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Leader of The Pack
Being hard is what Jack Slade is all about. He has no time for weaklings, especially not on his team. He is captain, and his new coach has helped him realize that anything that interferes with his game is not worth his time. Gem doesn't see it that way, though. She fancies Jack like mad, but she doesn't want to be second best and neither does her best friend, Christian, who thinks Jack is just a meathead. Gem knows there is more to Jack, but she doesn't know if that is enough to keep them together...
329 pages
First published January 7, 2008
4 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Kate Cann
45 books239 followersWhen I was a child, I wanted to be a witch. My first foray into writing was a series of nasty spells full of rats’ tails and bats’ wings. Then, when I turned thirteen, I began keeping a lurid diary, full of adoration or loathing, depending on who I was writing about. I used my later diaries for the Diving In trilogy.
I never thought ‘I want to be a writer’, but I loved books and writing. At school, I was rubbish at just about everything but English, so I went on to Kent University where I did two degrees in English and American Literature. At Kent, I fell dramatically in love with the man I'm still married to. We had loads of fights and adventures, but we kept coming back together. He's still the person I most want to spend time with. Awww!
My first proper job was in a publishing house, Time Life Books, as a copy-editor. I felt very glamorous. I used to go to the huge YMCA on Tottenham Court Road at lunchtime and do aerobics classes (very big in the 1980s and yes - I wore legwarmers). Then I'd fall asleep over my desk in the afternoon.
When my two kids came along, I set up as a freelance copy-editor and worked from home. By chance I got given some teenage books to edit, and I hated the way they treated sexual relationships: they were either full of gloom and doom, or were gushy, unrealistic candyfloss. So I got bitten by the ‘I can do better than this’ bug, and started writing. I remember the first day I started to write - it took me over. I forgot to eat (unthinkable for me) and I nearly forgot to collect the kids from school. About a year after that, Diving In was accepted for publication.
When I ran out of material from my diaries and memories, I realized my daughter and son were teenagers, and started eavesdropping on them. They were extremely tolerant about this although they did sometimes demand money from me.
Big changes have been afoot recently. My kids have left home - really left home, not just gap-year-travelling/university left home, and my old man is doing the sort of work that means he can work from home a lot of the time. So we've sold up and moved into the wilds of Wiltshire and so far I am absolutely loving it. The space, the silence, seeing the stars at night in the pitch black, the owls, the trees, the walks, the great food in the local pubs - everything! I'd started to bring nature into my books - it all started with Crow Girl - and now I'm working on two books about a city girl who gets plunged into the wilds. So the move is very much linked to and helping my writing. I think the sheer beauty and power of nature and how it can get right inside you is something a lot of kids are cut off from today.
I still love London though - the plan is to come up every couple of weeks, catch up with all my old mates, possibly do something seriously cultured like go to the theatre. And I want to travel a bit more, too - offsetting my increased carbon footprint with an enormous compost heap.
I love long conversations, running, reading, gardening, walking and white wine (in moderation of course) and I’m the first to admit I have the life of Reilly (who apparently had a pretty cushy life). I start the day with a run or walk with my dog, when I think about what’s going to happen next in the book I’m writing. Then I have a huge breakfast, and get down to work. I write on (or if it’s cold, in) the spare bed with a laptop, my dog at the bottom of the bed. If it’s sunny, I write in the garden, on a sun-lounger. Tough, ay? I also have this theory that you can’t be truly creative for more than about three or four hours a day, so in the mid afternoon, I knock off, and do my emails and stuff. Told you it was cushy.
I never thought ‘I want to be a writer’, but I loved books and writing. At school, I was rubbish at just about everything but English, so I went on to Kent University where I did two degrees in English and American Literature. At Kent, I fell dramatically in love with the man I'm still married to. We had loads of fights and adventures, but we kept coming back together. He's still the person I most want to spend time with. Awww!
My first proper job was in a publishing house, Time Life Books, as a copy-editor. I felt very glamorous. I used to go to the huge YMCA on Tottenham Court Road at lunchtime and do aerobics classes (very big in the 1980s and yes - I wore legwarmers). Then I'd fall asleep over my desk in the afternoon.
When my two kids came along, I set up as a freelance copy-editor and worked from home. By chance I got given some teenage books to edit, and I hated the way they treated sexual relationships: they were either full of gloom and doom, or were gushy, unrealistic candyfloss. So I got bitten by the ‘I can do better than this’ bug, and started writing. I remember the first day I started to write - it took me over. I forgot to eat (unthinkable for me) and I nearly forgot to collect the kids from school. About a year after that, Diving In was accepted for publication.
When I ran out of material from my diaries and memories, I realized my daughter and son were teenagers, and started eavesdropping on them. They were extremely tolerant about this although they did sometimes demand money from me.
Big changes have been afoot recently. My kids have left home - really left home, not just gap-year-travelling/university left home, and my old man is doing the sort of work that means he can work from home a lot of the time. So we've sold up and moved into the wilds of Wiltshire and so far I am absolutely loving it. The space, the silence, seeing the stars at night in the pitch black, the owls, the trees, the walks, the great food in the local pubs - everything! I'd started to bring nature into my books - it all started with Crow Girl - and now I'm working on two books about a city girl who gets plunged into the wilds. So the move is very much linked to and helping my writing. I think the sheer beauty and power of nature and how it can get right inside you is something a lot of kids are cut off from today.
I still love London though - the plan is to come up every couple of weeks, catch up with all my old mates, possibly do something seriously cultured like go to the theatre. And I want to travel a bit more, too - offsetting my increased carbon footprint with an enormous compost heap.
I love long conversations, running, reading, gardening, walking and white wine (in moderation of course) and I’m the first to admit I have the life of Reilly (who apparently had a pretty cushy life). I start the day with a run or walk with my dog, when I think about what’s going to happen next in the book I’m writing. Then I have a huge breakfast, and get down to work. I write on (or if it’s cold, in) the spare bed with a laptop, my dog at the bottom of the bed. If it’s sunny, I write in the garden, on a sun-lounger. Tough, ay? I also have this theory that you can’t be truly creative for more than about three or four hours a day, so in the mid afternoon, I knock off, and do my emails and stuff. Told you it was cushy.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 19, 2017
Despite my initial apprehension, I actually liked this book.
I liked that despite Jack and Gemma being very different people with very different opinions and ways of looking at life, they did their best to make things work. Even though it didn't (minor spoiler), they kept trying.
I loved Gemma. There needs to be more heroines like her in YA fiction: no-nonsense, smart, sarcastic, self-aware and self-assured and most importantly, not defined by the boys in her life. Plus, for me it was a big plus that since this book contains mature elements, she wasn't portrayed as some shy virgin, she knew what she wanted and went for it and I can't help but like that.
More girls like her in fiction, please.
I had more problems with Jack, to be honest. Probably because he felt so realistic and it annoyed me because, let's face it, if you've read the book you know he is a kind of jerk most of the time. And I wished that I didn't like him, but I sort of did.
However, the book isn't just about the two of them. It is also a story of a shitty rugby team suddenly getting in shape and playing well because of a new coach and some ... unorthodox methods. And of course bad things happen and this is actualyl why I didn't give the book mroe than 4 stars: I wish that this side of the story had been more prominent, that there had been more about the dangers of letting someone else tell you what's right or wrong, what to do and what not to do, about group mentality and peer presure. Because to me, that was just an important part of Leader of the Pack as Jack and Gemma's relationship.
I liked that despite Jack and Gemma being very different people with very different opinions and ways of looking at life, they did their best to make things work. Even though it didn't (minor spoiler), they kept trying.
I loved Gemma. There needs to be more heroines like her in YA fiction: no-nonsense, smart, sarcastic, self-aware and self-assured and most importantly, not defined by the boys in her life. Plus, for me it was a big plus that since this book contains mature elements, she wasn't portrayed as some shy virgin, she knew what she wanted and went for it and I can't help but like that.
More girls like her in fiction, please.
I had more problems with Jack, to be honest. Probably because he felt so realistic and it annoyed me because, let's face it, if you've read the book you know he is a kind of jerk most of the time. And I wished that I didn't like him, but I sort of did.
However, the book isn't just about the two of them. It is also a story of a shitty rugby team suddenly getting in shape and playing well because of a new coach and some ... unorthodox methods. And of course bad things happen and this is actualyl why I didn't give the book mroe than 4 stars: I wish that this side of the story had been more prominent, that there had been more about the dangers of letting someone else tell you what's right or wrong, what to do and what not to do, about group mentality and peer presure. Because to me, that was just an important part of Leader of the Pack as Jack and Gemma's relationship.
May 9, 2012
As a HUGE Kate cann fan I was psyched when I found out she had a new book out. But sadly this wasnt in the same zone as her others. It was interesting but there just felt as though something was lacking.
The story certains around a boy and girl who are very different but are completely attracted to each other. When the boy's rugby team starts getting in the way of there relationship things get pretty rocky between them. The question they both begin to face is it the rugby thats getting insane or is it them?
The warning on the cover is not just for show! The book really does contain LARGE amounts of swearing, sex and rugby.
Give this a try, its still good read just could have been a bit better.
The story certains around a boy and girl who are very different but are completely attracted to each other. When the boy's rugby team starts getting in the way of there relationship things get pretty rocky between them. The question they both begin to face is it the rugby thats getting insane or is it them?
The warning on the cover is not just for show! The book really does contain LARGE amounts of swearing, sex and rugby.
Give this a try, its still good read just could have been a bit better.
June 16, 2011
I came across Leader of The Pack, in Glasgow's version of Camden...Love it there!!! I came across an Oxfam charity shop that only sold books - lots of them too. The first one that drawed me in for a closer look, I obvoulsy bought a few, was Leader Of The Pack. I had never read any Kate Cann books before so it was a new experience for me.
I enjoy reading books that include both of the character's point of views. Leader of the pack was an experience because Kate Cann never once lets the reader see what is coming in this novel. The hero and heroine don't have the usual lovey dovey relationship and it's in fact very real! ! !
I would give this book as a reccomendation for anyone that likes a Young Adult romance. x
I enjoy reading books that include both of the character's point of views. Leader of the pack was an experience because Kate Cann never once lets the reader see what is coming in this novel. The hero and heroine don't have the usual lovey dovey relationship and it's in fact very real! ! !
I would give this book as a reccomendation for anyone that likes a Young Adult romance. x
August 20, 2011
LOVED THIS BOOK! What I enjoyed about it was the fact that in some way it had some mystery, how we never knew if Jack and Gem were going to make it, but in the end everything began to work out fine! Really glad I read this book, made me think about how I act, how i should never let other people take over how i think and feel, in someways this book was inspirational. I would suggest this, if you don't mind ALOT ALOT ALOT of sexual hints. And Sex itself! Lots of swear words too! Almost 10000000 on each page!
September 24, 2012
I read this is when I was about fourteen and it really introduced me into a new style of writing that opened my eyes and even helped me with my own book. I love Kate Cann and try to read all of her books because her stories are yes kinda girlie, granted, but she portrays it in a different light which I adore
July 26, 2025
Oh god! I've owned a copy of Leader of the Pack since my early teens, the publish date says "2008", so I wanna say somewhere between 13-16, oddly enough never read it prior to today. So, oh boy.
It's odd seeing a "warning" for a 2008 book considering content warnings/trigger warnings only became normalised recently.
Before I read the first page, I, at 31 knows I'm the wrong target audience for this. If I read this shortly after getting a copy, my opinion of this book would be 10x different.
If i read this in 2008 as an 13 year old, I probably wouldn't of liked it. Reading it now as a 31 year old. No.
Maybe it's because English children are different to aussie kids but my god.
The conspiracy theories, the implied racism, the political views; that i don't think any teenager has. Having the teenage boys say "woman are just for breeding." Or "the whole worlds gone to shit, its all those..." since when do teenagers care about that stuff?
The teenage boys I grew up with were just horny kids who picked fights, not ones who thought woman should be seen as 1950s housewives or talking about "government policies ruining the country".
Gem and Jack are in a domestic violent relationship. It's more emotional than physical, but its still there.
I get in the early 2000s commentary on woman's body had zero filter but did I really need to read SEVERAL times older men commenting in how sexy the teen girls were? Did I really need to read SEVERAL times by grown men how teenage girls are slags and ruin a man's life?
This whole book is quite narcissistic.
I get 2008 was almost 18 years ago but my god..this isnt even a book that I'd class as "of its time" Cause its not.
It didn't help that reading this felt like early drafts rather a fully fleshed out story. Or that POVs jump from third to second person randomly or that the thoughts of a character were shoved into paragraphs that it took a moment to realise it was the characters thoughts.
It's odd seeing a "warning" for a 2008 book considering content warnings/trigger warnings only became normalised recently.
Before I read the first page, I, at 31 knows I'm the wrong target audience for this. If I read this shortly after getting a copy, my opinion of this book would be 10x different.
If i read this in 2008 as an 13 year old, I probably wouldn't of liked it. Reading it now as a 31 year old. No.
Maybe it's because English children are different to aussie kids but my god.
The conspiracy theories, the implied racism, the political views; that i don't think any teenager has. Having the teenage boys say "woman are just for breeding." Or "the whole worlds gone to shit, its all those..." since when do teenagers care about that stuff?
The teenage boys I grew up with were just horny kids who picked fights, not ones who thought woman should be seen as 1950s housewives or talking about "government policies ruining the country".
Gem and Jack are in a domestic violent relationship. It's more emotional than physical, but its still there.
I get in the early 2000s commentary on woman's body had zero filter but did I really need to read SEVERAL times older men commenting in how sexy the teen girls were? Did I really need to read SEVERAL times by grown men how teenage girls are slags and ruin a man's life?
This whole book is quite narcissistic.
I get 2008 was almost 18 years ago but my god..this isnt even a book that I'd class as "of its time" Cause its not.
It didn't help that reading this felt like early drafts rather a fully fleshed out story. Or that POVs jump from third to second person randomly or that the thoughts of a character were shoved into paragraphs that it took a moment to realise it was the characters thoughts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2015
This book doesn't know what it is. From most of the written content, I think I know what it is trying to do - get boys to read a love story. I love the level of anger portrayed that lads feel at that age, reminiscent of trainspotting etc. I also love the amount of swear words and sex scenes in it, for a YA novel it doesn't belittle the reader, and fills a gap for teenagers in that crossover point into adult fiction.
However it's completely marketed for girls (I can't imagine many teenage boys picking up a book with a hot pink cover) with large parts of the book from a female perspective swooning over a boy. I don't see the need for that but really. Winger, a book hugely comparable to this one, involves a love story without the silly girly bits.
On the topic of Winger, I prefer the portrayal of rugby in that than the portrayal of rugby in Leader of the Pack. Both me and my brother have played rugby our whole lives and I think in the last 14 years of playing I can only think of one occasion where either of us has been on the pitch when there was a fight. Rugby teaches and rewards discipline; I have never been in a match that has been abandoned, often referees nip fights in the bud before they escalate, and more than aggression there is banter between the two teams. I feel like rugby is made out to be the bad guy in this, getting in the way of Jack and Gem's relationship, and negatively influencing all the boys in the team. I have know many kids like Stev, who once they started playing for a rugby team, they were able to channel their aggression and learnt discipline. Of course the game isn't perfect, but it is nowhere near as tribal as this book makes it out to be. It generally has a positive effect on players, like the way the game is portrayed on Winger.
If you want to read a good rugby story about growing up and coming of age, just read winger. If you want to read something that isn't sure of what it is, read this. I wish this book had the balls to be itself.
However it's completely marketed for girls (I can't imagine many teenage boys picking up a book with a hot pink cover) with large parts of the book from a female perspective swooning over a boy. I don't see the need for that but really. Winger, a book hugely comparable to this one, involves a love story without the silly girly bits.
On the topic of Winger, I prefer the portrayal of rugby in that than the portrayal of rugby in Leader of the Pack. Both me and my brother have played rugby our whole lives and I think in the last 14 years of playing I can only think of one occasion where either of us has been on the pitch when there was a fight. Rugby teaches and rewards discipline; I have never been in a match that has been abandoned, often referees nip fights in the bud before they escalate, and more than aggression there is banter between the two teams. I feel like rugby is made out to be the bad guy in this, getting in the way of Jack and Gem's relationship, and negatively influencing all the boys in the team. I have know many kids like Stev, who once they started playing for a rugby team, they were able to channel their aggression and learnt discipline. Of course the game isn't perfect, but it is nowhere near as tribal as this book makes it out to be. It generally has a positive effect on players, like the way the game is portrayed on Winger.
If you want to read a good rugby story about growing up and coming of age, just read winger. If you want to read something that isn't sure of what it is, read this. I wish this book had the balls to be itself.
February 24, 2011
It is ok but annoyed me at how it never really progressed- she always wanted him but not his rugby, but he was always for the thrill of rugby.
she was always semi-depressed which made me feel like that, which is a grim mood to be stuck with for a week :/
Read it if your in between series' for a strong romance (more cheap fling gf bf) type book.
Good read.
she was always semi-depressed which made me feel like that, which is a grim mood to be stuck with for a week :/
Read it if your in between series' for a strong romance (more cheap fling gf bf) type book.
Good read.
August 18, 2012
Not up to Cann's usual standard. Essentially just a book about a pretty dysfunctional relationship. I didn't especially like either of the main characters and I couldn't really relate to them but I found the book enjoyable enough anyway. I'd still recommend one of her other ones over this though
August 3, 2016
This book reminds me of a film that our psychology teacher showed us in class.
March 25, 2011
Meh Its Ok I Guess ....
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July 13, 2011Loved it. Read it for hours straight. It demonstrates things that can happen in real life, and what can happen behind the scenes. Top book!
August 23, 2014
I disliked the charters and the way being in a relationship, no matter how bad it was, is better then being single. 3 hours I will not get back.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews