Book description
Named one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists
Anais Hendricks, fifteen, is in the back of a police car. She is headed for the Panopticon, a home for chronic young offenders. She can't remember what’s happened, but across town a policewoman lies in a coma and Anais is covered…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Panopticon as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This is the book which most inspired Frances’ voice in The Island. 15-year old Anais is troubled, loving, brilliant, and creative. She is also at a young offenders’ institution named the Panopticon after being found covered in blood at a crime scene. A birthday present from my brother, this book is so powerful, moving, and evocative. It’s written in spiky Midlothian. It’s raw. It’s warm. It’s brutal.
No matter what life throws at her (and there is a lot) Anais finds a way to survive with humour and defiance. I just loved it.
From Olivia's list on The best books to help you survive desert islands, life, and everything.
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