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Nobody Saw No One
Contemporary London - a gang of shoplifters up Seven Sisters Rd, snatching smartphones and stealing identities...a 'family' of boys long ago lost in the system. Angel-faced Alfi Spar has fled the Tenderness Residential Unit and finds himself on the streets, until his old mate from the home, Citizen Digit, offers him a roof. But their past at Tenderness House is not ready to release them; the boys saw something nobody should see, and the badness is coming after them.
A spirited urban adventure set against the backdrop of a troubled care system; Oliver Twist revisited for fans of Benjamin Zephaniah, Kevin Brooks and Melvyn Burgess.
A spirited urban adventure set against the backdrop of a troubled care system; Oliver Twist revisited for fans of Benjamin Zephaniah, Kevin Brooks and Melvyn Burgess.
- GenresYoung Adult
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2015
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Steve Tasane
13 books9 followersAs well as being the author of Blood Donors, Steve is a performance poet who has featured at Glastonbury Festival, the 100 Club, Latitude and was writer-in-residence at Battersea Dogs Home.
His second YA novel Nobody Saw No One will be published by Walker Books in Spring 2015, a gritty, witty modernisation of Oliver Twist, inspired by Steve’s time as writer-in-residence for the Dickens 2012 Bicentennial Celebrations.
He is presently working on the Arts Council supported book THE RISE OF MAIDSTONE UNITED, stationed as resident writer at the club’s Gallagher Stadium.
His second YA novel Nobody Saw No One will be published by Walker Books in Spring 2015, a gritty, witty modernisation of Oliver Twist, inspired by Steve’s time as writer-in-residence for the Dickens 2012 Bicentennial Celebrations.
He is presently working on the Arts Council supported book THE RISE OF MAIDSTONE UNITED, stationed as resident writer at the club’s Gallagher Stadium.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 3, 2015
I'm always tempted by 'contemporary adaptations' - Clueless is one of my favourite films, Bridget Jones a enjoyable Pride and Prejudice. Knowing this was Oliver in modern-day London sounded so perfectly suited to the source material that I had to try it.
And I've given it five stars. I just loved the interpretations of Dickens' characters and world - of course pickpocketing is still the easiest way of making a living for homeless boys in the big city, but instead of pocket watches and handkerchiefs, it's now mobile phones. Dodger becomes a still-streetwise identity-precious Citizen Digit, with a completely unique way with words, street-smarts and a conscience. Fagin is updated to almost exactly the same character, Virus, unpredictable but still with a heart. The pulse of the story beats around Alfi Spar (guess who he is), formerly fostered, recently left (escaped?) from a creepy-sounding care home, off to London to seek his fortune (or his salvation).
And yes, there's a Nancy and a Bill Sykes too, both of whom play to your sympathies (or otherwise) exactly as you'd expect. Jackson Banks is beautifully cruel, frightening and vicious. Grace's situation sadly differs little from Dickens' original - female exploitation has barely changed in two centuries.
Narrated by Alfi and Digit alternately, the story of Oliver follows a similar path, with potential saviours almost within reach... And one hell of a finale.
We have the added tension of mysterious goings on at Alfi's care home, the aptly name 'Tenderness House', lots of techno-talk that makes the story feel current (one character calls himself Predictive Tex), real danger and threat to the young people, and a dual perspective that actually makes you smile - Digit's puns and street-smarts sat next to Alfi's naive but sweet voice. He's not quite the innocent boy Oliver, but he is an innocent in an unseeing and cold care system.
Very cleverly updated reimagining (at one point though, I expected them all to burst into "I'd do anything, for you dear anything!") that brings danger and excitement into a care-system and street story. Dark, at times scary, but lots for readers to think about. One for secondary-aged readers.
And I've given it five stars. I just loved the interpretations of Dickens' characters and world - of course pickpocketing is still the easiest way of making a living for homeless boys in the big city, but instead of pocket watches and handkerchiefs, it's now mobile phones. Dodger becomes a still-streetwise identity-precious Citizen Digit, with a completely unique way with words, street-smarts and a conscience. Fagin is updated to almost exactly the same character, Virus, unpredictable but still with a heart. The pulse of the story beats around Alfi Spar (guess who he is), formerly fostered, recently left (escaped?) from a creepy-sounding care home, off to London to seek his fortune (or his salvation).
And yes, there's a Nancy and a Bill Sykes too, both of whom play to your sympathies (or otherwise) exactly as you'd expect. Jackson Banks is beautifully cruel, frightening and vicious. Grace's situation sadly differs little from Dickens' original - female exploitation has barely changed in two centuries.
Narrated by Alfi and Digit alternately, the story of Oliver follows a similar path, with potential saviours almost within reach... And one hell of a finale.
We have the added tension of mysterious goings on at Alfi's care home, the aptly name 'Tenderness House', lots of techno-talk that makes the story feel current (one character calls himself Predictive Tex), real danger and threat to the young people, and a dual perspective that actually makes you smile - Digit's puns and street-smarts sat next to Alfi's naive but sweet voice. He's not quite the innocent boy Oliver, but he is an innocent in an unseeing and cold care system.
Very cleverly updated reimagining (at one point though, I expected them all to burst into "I'd do anything, for you dear anything!") that brings danger and excitement into a care-system and street story. Dark, at times scary, but lots for readers to think about. One for secondary-aged readers.
June 18, 2015
I loved this book: powerful, clever, and with a real social conscience. I thought the way Steve Tasane has taken one of the classic novels and updated it proves two things for me: that classic stories of the human condition are essentially timeless; that our society hasn't really changed in many ways since the days of Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens.Steve Tasane has also managed to pull off a very difficult literary trick: two narrative voices exploring different thoughts and feelings. I also think that Steve's representation of the care system is at once very believable and very upsetting and troubling. In short, a great read and thoughtful entertainment.
May 18, 2018
I didn't really enjoy reading this book, mainly because I couldn't relate to any of the characters and the plot for me was quite boring. I did however find that the first hand dialogue the author wrote for the characters was very well written and depicted them perfectly and authentically.
January 10, 2022
A modern-day retelling of Oliver Twist for YA readers.
dnf
April 27, 2024Read a page and a half and was cringing too hard. Good strong sense of voice, but not one which I can see myself being able to read for a full-length novel.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews