Malarkey
Keith Gray
Summary
On the first school day, he meets a random girl called Mary Chase, who he has saved earlier. But the fate is not on his side and consequently, some guys steal his school bag. Lately, he is accused of stealing teacher's wallet and he must immediately appear at the headmaster's office. Subsequently, he is accused of stealing report cards to sell to students so they can write their own reports. None of that being true, he still stands guilty without any proofs in his defence. After a quick realisation it was all a set-up, he is given one day to prove his innocence.
Malarkey tries to track down Mary Chase, but it's difficult in such a huge place. He does, however, discover sweird things going on beneath the surface of the normal school day. John has also noticed the strange fact that many children at Brook wear Adidas trainers - black with the three/two/one white stripes. He realises that this is the recognizing sign of the school 'mafia' which got him in the trouble in the first place. He discovers that the name of the gang's leader is Freddie Cloth and Mary Chase turns out to be Freddie's girlfriend. Malarkey is soon noticed for asking too many questions, and receives warnings and threats to back down. But, with time quickly running out for him, he still has to prove his innocence. And the only way to do this is to get to Freddie Cloth.
My opinion
What the critics say
A tense thriller founded on conveying psychology, Malarkey is a compelling British version of Robert Cormier's US classic, The Chocolate War
- Guardian
Ingenious and exciting
- Observer
Clever, cool, suspenseful
- The Sunday Times
A gripping and dangerous read that stays in the mind for its chilling reality, the power of the story and the quality of the writing
- The Bookseller
Don't miss this! It's Keith Gray's best novel to date. Opening with a breathless bag chase, it doesn't let up the momentum for a second
- Achuka
Description of the characters
John's mum - nice, communicative, loves books, curious about her son's life, always wants to help, trustful
Mary Chase - funny, pretty, clever, mysterious, dangerous, John likes her, Freddie's girlfriend, complicated, emotional
Freddie Cloth - dangerous, bad boy, leader of the Tailors, very tough, violent, cheater, liar
If they ever made a movie about this book
John Malarkey
John's mum
Mary Chase
Chloë Grace Moretz is the perfect actress to play Mary Chase.
Freddie Cloth
Freddie's friend
Math's teacher
Soundtrack for the movie
- Sreaming trees - Look at you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoWK492quFI - Explosions in the sky - Postcard from 1952
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv-yJywbtDI - Bon iver - Beach Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7VTwyNZgg4 - Nirvana - Come as you are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqN0ZOEO9oI - The Beatles - Here comes the sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxzEeKfpyIg - The Pixies - Where is my mind (cover by Maxence Cyrin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NZdggNUvq0 - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y - She wants revenge - Tear you apart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiT_YP1SZ68 - Cigarettes after sex - Nothing's gonna hurt you baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2LQdh42neg
About Keith Gray
He has gone on to win the Angus Book Award and the silver medal in the Smarties Prize. He has twice been shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the Booktrust Teen Prize and the Scottish Arts Council Book Award. Keith was a judge for the Blue Peter Book Award, the Guardian Fiction Prize and the Bookstrust Teen Prize and reviews regularly for the Guardian.
Keith is now a full-time writer living in Edinburgh.