Tale of a Tooth: Heart-rending story of domestic abuse through a child’s eyes - Softcover

Rogers, Allie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1787198529 ISBN 13: 9781787198524

Publisher: Legend Press, 2018

Synopsis

Told in the voice of an intelligent, passionate and unusual child, Tale of a Tooth is an immersive and compelling look at the impact of domestic abuse on a vulnerable family unit.

Four-year-old Danny lives with his mother, Natalie, in a small Sussex town. Life is a struggle and when they are threatened with a benefits sanction, salvation appears in the form of a Job Centre employee called Karen. But Karen's impact is to reach far beyond this one generous gesture, as she and Natalie embark on an intense relationship.

'An extraordinary story of the bond between a mother and her son. Four-year-old Danny's voice is utterly convincing, heartbreaking and ultimately full of love and hope' Catherine Hall

'Allie Rogers strikes gold again. A book about issues that isn't issue-led, and a book about childhood that isn't mawkish and emotional - Allie Rogers has, in Tale of a Tooth, created a tale that's original, powerful and long lasting. Danny's voice is readable, memorable, and may have just changed my mind about child narrators' The Book Bag

'It was a challenging read in terms of exploring the often taboo issue of domestic violence between women, which makes this a hugely important novel. Exploring a narrative which is too often kept private, but nevertheless, desperately needs to be told, Allie Rogers is unflinching in her descriptions of bullying and brutality which can be found within relationships. For this, she deserves to be congratulated.' Jess Richards

'Via a unique, compelling, utterly original voice and characters I loved from page one, Tale of a Tooth tells a critical, timely, heart-breaking story of a little boy and his mother navigating the hard parts of life with grace and wisdom and, most importantly, each other' Laurie Frankel

About this title

About the Author

Author of LITTLE GOLD (2nd May 2017) and TALE OF A TOOTH (APRIL 2018) Allie Rogers was born and raised in Brighton. Her short fiction has been published in several magazines and anthologies including Bare Fiction, Queer in Brighton and The Salt Anthology of New Writing. She has performed at local live literature events including the Charleston Small Wonder Flash Fiction Slam, which she won in 2014. Follow Allie on Twitter @Alliewhowrites

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER ONE

Meemaw was yellowy-orange this morning. When I waked up she was sitted by the big window and her dressing gown pulled tight round. Her head in the outside for having a rolly.

Morning, sleepyhead. Smoke was turns and dances round Meemaw. A smile. Bluey smoke but in it a bright Meemaw of yellowy-orange and a sunshine day.

Last of rolly gone Meemaw squashed it out. Throwed it away. Closed the big window thump.

If everything’s quick this morning then we can go to the library after. Sound good?

I did a nod of yes.

Does Spiney want some Rice Krispies of his own today?

When Meemaw’s yellowy-orange it is good things. I spooned my krispies and Spiney had his in the egg cup.

Meemaw at the end of the Cretaceous era when it was the mass extinction was it a meteor came from space?

Well that’s what it says in some of the books, isn’t it?

I did another nod.

Edition details

• Publisher: Legend Press
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1787198529
• ISBN 13: 9781787198524
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240