout the entire book. This was especially true for the scenes at the fair. I felt like I was there and found myself getting really anxious about the outcome. I’m always impressed when a book can make me feel such deep emotions.

It’s really hard to write a lengthy review for this because it really is one which just needs to be read and experienced. Perfect for fans of When I Was Joe and Being Billy, this brave and gritty debut was impossible to put down and even harder to forget. I can’t stop thinking about Laurence and Jay, even though I finished this almost a month ago and that, to me, is the sign of a good book.

P.S On a lighter note, I absolutely loved the quiz-show aspect and the Beatles references. I read this with Mands from Vegan YA Nerds (you can read her review here) and it was recommended to me by Jo from Wear the Old Coat (you can find her review here).

This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Roland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surely a fine book for teenagers – I am looking forward to using it as a class reader. This is fiction for teenagers of a good standard. The story is simple, and straight-forward. However, the quiz element is original. It is unlikely that the common complaint ('not enough action') will be voiced by students.

However, for adult readers some elements may be seen as fairly two-dimensional: Mina (we like Mina!) is good and only good. Phil goes from super meanie to actually-he's-okay in no time at all. There are truly touching descriptions of Jay in distress, but then he can also go from being a biting doggie to being a wise old 6-year-old in very little time. The discrepancy between how well Laurence manages some things but is utterly childlike in others is too big at times. Surely, this discrepancy is intended by the author as a part of the characterisation of this fifteen-year-old, but some aspects beggar belief. Is it really likely that when trying to set up house with Jay he would never even think of doing a little bit of tidying? Can you stay away form school after you have been warned by an obviously well-meaning head of year for so long without anyone coming looking in England? Would someone as streetwise as Laurence (in some situations) seriously believe the tickets would remain valid once he has stolen them? Would they really go hungry before he remembers the savings books?

And, a minor point: Is Hardacre a good choice of a name? The rest of the names aren't overly telling, so this seems straight out of a cartoon.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

15 días sin cabeza fue un libro bastante….peculiar. Pero peculiar rayando en lo raro.
Tenemos a Laurence, un adolescente cuya familia solo se compone por su hermanito Jay y su madre alcohólica. Hasta que un día se encuentra solo con Jay por más días de los normales…y empieza la aventura. Laurence hará todo lo que está en sus manos, incluso más, para salvar a su familia y mantenerla unida…pero no sabe si será suficiente.
15 días sin cabeza es un libro que se lee rápido, es en cierta medida fluido y bueno, realmente no es muy profundo y creo que ni los personajes ni la historia están completamente desarrollados. Sin embargo, creo que es un libro de esos cortitos, simples y ligeros que puedes leer y que te hacen pasar un buen rato, con las ocurrencias de los personajes, sus peripecias y que te hace pensar un poco en el tema que maneja…aunque llega a desesperar eso de la mamá (sobre todo el personaje de la mamá ¬¬). En general creo que si bien no es un libro que yo normalmente escogería, no está nada mal y es recomendable si buscas algo sencillo para leer.

[Darnia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cockroach doesn't die even if you chop its head

Don't get me wrong. This isn't a book about cockroaches. This is the story about Laurence Roaches, a sixteen years old guy, who has to survived living with his six years old brother, Jay, after their Mom disappeared. It seemed like they lived without a head, panicked, frustrated (mostly because of the lack of money) and hoped that their Mum would be back soon. Thanks God Mr.Cousins gave us Mina, who saved the day (and also Roaches brothers).

This book captured me since the first page. This is also kind of book that made me hard to reviewed. I'm running out words to described it. I salute Mr. Cousins who wrote the high-tension real life family drama like this one. I'm glad for what happened after the gone of Mother. And I'm also hoping, for those who has same problems with Laurence, they will get the same ending, as beautiful as this book.

All I'm trying to do is survive and make good out of dirty, nasty, unbelievable lifestyle that they gave me (Tupac Shakur)

[YABookReviews]

Title: 15 DAYS WITHOUT A HEAD

Author: Dave Cousins

Rating: 7.4/10

Would you last 15 days without a head? I certainly wouldn't! All a typical teenager called Laurence Roach wants is a normal life. But that seems impossible if his alcoholic mum and his 6-year-old brother, who thinks he is a dog have anything to do with it! When his mum doesn't come home one night, he is terrified that his brother will be taken into care if she doesn't come home... Instead, he comes up with an idea to dress up as his mother, but the lie keeps getting tangled up! After two weeks of his other not turning up Laurance finds out what happened to his mum...

What happened to his mum?

Read the book to find out!

Happy Reading!

http://bookreview2191.blogspot.co.uk/

[Suzanne Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, gritty, tense, realistic. These are the words I choose to describe this debut novel by Dave Cousins. When a teen's alcoholic mom doesn't come home, he tries to take care of his six year-old brother and keep them together without raising the suspicions of neighbors or Social Services. On top of that, he meets a girl he likes, but with all that he's hiding, doesn't see how he can get to know her better. The challenges this young man faces, and the realistic portrayal of a life in despair, makes this a deep dive into the darker side of growing up. I had to read this book entirely in one day, just to find out what hurdle Laurence would have to face next. There always seemed to be one more thing. I wouldn't recommend this book to teen readers because it's so dark. As an adult reader, I couldn't turn away from the tragedy. This book reminds me of the Nitty Gritty series by Renee Pace.

Disclosure: I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tengo una opinión dividida: me parece que el libro es muy bueno pero que la traducción es muy mala. La historia no es "cotorrona", como podría uno pensar a partir de la portada: es una historia dura, complicada y a ratos angustiante, pero al mismo tiempo es divertida y dan ganas de saber quué va a pasar. Quizá si el traductor no se hubiera puesto tan pesado con sus notas al pie... o si no faltara por ahí un párrafo completo... o si no intentaran convencer al lector de que va a leer una cosa simplona y medio absurda... Pero, ojo: ninguna de estas fallas es culpa del autor. Uff.
En resumen: un libro que se puede disfrutar más en inglés que en español -y sin tener expectativas a partir de la portada y la contra.

[Agathafrye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would have really liked this book when I was 14. At 45, it was... eh. I've read this story before in other books and there wasn't anything that really stood out for me in this telling of it- kids trying to survive on their own because their parents are gone, or dead, or just not fit to parent. It reminded me of the 1993 movie King of the Hill, only not quite as convincing. I wish they had developed the mother and the girlfriend's characters more. The little brother who thinks he's a dog (or, more specifically, Scooby Doo) was a pretty well-drawn character, and the older brother who tells the story was sympathetic and fairly realistic.

[Jasmine Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 Days Without A Head is Dave’s first novel and comes fresh from him winning a place in the 2010 SCBWI Undiscovered Voices anthology. It is a contemporary teen novel that tells the story of two brothers over fifteen days that change their lives forever.

He is a natural storyteller with real musicality to his prose. His first novel is both heart-breaking and hilarious, and his characters incredibly memorable.

[Andrew Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering that I read the book in four sittings, the final 40+% last night, I'd say the book held my attention and interest throughout. The story was funny, then sad, then heartwarming. I could put myself in Laurence Laurence Roach's shoes and relate to his situation--not because it has happened to me, but because the story is well-told. All of that deserves 5 stars from me.

This is definitely a book to read. Bump it up on your TBR list and give it a go.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down. Laurence is 15 and living with his drunk, two-job working, depressed mum and his 6 year old brother Jay in a run down walk-up. Roaches in the kitchen, despair all around. Laurence is convinced that if he just manages to win a radio contest vacation that his mum and life in general will turn around. That is, until the day that mum doesn't come back home.

The writing is realistic and the characters real: flawed and honest.

[Elodie Piampiano · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un livre pour enfants/jeunes adolescents. On s'ennuie ! Le "happy end" se voit venir gros comme une maison mais uniquement par facilité scénaristique qu'on se le dise. Il n'y a rien d'attachant aux personnages, pas de compassion ressentie à leur égard. J'ai sauté volontairement des passages qui étaient pénible à lire.