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Unstoppable
Fourteen-year-old twins, Roxy and Kaine, have only one thing in common.They HATE each other.Kaine is loud, brash and brilliant at football.Roxy is heading for tennis superstardom.When tragedy strikes, their worlds are ripped apart.Can they come together before it's too late?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 10, 2023
I love how the character’s grew, and how they realised their mistakes. This book shows that in rough times, you should never give up, and always keep marching on. It reminded me a lot of Katy by Jacqueline Wilson. To me, Roxy is just as strong, and amazing as Katy. Glad I could find this book, and bring back some old book memories as well. Keep your heads up kings and queens, don’t let your crown fall
January 25, 2019
Kaine and Roxy are twins who have grown up on a tough London estate. Both are gifted athletically, Roxie is an excellent tennis player and Kaine has hopes of making his fortune as a Premier League footballer. Dad is unemployed and sinking all his time and support into his daughter, whilst neglecting his son but Roxy is feeling suffocated by his hothousing behaviour.
This story is gripping and feels very real, probably due to the fact that the author has drawn on conversations he has had with young people all over the country. So many issues are addressed - gang culture, sibling rivalry, bereavement, friendship and family dynamics to mention just a few but these are never explored at the expense of the story. Lots of twists and turns and gasp aloud moments coupled with events that brought a tear to my eye keep you reading avidly. Very dark in places but with a brighter ending to alleviate the tension. I enjoyed Unstoppable immensely and will definitely be buying it for the secondary school library I work in part time, it's a real YA page turner and many young people would empathise with the strong protagonists.
This story is gripping and feels very real, probably due to the fact that the author has drawn on conversations he has had with young people all over the country. So many issues are addressed - gang culture, sibling rivalry, bereavement, friendship and family dynamics to mention just a few but these are never explored at the expense of the story. Lots of twists and turns and gasp aloud moments coupled with events that brought a tear to my eye keep you reading avidly. Very dark in places but with a brighter ending to alleviate the tension. I enjoyed Unstoppable immensely and will definitely be buying it for the secondary school library I work in part time, it's a real YA page turner and many young people would empathise with the strong protagonists.
March 1, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The way the characters changed so much through grief and trauma throughout the whole book kept me hooked. The conflict between the twins and the different paths they could have taken kept the suspense building until the last page. An inspiring read full of courage, hope and passion with a satisfying conclusion!
June 4, 2019
I started this book not expecting anything out of it. I just expected it to be another run of the day book. But I was wrong. This book made me reevaluate my relationships with my siblings and made me think from their point of view. It made me cry as I realised how much we can be separated in this world just due to misunderstandings. We all feel as though we don’t matter when In fact everyone feels the same way. It tugged at my heart and it opened my eyes. It just spoke on so many topics and it felt real
August 5, 2022
i havent even finished reading but 2 stars
edit: it got worse
edit: it got worse
August 21, 2022
Sickly sweet and family friendly, if this is your kind of read, that’s fine but don’t build it up to be a suspenseful thriller!
May 22, 2022
3.5 Perfectly pitched for younger teens. 15 year old boy and girl twins hate each other's guts. He's got a chance to be a professional footballer. She's one match away from Wimbledon. Will local gangs and their own family history mess it up for both of them?
Totally gripping book, told through dual perspectives. No literary masterpiece but one I'm glad I put in my Litssters' hands!
Totally gripping book, told through dual perspectives. No literary masterpiece but one I'm glad I put in my Litssters' hands!
June 16, 2025
4-4.5 Y/A ⭐
Amelia gave this a 5 ⭐
Buddy read with my daughter for her school curriculum.
Really enjoyed this story.
Hard hitting, relatable.
Written well with truth mixed in.
A must read for today's messed up society.
Upsetting in parts.
Would recommend 💕
Amelia gave this a 5 ⭐
Buddy read with my daughter for her school curriculum.
Really enjoyed this story.
Hard hitting, relatable.
Written well with truth mixed in.
A must read for today's messed up society.
Upsetting in parts.
Would recommend 💕
August 18, 2021
4/5 - thought it was inspirational and realistic, shows difficulties of teen boys (g4ngs), had a good ending, taught a lesson but was meant for a younger audience such as 11-13 yrs.
June 10, 2019
Roxy and Kaine are fourteen years old twins old Kaine is a bitter guy hanging out and causing trouble while his friend Aj is by his side.
With their mum working all hours and their dad jobless now money is tighter than ever.
However the kids futures look bright a possible football star in Kaine and a tennis star in Roxy.
But Kaine is a complex character after the death of his grandma he's after out becoming increasingly angry at the world and his family for not being there. He believes he's second best to them all and gets in trouble at school despite his chance with a football scout he gets taken in to a notorious gang alike his uncle wound up involved in even if his was by accident and soon enough he's in deep and carrying a knife...
For Roxy though her dad pushing her tennis career has ended the fun for HR as he likes on the pressure and drinks a lot to quell his own disappointment in himself being jobless treating her future as his job and controlling her whole life.
However as tragedy strikes second chances are granted but can everybody survive?
In this family both teens are unhappy but see each other as flipping ecstatic unable to see they're unhappy too. Their relationship is utterly broken and by the end of the book we see how they need to actually talk and be open to each other to be truly happy not be snippy with each other how they come across.
I really enjoyed how the characters and up and their contrast as Roxy has a bright future while Kaine looks an escape and winds up in with a gang he knows it wrong to do and the difference in how they cope with their situation after losing their grandma and deal with their pushy and ignorant parents highlights how no one should not tell their parents how they want to live their life!
With their mum working all hours and their dad jobless now money is tighter than ever.
However the kids futures look bright a possible football star in Kaine and a tennis star in Roxy.
But Kaine is a complex character after the death of his grandma he's after out becoming increasingly angry at the world and his family for not being there. He believes he's second best to them all and gets in trouble at school despite his chance with a football scout he gets taken in to a notorious gang alike his uncle wound up involved in even if his was by accident and soon enough he's in deep and carrying a knife...
For Roxy though her dad pushing her tennis career has ended the fun for HR as he likes on the pressure and drinks a lot to quell his own disappointment in himself being jobless treating her future as his job and controlling her whole life.
However as tragedy strikes second chances are granted but can everybody survive?
In this family both teens are unhappy but see each other as flipping ecstatic unable to see they're unhappy too. Their relationship is utterly broken and by the end of the book we see how they need to actually talk and be open to each other to be truly happy not be snippy with each other how they come across.
I really enjoyed how the characters and up and their contrast as Roxy has a bright future while Kaine looks an escape and winds up in with a gang he knows it wrong to do and the difference in how they cope with their situation after losing their grandma and deal with their pushy and ignorant parents highlights how no one should not tell their parents how they want to live their life!
February 15, 2019
It is rare for me to pull out of a book but I got just over half way here and canned it.
Parts of it were ok but it was just too derivative, too cliched, and not very convincing. It reminded me a little bit of Noughts and Crosses (which I also did not like), in that both texts are remarkably obvious about where they are heading.
Not my cup of tea.
Parts of it were ok but it was just too derivative, too cliched, and not very convincing. It reminded me a little bit of Noughts and Crosses (which I also did not like), in that both texts are remarkably obvious about where they are heading.
Not my cup of tea.
November 5, 2020
This book book should be read in schools as part of course work, I read The Pearl and Of Mice And Men when I was in school,
This definitely should be the book to read, life changing, just wish it was written when I was a teen
This definitely should be the book to read, life changing, just wish it was written when I was a teen
November 25, 2018
Book review here check it out http://www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.co...
January 25, 2019
really gripping
February 27, 2020
4.5 stars
December 20, 2020
A really good read with lots of issues and excitement. Read it in one sitting. Could be good for class novel for boys.
July 17, 2024
Two twins.
One girl. One boy. They hate each other. This is conveyed in chapter one as they stab one another with insults. We all pretend to hate our siblings don't we? This was real.
Two worlds.
So far apart yet so similar. Both are motivated with an end goal in sight. Brilliant brash Kaine has football and only football. Resounding resilient Roxy heading for tennis stardom. When a cracked family portrait and the worst possible thing that could happen to an athlete enters the scene along comes the Compton estate gang.
Two characters.
Orchestrated in such a way that brings out their personalities and qualities. They are so incredibly crafted. Relatable. Kaine is shown as progressive and works through the challenges that stare him down, very much testing him. It's ironic because he is never any good at tests in school but this life test, he aces. Kaines' school life is comedic and far from perfection epitomising his results.
Two aims.
Roxy is always trying to fit in and be like the others but with her big muscles and obsessive dad it is hard for her. Pushing to win Wimbledon she trains every day at the school courts with intent, purpose, determination. Her diary entries give us a key to her brain, feelings and intrusive thoughts which unlocks towards the end of the book.
One book.
If there was only one book that should be on your shelfs, honestly this is the one. It is my favourite book taking me through a rollercoaster of emotions every time I flick the pages open. Dan Freedman expressed the joy of writing this book when I met him at a premier league festival. He said it was ‘his favourite book to write’. Of course, Freedman had written very successful books before including the Jamie Johnson series which has been turned into a series by the BBC. ‘Unstoppable’ is a great read for football loving, tennis loving, sport loving, teens. I would highly recommend it, so let's get reading! You will love it.
One girl. One boy. They hate each other. This is conveyed in chapter one as they stab one another with insults. We all pretend to hate our siblings don't we? This was real.
Two worlds.
So far apart yet so similar. Both are motivated with an end goal in sight. Brilliant brash Kaine has football and only football. Resounding resilient Roxy heading for tennis stardom. When a cracked family portrait and the worst possible thing that could happen to an athlete enters the scene along comes the Compton estate gang.
Two characters.
Orchestrated in such a way that brings out their personalities and qualities. They are so incredibly crafted. Relatable. Kaine is shown as progressive and works through the challenges that stare him down, very much testing him. It's ironic because he is never any good at tests in school but this life test, he aces. Kaines' school life is comedic and far from perfection epitomising his results.
Two aims.
Roxy is always trying to fit in and be like the others but with her big muscles and obsessive dad it is hard for her. Pushing to win Wimbledon she trains every day at the school courts with intent, purpose, determination. Her diary entries give us a key to her brain, feelings and intrusive thoughts which unlocks towards the end of the book.
One book.
If there was only one book that should be on your shelfs, honestly this is the one. It is my favourite book taking me through a rollercoaster of emotions every time I flick the pages open. Dan Freedman expressed the joy of writing this book when I met him at a premier league festival. He said it was ‘his favourite book to write’. Of course, Freedman had written very successful books before including the Jamie Johnson series which has been turned into a series by the BBC. ‘Unstoppable’ is a great read for football loving, tennis loving, sport loving, teens. I would highly recommend it, so let's get reading! You will love it.
May 13, 2025
This is a great read for young people. It lacks a little of the grit and connection with eh characters needed to be highly engaging for adults. The story wraps up neatly and gives a positive message. I'm not 100% convinced by the sibling rivalry spin as one is pretty much taken out of the picture. It's also not as sporty as I thought it would be, the sport is more the jumping board for the ret of the story.
February 8, 2025
Started and finished date - 06.01.25 to 08.02.25.
My rating - three Stars.
This book was okay read but I didn't love it and the cover of book was okay also the writing was okay and the paced of plot was fine. The atmosphere was good and the the ending of the book was okay. The characters was fine but I would have like them flash out bit more
My rating - three Stars.
This book was okay read but I didn't love it and the cover of book was okay also the writing was okay and the paced of plot was fine. The atmosphere was good and the the ending of the book was okay. The characters was fine but I would have like them flash out bit more
August 26, 2025
Used this book to do some English practise and revision with son. Very good for this purpose (year 8 level). Not sure many adults would find too deep but good book for young teens looking to expand reading.
Focussed on two working class teens keen on sport (footy and tennis) and dealing with gangs and family trauma on the way.
Four stars for this purpose and audience.
Focussed on two working class teens keen on sport (footy and tennis) and dealing with gangs and family trauma on the way.
Four stars for this purpose and audience.
October 31, 2026
I really liked this book as I can relate to how kaine was feeling and I like how that the twins grew a bigger and better bond at the end and it all worked out. I felt bad for Roxy however when she found out she will never walk again( I might of cried) but I’m so glad that she realised that her life isnt over.
April 29, 2020
Fine for the audience and you are invested in characters by the end but it's not the most brilliantly written YA novel ever.
February 18, 2023
A brilliant book that i read really quickly
August 22, 2026
3.25 stars. it was a sweet YA kids book. focused a lot more on the boy twins and his journey of football and growing up then the girl. it took a very dramatic turn when she went into a coma and having a long brain surgery and then being paralysed when she woke up. I'm glad she recovered and still able to focus on her tennis dream cause i was saying to myself you can still play even if you can't walk its just a lot harder. so happy i predicted that. I felt the gang related stuff was too quickly resolved and i think there could add more to that. the sibling, twin dynamic of hating each other is very relatable as I have a twin brother and am not close with him even now. just also i think their dynamic resolved to be happy far too quickly and was also very unrealistic.
April 29, 2025
I’m not sure how to feel about this book. Although it is not the longest book ever it still felt very slow paced as the writing felt like it was written by a child just because lots of words kept repeating in same sentences. I liked the whole concept and I particularly liked the “7 years later” part at the end. It definitely helps spread awareness about different topics that are quite common in schools. Some bits that annoyed me however were when it tried to be “inspiring” and to me it just felt cringy. Not a bad book just not for me. 😊
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews