What I Was

The story is about a sixteen year old boy, Kipper, who is sent away to St Oswald's boarding school, on the East Anglian coastline. It is here that he first discovers love when he comes across a mysterious boy named Finn, who lives alone in a fisherman's hut on a deserted part of the beach. Finn becomes his secret friend, his fantasy and someone that Kipper aspires to be like.

The book is aimed at 15 to 16 year old boys (although I'm sure girls will also enjoy it) and is best suited to more able readers. The emotions and feelings of the characters are sensitively portrayed by the author.

Although a little slow to get going, I enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it.

I can't comment on the accuracy of the history and the descriptions of a public school. But I felt it captured the feeling of falling in love so well. This wasn't a silly Disney or Hollywood description of love. This was the real thing. The way it creeps up on you. The way the world slowly starts to revolve round the other person. They way you become so self-conscious. Every thing you say & do, you see through the eyes of the other person.

A lot of people who read the book will comment on the ending. People will talk about whether it took them by surprise or not. For me that's not the point. The book isn't so much about whether two people live happily ever after. I feel it's about the journey on the way

It's hard for me to say what age the book is suitable for. I'm old (49 at last count) and I've been reading books for years. I THINK it's an easy read - I certainly found it an easy page-turner. A boy's book? A girl's book? For me it's a book for thinking about that wonderful feeling of discovering another person. I don't think it'll matter if you're male or female.