Hold On Award-winning by Alan Gibbons (author)

Glass breaks because it is fragile. You don’t blame the glass for breaking. A heart breaks because it is fragile. So why blame the heart for breaking?

When Annie returns from an extended stay in Canada, she discovers that her friend, John, has killed himself. Devastated by his death, Annie is determined to confront those she believes responsible – a group of boys from her school who bullied John mercilessly. But Annie’s parents and friends don’t share her wish to bring the boys to justice. She finds herself treading a lonely path – and soon discovers that nothing is straightforward. She is helplessly attracted to one of the boys. What’s more, when she reads John’s diary, it’s clear they weren’t the only ones to cause him so much unhappiness… An unsentimental and topical novel about moving on and looking forward to the future, which explores the tragic waste of a young life.

“A brilliant page-turner… Shocking and stunning.” Stephen Crawford, BRAT

“This well written story deals with sensitive subjects with understanding and compassion.” School Librarian