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Witness
To tell the truth? Or protect his family?
Cornell is having a bad time. Kicked out of secondary school for a fight he didn't start, he finds himself in a Pupil Referral Unit. Here he makes friends with one of the Sinclair family. You don't mess with the Sinclairs, and when Ryan Sinclair demands Cornell comes with him to teach another student some respect, Ryan witnesses something that will change his life.
Torn between protecting his family and himself, Cornell has one hell of a decision to make.
This is published as part of the Quick Reads series, which aims to share the joy of reading with adults who are improving their literacy. It is Alex Wheatle at his a thrilling, pacy story that is full of moral complexity and insight into gang violence.
Cornell is having a bad time. Kicked out of secondary school for a fight he didn't start, he finds himself in a Pupil Referral Unit. Here he makes friends with one of the Sinclair family. You don't mess with the Sinclairs, and when Ryan Sinclair demands Cornell comes with him to teach another student some respect, Ryan witnesses something that will change his life.
Torn between protecting his family and himself, Cornell has one hell of a decision to make.
This is published as part of the Quick Reads series, which aims to share the joy of reading with adults who are improving their literacy. It is Alex Wheatle at his a thrilling, pacy story that is full of moral complexity and insight into gang violence.
86 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2022
12 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Alex Wheatle
41 books198 followersAlex Alphonso Wheatle was a British novelist, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment after the 1981 Brixton riot in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 26, 2022
A snapshot of the life of 15 year old Cornell who is torn between his peers and protecting his family. A moral dilemma complicated by violence and split loyalties.
A good story but with an overwhelming sense of inevitability and sadness.
A good story but with an overwhelming sense of inevitability and sadness.
December 31, 2024
Cornell is having a bad time. Kicked out of secondary school for a fight he didn't start, he finds himself in a Pupil Referral Unit. Here he makes friends with one of the Sinclair family. You don't mess with the Sinclairs, and when Ryan Sinclair demands Cornell comes with him to teach another student some respect, Ryan witnesses something that will change his life.
Torn between protecting his family and himself, Cornell has one hell of a decision to make.
Torn between protecting his family and himself, Cornell has one hell of a decision to make.
October 26, 2022
Teenage boy living on a rough estate gets caught up in something he doesn't want to. This was less than 100 pages long as it's part of the Quick Reads series. It was okay but something didn't click right for me.
April 27, 2022
I had never heard of this author before but it turns out, he actually has quite a few books out so will definitely see if I can get hold of one of his full length books.
This book took me around an hour to read.
At first I wasn't sure that I would like it, as there is a lot of gang slang in there that I really had to think about what it meant - it definitely made me feel my age 😂
But once I had got my head around the slang, it was actually a fairly decent read.
It didn't wow me, but I enjoyed it, and would definitely read a full length book from this author as I have found with quick reads, that they aren't always as good as the real deal as there just isn't space to go into much detail.
This book took me around an hour to read.
At first I wasn't sure that I would like it, as there is a lot of gang slang in there that I really had to think about what it meant - it definitely made me feel my age 😂
But once I had got my head around the slang, it was actually a fairly decent read.
It didn't wow me, but I enjoyed it, and would definitely read a full length book from this author as I have found with quick reads, that they aren't always as good as the real deal as there just isn't space to go into much detail.
September 19, 2023
3.5 stars
An enjoyable novella, 85 pages, about growing up on the 'wrong side of the tracks' and learning to make a stand for the right when everyone else isn't.
A well-written story with plausible characters.
An enjoyable novella, 85 pages, about growing up on the 'wrong side of the tracks' and learning to make a stand for the right when everyone else isn't.
A well-written story with plausible characters.
May 19, 2022
Fifteen year old Cornell witnesses a stabbing and is faced with a difficult predicament. If he goes to the police his family would suffer at the hands of the notorious Sinclair family.
I felt very emotional reading this and felt sympathy for all involved. A good reading choice for teens.
I felt very emotional reading this and felt sympathy for all involved. A good reading choice for teens.
March 4, 2024
It's almost inevitable what is going to happen after the second chapter but a good read despite lots of slang to get to grips with. A view of a life growing up on a rundown estate where 'respect' matters above all else.
February 11, 2024
It was an ok read. Reading is challenging for me at the moment and this one just didn’t grab my attention.
September 24, 2025
a quick reads book based on being a witness to a crime & how to react/deal with it
February 4, 2023
An interesting short read, in a “what would you do?” situation. I’d like to read some of his longer novels.
May 29, 2023
Aquick read , the first of this author but enjoyed it
June 28, 2022
Cornell is a young man whose life is not going in the right direction. He is in a special unit instead of school thanks to him being in a fight, he has got in with the wrong crowd thanks to having to attend the pupil referral unit and now they've decided it's time for him to prove himself.
When one of the Sinclair family find out that their girlfriend has been chatted up they simply can't accept the level of disrespect that has been shown to them and so they decide that it is time to pay a visit to the perpetrator of this disrespect to sort it out and they request Cornell be part of their crew to show they mean business but when things take a turn for the worse Cornell needs to decide whether he is going to be a witness to what happened and be honest about it or if he will keep his mouth shut. Can you really do right and put your family at risk or do you do the wrong thing but know your family will be safe?
This book is perfectly written and feels very true to what these situations would be like for the individual and the ripple effect this all has. This is my first time reading this author but I found their writing to be excellent and I am sure I'll be checking out more of their work.
When one of the Sinclair family find out that their girlfriend has been chatted up they simply can't accept the level of disrespect that has been shown to them and so they decide that it is time to pay a visit to the perpetrator of this disrespect to sort it out and they request Cornell be part of their crew to show they mean business but when things take a turn for the worse Cornell needs to decide whether he is going to be a witness to what happened and be honest about it or if he will keep his mouth shut. Can you really do right and put your family at risk or do you do the wrong thing but know your family will be safe?
This book is perfectly written and feels very true to what these situations would be like for the individual and the ripple effect this all has. This is my first time reading this author but I found their writing to be excellent and I am sure I'll be checking out more of their work.
September 1, 2022
I enjoyed this quick read story. Cornell at the age of fifteen has been ousted from secondary school for a fight he did not start and is sent to a Pupil Referral Unit where he encounters a leader of a pack by the name of Ryan Sinclair who cajoles him into going to a park to meet a member of another gang to teach him a lesson on respect as he had made a pass on his girlfriend.
Things get out of hand and someone pulls a knife out and blood is shed and a life is lost. Cornell has empathy and phones for an ambulance before fleeing the scene. Unfortuantely he has left his hoodie behind which will be covered in his DNA.
He returns home with his estranged Father whom he told him what had happened. They both return home to his Mother and little sister and a heated arguement arises between his parents.
Cornell has a big decision to make whether to become a snitch and face the repucussions for not only him but his family.
This short read was very thought provoking and brings up the insight into gang knife crime and the moral mindset which prevailed withn Cornell even though he knew what the consequences would be.
Things get out of hand and someone pulls a knife out and blood is shed and a life is lost. Cornell has empathy and phones for an ambulance before fleeing the scene. Unfortuantely he has left his hoodie behind which will be covered in his DNA.
He returns home with his estranged Father whom he told him what had happened. They both return home to his Mother and little sister and a heated arguement arises between his parents.
Cornell has a big decision to make whether to become a snitch and face the repucussions for not only him but his family.
This short read was very thought provoking and brings up the insight into gang knife crime and the moral mindset which prevailed withn Cornell even though he knew what the consequences would be.
January 31, 2023
A very quick but interesting read.
What would you do if you were a witness to something awful? That is the question that Cornell faces when one of his classmates goes to teach another boy from another school a lesson for disrespecting his girlfriend. Cornell doesn’t want to go but is called out by the other two boys for being a coward so goes anyway. What he thought would just be a telling off from Ryan Sinclair, whose family are notorious around the neighbourhood, ends with the other boy being stabbed and Cornell being a witness to it all.
The choice Cornell now has is whether to keep quiet or tell the police, with his mum and dad being on opposite sides to each other with what he should do.
Although this was only a short read, I was definitely invested in what Cornell was going to do. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.
What would you do if you were a witness to something awful? That is the question that Cornell faces when one of his classmates goes to teach another boy from another school a lesson for disrespecting his girlfriend. Cornell doesn’t want to go but is called out by the other two boys for being a coward so goes anyway. What he thought would just be a telling off from Ryan Sinclair, whose family are notorious around the neighbourhood, ends with the other boy being stabbed and Cornell being a witness to it all.
The choice Cornell now has is whether to keep quiet or tell the police, with his mum and dad being on opposite sides to each other with what he should do.
Although this was only a short read, I was definitely invested in what Cornell was going to do. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.
September 15, 2022
This short story was something I didn't know I needed to read. It really showed an intimate view of life on a different scale to my own. One where respect is more valuable that life. It was crazy scary to believe people actually live like this, the fear I felt for this character was real. And it shocked me that my emotions would become so invested. This author is truly gifted.
Cornell is 15 years old and unfortunately seems to be at the Whim of one of the biggest crime families in the area -The Sinclair's. Ryan Sinclair to be exact, who feels disrespected and has to make another 'brother' pay for it.
Cornell ends up wrapped in a wild ride of near death and loyalty. What happens when the heart challenged the mind?
Brilliant story!
Cornell is 15 years old and unfortunately seems to be at the Whim of one of the biggest crime families in the area -The Sinclair's. Ryan Sinclair to be exact, who feels disrespected and has to make another 'brother' pay for it.
Cornell ends up wrapped in a wild ride of near death and loyalty. What happens when the heart challenged the mind?
Brilliant story!
August 17, 2023
Cornell has been suspended from school and finds himself having to attend a local pupil referral unit. Here he gets caught up with Ryan Sinclair, a member of a notorious local family. When Cornell witnesses a horrific event, he has a huge decision to make - tell the truth and endanger his family, or stay silent and cover it up.
Although it is a very short Quick Read, I found this quite hard to read - there was a lot of local slang to translate, which made a quick read anything but! I also found the ending quite abrupt, and it didn't tie up for me. However, I found the relationship between Cornell and little sister Ange very sweet, it was a lovely description of close siblings.
Although it is a very short Quick Read, I found this quite hard to read - there was a lot of local slang to translate, which made a quick read anything but! I also found the ending quite abrupt, and it didn't tie up for me. However, I found the relationship between Cornell and little sister Ange very sweet, it was a lovely description of close siblings.
April 17, 2022
Cornell knows that you don't disrespect the Sinclairs, not if you want to stay safe. So when Ryan Sinclair asks him to help teach a boy who flirted with his girlfriend a lesson, he knows he can't say no. But then the unthinkable happens, and now he has a choice between doing the right thing, or protecting the people loves.
A short, startlingly timely story that is gripping and full of brutal honesty and emotion. Delving into the terror of street violence and power, and figuring out how love and family fit into the world.
A short, startlingly timely story that is gripping and full of brutal honesty and emotion. Delving into the terror of street violence and power, and figuring out how love and family fit into the world.
January 5, 2023
I have just read this book. It was an okay book but in all honesty, it was not my taste. Full of naughty boys, full of slangs....In the beginning, I thought I chose completely the wrong book. However, I was able to finish it anyway. The story was quite simple. Easy to follow. I do not recommend this book if you are a non native English speaker or a posh lady. Still, worth about 200 yen. Suitable for Vicky Pollard.
August 25, 2023
Part of the quick reads collection ( I read in under an hour ) this tells the story of 15 year old Cornell living on a rough council estate in London with his mum and 7 year old sister. He becomes involved in something via peer pressure and is witness to a crime , he has to make the choice to tell the police and face the wrath of the notorious Sinclair family or keep quiet and lie to protect his family.
May 18, 2024
This story had a sense of inevitability, but was no less compelling or frightening for that. The setting is familiar yet outside of my experience and if it is a realistic description of growing up on a deprived estate, it is all the more terrifying and insightful. The prose was great and I am more than inclined to seek out more by this author, and have no qualms in recommending this Quick Read to all.
May 1, 2022
I have always loved these quick reads, quick and easy to read stories from different authors I wouldn’t normally read. Not a usual genre that I would read but actually enjoyed it. A short crime themed story based around gang members and a decision to make which could have consequences on his family. Interesting short read!
June 10, 2022
A Quick Reads book about a bunch of young teens attending a Pupil Referral Unit in a fictional area I assume is based on London council estates. I’ve not read this author before but apparently he has written a set of four books based around the same area. A lot is packed into this short book but I could have done with a glossary as I had no idea what some of the kids' expressions meant!
March 3, 2023
Such a interesting story about gangs and how they kinda work together. Only bit I didn’t like towards the end was the bullying accept I think it wasn’t really needed. Some of the characters I didn’t really like as they annoyed me and the way the came across was so cocky and arrogant. Other characters in this book were average. The story kept me interested and gripped. Xxx
June 18, 2025
This book is all about Gang crime.
Cornell finds himself in a situation that could end up bringing trouble to his family.
This is a book of survival and doing what's right to protect your family.
I feel like there should be a follow on to this story as it ends a bit quick without telling us if justice was served?, that's just my opinion.
Cornell finds himself in a situation that could end up bringing trouble to his family.
This is a book of survival and doing what's right to protect your family.
I feel like there should be a follow on to this story as it ends a bit quick without telling us if justice was served?, that's just my opinion.
May 5, 2022
Was a brilliant read, wish it was a full novel as I would have devoured it. Really enjoyed reading this one, about a kid from a broken home who witnesses his 'mate' stabbing a rival school kid and debating whether to tell the cops or not..
May 8, 2022
Brilliant short novel on a 15 year old getting mixed up in something he shouldn’t. I forgot I was reading a quickread and was totally hooked. Only thing I found wrong with this book was it wasn’t long enough!
November 16, 2022
a decent, quick story. a round storyline with clear themes and just the right amount of detail. i found this book neat and easy to read but nothing really wowed me. with very few pages this book deals with some heavy themes and morals really well.
July 30, 2024
Not bad but coulda been better. Feel like you had all this build up and it didn’t really go anywhere, which was a shame.
Read as part of my local library’s summer spree.
Not my usual genre of choice but I’d have read a longer version too, just to find out the outcome tbh.
Read as part of my local library’s summer spree.
Not my usual genre of choice but I’d have read a longer version too, just to find out the outcome tbh.
July 14, 2025
An interesting plot, very relevant for teenagers today in regards to knife crime and gangs. This was part of the quick reads collection and I felt it was let down by the fact it was so short. The characters weren't able to be expanded much and the plot could have been stretched out more.
April 15, 2022
A great short story with the worst (but most believable) kind of dilemma. Brilliantly observed and grafted and all for cheaper than a bottle of pop. Superb
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews