Names Will Never

by Kevin O'Connor

Sheltered eleven year old, Lorenzo Passero, is a poor, half Italian kid, growing up in north west England. When his dad walks out on Lorenzo’s sick mum and bullying older brother, Corbin, he leaves with the family’s only television. Seeking distraction from her illness, Lorenzo’s mum asks him to take her most valuable possession - a necklace given to her by Lorenzo’s father - into the city and have it valued so she can buy a new TV. When Lorenzo reluctantly ventures out into the world on his own for the first time, the people he meets become the villains, monsters, temptresses, fools, and tricksters of a modern mythical odyssey, and Lorenzo discovers he is neither the hero nor the villain in this urban fantasy story. Names Will Never is a Young Adult novel intended for readers aged 16+ contains swearing, and depictions of suicide.

307 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2021

Reviews

[Ciara Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stole my heart…a tale of an 11-year-old boy, who had to get a necklace valued for his sick mother. What happened was a tale of adventure and hope, laced with the imagination of a child and teaches us about family, sibling rivalry, finding inner strength, identity and trust. The story reminds the reader about the innocence and magic of childhood dreams, but also loyalty and deception. The Faustian twist, the insight to survival, this book has it all and was a gem of a read. I can totally see this as an animated Disney blockbuster..someone alert a kickass producer!

[Claire O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Names will never hurt me by Kevin O'Connor. What a rollercoaster story of young boy trying to do his best in awful circumstances. Alice in Wonderland meets The lost boys; it's a fantastical tale set in modern day with lots of turns and twists. This is a well written clever story. I loved it! Looking forward to more from my cousin @kevin. What a fantastic debut novel!