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T.W.O.C.
TWOC (verb): to steal an automobile, esp. for joyriding; etymology: taking without owner’s consent.
Ever since the joyriding accident that killed his brother Jake and left Jake’s girlfriend Jools hideously scarred, Matt has been tortured by his inability to remember exactly what happened. He decides to reconstruct the events of that tragic day—but can he survive the accident a second time? This visceral, heartbreaking book probes deep into Matt’s psyche, where the terrible truth is hiding. In his first novel for teenagers, award-winning writer Graham Joyce skirts the shadowy line between truth and reality, life and death, action and consequences.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2005
4 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Graham Joyce
73 books570 followersGraham Joyce (22 October 1954 – 9 September 2014) was an English writer of speculative fiction and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 19, 2024
Very funny in a twisted way, beautiful ending - another winner from him.
March 27, 2025
Muito bom. historia de três juvens delinquentes à procura da oportunidade de se redimirem dos seus "pecados" . A amizade improvável dos três acaba por fazer a diferença.
March 3, 2017
I think Graham Joyce is a good writer, but I didn't really like the book. I expected the book to be different. I thought there would be more action, but it is really about what the main character Matt is going through after he is involved in a car accident. The story is more about what is going on in Matt's head. Graham Joyce introduces Matt's brother Jake as having been involved in the accident, too. It's not until the end of the story that the author unveils the major twist that explains how messed up Matt is and why his parents were so worried about him. I like how the characters of Amy and Gilbert are written. They come across as real people and I can see why Matt becomes friends with them. The character of Sarah, Matt's probation officer, doesn't seem developed at all. The plot just kind of drags when Matt and Sarah are talking. It is also confusing when the accident is being written about and it is hard to follow. Of course, everything works out at the end. The book is part tragedy and part feel good happy ending. If you want to read an action book, this is not the book for you. However, if you want to read a more psychological story, then you might enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 24, 20112/22/11
Questions:
what happened to sarah that she had to leave the room?
does matt leave the room?
how did they open the car?
how was the accident?
Statement:
I think i'll find out what happened, i think i'll find out if matt leaves, i think i'll find out how the opened the car, i think i'll find out how the accident was.
2/23/11
matt is getting tired of seeing his dead brother on the window, and he says he might tell this to sarah. this time was weird, because he saw him dressed up as a girl, not like his brothe but like his sister.
3/3/11 "Problem, Action, Outcomes"
Problem:
1. Matt keeps seeing his brother on the window and thinking of weird things.
2. Matt cant sleep because the rubber envelope under the sheet makes it impossible to get comfotable.
Action:
1. Matt goes to therapies and to a trip with other kids that have had troubles too.
2. He remakes his bed. he takes a spare blanket from the wardrobe, rip off the sheet, and pack the blancket over the rubber; the he puts back the sheet.
Outcomes:
1. he meets Gilbert and Amy, and they share their experiences with each other.
2. he finally gets to sleep because he gets comfortable.
3/4/11
Matt has been sent to the trip with two more kids with other kind of problems and behavior. he doesnt like it there because there is rules to follow and he doesnt like the activities they do. he and the other two kids gilbert and amy dont like they idea that the lights have to be off at 10:30 and gilber and matt go to amy's room to talk to her and meet each other. they stay the night talking about their experiences and about what they did in that day. finally everyone go to sleep when they hear someone is around and they dont want to get caught.
3/10/11
Matt, Gilb and Amy has been gathering information about why they are there and what they did to be there. they did a road map about their lifes and they shared their lifes with each other. they go in a tunel-trip with Alex, Sarah's boyfriend and Matt thinks she deserves someone better then him. while they are in the tunel it starts reining and Matt gets stuck with the water and he cant move. Alex starts to worry and he asks Matt to stay calm and wait for him until he gets back from getting help. Finally Amy Helps Matt to get out and Matt thanks Amy for that and gives her a hug, he also gives a hug to Gilb.
3/15/11
Matt is getting mad because Alex thinks that he was messing with him in the tunnel about being stuck and Matt tinks that Alex should give him an apology. Pete asks Matt question about Jake, Matt's brother. Matt decides to leave and Amy and Gilb say they are going with him. they take the mini bus to leave and on the way home they start taking other cars. while driving Matt starts the counting and he goes from the car that took more time to open to the one that took less and he says that it is destiny and asks Amy and gilbs to get out of the car and he starts to explain then what happened that night.
3/17/11
Answer to the questions:
I think the most important think that im going to remember about the book im reading is that we should learn from our mistakes and dont make them again as Matt did, he wanted to do the handbreak turn again in the tunnel but he didnt do it because he didnt want to hurt himself and hurt his family and his friends as well. also, i will remember how excited was it when they ran away from the house they were and tray to escape and then to go back.
Questions:
what happened to sarah that she had to leave the room?
does matt leave the room?
how did they open the car?
how was the accident?
Statement:
I think i'll find out what happened, i think i'll find out if matt leaves, i think i'll find out how the opened the car, i think i'll find out how the accident was.
2/23/11
matt is getting tired of seeing his dead brother on the window, and he says he might tell this to sarah. this time was weird, because he saw him dressed up as a girl, not like his brothe but like his sister.
3/3/11 "Problem, Action, Outcomes"
Problem:
1. Matt keeps seeing his brother on the window and thinking of weird things.
2. Matt cant sleep because the rubber envelope under the sheet makes it impossible to get comfotable.
Action:
1. Matt goes to therapies and to a trip with other kids that have had troubles too.
2. He remakes his bed. he takes a spare blanket from the wardrobe, rip off the sheet, and pack the blancket over the rubber; the he puts back the sheet.
Outcomes:
1. he meets Gilbert and Amy, and they share their experiences with each other.
2. he finally gets to sleep because he gets comfortable.
3/4/11
Matt has been sent to the trip with two more kids with other kind of problems and behavior. he doesnt like it there because there is rules to follow and he doesnt like the activities they do. he and the other two kids gilbert and amy dont like they idea that the lights have to be off at 10:30 and gilber and matt go to amy's room to talk to her and meet each other. they stay the night talking about their experiences and about what they did in that day. finally everyone go to sleep when they hear someone is around and they dont want to get caught.
3/10/11
Matt, Gilb and Amy has been gathering information about why they are there and what they did to be there. they did a road map about their lifes and they shared their lifes with each other. they go in a tunel-trip with Alex, Sarah's boyfriend and Matt thinks she deserves someone better then him. while they are in the tunel it starts reining and Matt gets stuck with the water and he cant move. Alex starts to worry and he asks Matt to stay calm and wait for him until he gets back from getting help. Finally Amy Helps Matt to get out and Matt thanks Amy for that and gives her a hug, he also gives a hug to Gilb.
3/15/11
Matt is getting mad because Alex thinks that he was messing with him in the tunnel about being stuck and Matt tinks that Alex should give him an apology. Pete asks Matt question about Jake, Matt's brother. Matt decides to leave and Amy and Gilb say they are going with him. they take the mini bus to leave and on the way home they start taking other cars. while driving Matt starts the counting and he goes from the car that took more time to open to the one that took less and he says that it is destiny and asks Amy and gilbs to get out of the car and he starts to explain then what happened that night.
3/17/11
Answer to the questions:
I think the most important think that im going to remember about the book im reading is that we should learn from our mistakes and dont make them again as Matt did, he wanted to do the handbreak turn again in the tunnel but he didnt do it because he didnt want to hurt himself and hurt his family and his friends as well. also, i will remember how excited was it when they ran away from the house they were and tray to escape and then to go back.
January 8, 2016
Taken Without Owner's Consent
Graham Joyce. Penguin Group, 211 pages.
The main character Matthew, otherwise known as Matt in, Taken Without The Owners Consent by Graham Joyce , hasn't been normal since the day his older brother joke died in the accident. He's been having hallucinations of his dead brother. He is trying to get over it but he can't, everything there is something new unexpected happening. In the begin of the book Matt is going to a probation officer to talk about the hallucinations he gets of his dead brother Jake. It becomes hard for Matt to get his life together.
Jake taught Matt how to take cars without the owners knowing and going for a ride in them. Matt mentions cars that him and his brother stole and went for a ride in them. They both keep track of the time it takes them to open the cars. Later on they get In a car accident and Jake dies. Matt is then haunted by his older brother. He gets many hallucinations of Jake knocking on his bedroom window, and giving him stuff. Matt has to go to many places like to probation officers and camps to help him kind of forget and get over his older brothers death.
Taken Without The Owners Consent, is a very interesting book. In the beginning of the book the chapters are confusing, but they all lead to something later on in the book. The book was funny, confusing, interesting, and entertaining. The book is perfect for a reader that is interested in mysteries and cars.
Words 265.
Graham Joyce. Penguin Group, 211 pages.
The main character Matthew, otherwise known as Matt in, Taken Without The Owners Consent by Graham Joyce , hasn't been normal since the day his older brother joke died in the accident. He's been having hallucinations of his dead brother. He is trying to get over it but he can't, everything there is something new unexpected happening. In the begin of the book Matt is going to a probation officer to talk about the hallucinations he gets of his dead brother Jake. It becomes hard for Matt to get his life together.
Jake taught Matt how to take cars without the owners knowing and going for a ride in them. Matt mentions cars that him and his brother stole and went for a ride in them. They both keep track of the time it takes them to open the cars. Later on they get In a car accident and Jake dies. Matt is then haunted by his older brother. He gets many hallucinations of Jake knocking on his bedroom window, and giving him stuff. Matt has to go to many places like to probation officers and camps to help him kind of forget and get over his older brothers death.
Taken Without The Owners Consent, is a very interesting book. In the beginning of the book the chapters are confusing, but they all lead to something later on in the book. The book was funny, confusing, interesting, and entertaining. The book is perfect for a reader that is interested in mysteries and cars.
Words 265.
March 7, 2013
Uma história muito interessante sobre a difícil fase da vida, que é a adolescência.
Aborda o caso de 3 jovens condenados por diferentes delitos que, ao se encontrarem em liberdade condicional, se juntam vários dias num programa de recuperação.
Aí vamos perceber a dificuldade de relacionamento que jovens como estes têm, como não é fácil falarem com alguém, como é mais simples e prático serem malcriados e responder mal.
Mas também conseguimos perceber que no meio da amargura e dos sentimentos negativos, conseguem nascer amizades, ombros que se apoiam uns aos outros, mãos que se estendem para auxiliar.
Impressionante a história do protagonista, o jovem Matt, que vive assombrado com as imagens e recordações do irmão, que morreu há vários anos... e o esforço que terá que fazer para, finalmente, se livrar desse "fantasma" de uma vez por todas.
O título diz tudo - há amizades improváveis - mas essas amizades podem salvar alguém de voltar a cair em desgraça!
Aborda o caso de 3 jovens condenados por diferentes delitos que, ao se encontrarem em liberdade condicional, se juntam vários dias num programa de recuperação.
Aí vamos perceber a dificuldade de relacionamento que jovens como estes têm, como não é fácil falarem com alguém, como é mais simples e prático serem malcriados e responder mal.
Mas também conseguimos perceber que no meio da amargura e dos sentimentos negativos, conseguem nascer amizades, ombros que se apoiam uns aos outros, mãos que se estendem para auxiliar.
Impressionante a história do protagonista, o jovem Matt, que vive assombrado com as imagens e recordações do irmão, que morreu há vários anos... e o esforço que terá que fazer para, finalmente, se livrar desse "fantasma" de uma vez por todas.
O título diz tudo - há amizades improváveis - mas essas amizades podem salvar alguém de voltar a cair em desgraça!
July 20, 2012
I didn't expect it to be this good, but it lived up to the saying, "Expect the unexpected." The first few chapters was confusing and I was convinced that Matt is nuts but there's something more to that.
It was funny with all those smart-ass comment from Matt and some scenes. At the same time, the suspense of this book was a killer especially in the middle of it when I realised that Matt was lying not just about what happened but also about who were there. It also touches some points about family and brotherhood and that seems gut-wrenching for me, especially when Matt admitted that he needed Jake and his absence was a big deal from the very start.
This might need patience at the first few chapters but I think it was all worth it.
It was funny with all those smart-ass comment from Matt and some scenes. At the same time, the suspense of this book was a killer especially in the middle of it when I realised that Matt was lying not just about what happened but also about who were there. It also touches some points about family and brotherhood and that seems gut-wrenching for me, especially when Matt admitted that he needed Jake and his absence was a big deal from the very start.
This might need patience at the first few chapters but I think it was all worth it.
July 14, 2015
Different from his adult books, though it's still unmistakably a Graham Joyce book, if that makes sense. It has a more modern feel, and it's not magical realism, though there are hints of the supernatural.
Matt, our narrator and protagonist, is funny and haunted and wonderful, and I loved him. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the cars, and his scores (how fast he could break into different models), and I loved hearing about his fellow delinquents and their particular brands of mayhem. I could sense a big twist coming at the end, but even so, I didn't guess what it was, and the book ended very well.
I would recommend this to anyone who has read (and loved) books like I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN or WE WERE LIARS.
Matt, our narrator and protagonist, is funny and haunted and wonderful, and I loved him. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the cars, and his scores (how fast he could break into different models), and I loved hearing about his fellow delinquents and their particular brands of mayhem. I could sense a big twist coming at the end, but even so, I didn't guess what it was, and the book ended very well.
I would recommend this to anyone who has read (and loved) books like I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN or WE WERE LIARS.
January 19, 2017
This book takes place in Britain and a very helpful aspect to the book was that the author included many examples of British slang in the back of the book. In terms of the book I think it was a solid 3 of 5 stars because it was good but not a book that I couldn't put down. The book was interesting because there was one or two times where I felt nervous for the main characters (when they were driving in the tunnel). I would recommend this book to teens my age who enjoy cars because that is what this book was about. The main characters showed bad examples by drinking, stealing, and doing drugs. If you are interested in these topics this book is for you.
October 6, 2009
This book is about a boy named matt who lives i n the UK, he has mental problems he is skitsafranic and he continues to have flashbacks on how his died, in the car accident he wittness , overall i wouldnt say that this was a good book because the book draaaaaagg for a while and lost my attention and i know people who not want to read an uninteresting book. although i would recommend this book to people who like lots of action and a short of mystery twist on things but if you as me i say Thumbs down!
September 9, 2012
This book was amazing. I loved the ending and how the author used the lineup of cars to signify that it was time for whatever that was needed to be done to be done. The main character, Matt, was funny. The only thing that bothered me was how Matt lied to himself about the accident. It wasn't really realistic because it's hard to lie to yourself for something as big as that. But other than that the book was awesome.
December 9, 2010
the funniest of all graham joyce novels i have read, there might be one or two i haven't come across yet. I laughed my head off all the way through this story, pure genius for the average comic paranormal adolescence
December 2, 2014
This is the 4th of Graham Joyce's young adult books I've read and another little gem it is to. All his books have you guessing and then there's a twist and this is no exception.Some great characters and always with a message to be learnt.
December 8, 2009
I did not know when the main character of the story was dreaming or in real life. Good book if you like mysteries.
April 26, 2010
just when you though it's just another suicidal y/a book it takes a diffrent spin everytime you turn a page.
October 28, 2010
Very interesting
January 25, 2012
Enjoyable and interesting.
September 5, 2012
Às vezes um livro desconhecido pode ser uma óptima surpresa. Foi o caso deste.
May 25, 2013
Another self-discovery tale, with a great drag-racing scene while confronting ghosts.
August 30, 2015
teenage British boys' drama. not interested to finish.
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April 27, 2017Really good
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews