The Bones of Me

與家人一同住在倫敦東區的社會住宅，15歲的莫莉暗自懷抱著業餘拳擊夢。

當大哥兼教練的丹尼在她的首場擂台賽神秘失蹤，自此音訊全無。接著警方找了上門，懷疑他與一樁襲擊案有關。

莫莉只能一邊繼續訓練，將內心的焦灼與對自己底層出身的憤怒投注在一次次的出拳與防禦上，一邊瞞著爸媽，秘密追蹤關於丹尼下落的蛛絲馬跡…

全書散文體及詩文交錯，不時穿插圖像詩及對話紀錄。故事在文體流暢切換間逐步推進、攀升，讓敘事節奏強烈且充滿驚喜。滿載腎上腺素及青春的苦澀與鼓動，富詩意的成長小說。

Told in dynamic verse and prose, The Bones of Me is a thrilling debut novel about friends and family amid the world of amateur boxing.

Living on an East London council estate has its worries - and life for teenager Molly hasn't always been easy. But she has a dream, a dream to be a boxer just like her older brother Denny. When he agrees he'll help her train she couldn't be more excited.

But then everything changes. Denny goes missing and the police are after him. Her mum and dad are working all hours to keep the bailiffs from their door and don'thave time to worry about Denny.

So as Molly secretly continues her training with her friend Kwaku, they decide to search for Denny and find out the truth about his disappearance.

Included in the CBC’s October 2022 Hot Off the Press reading list

“The combination of verse and prose keeps the pace moving, and colloquialisms add to the sense of place. A textured coming-of-age story deeply rooted in a working-class community.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“An emotional thread that packs a wallop fit for the boxing ring. With an unshakable sense of place and a quick one-two punch ending, this is a novel that appeals most to a specific reader but that will open up a new world for others who give it a try.”
—Booklist

“Dynamic verse and sincere prose…Prominent messages about classism and forgiveness add layers to this insightful rendering of the amateur boxing world.”
—Publishers Weekly

“An uncompromising and unflinching novel that certainly packs a punch.”
—Brian Conaghan, author of The Boy Who Made it Rain

“Gutsy, gripping and dangerous yet full of heart, truth and soul. Duckhouse’s exceptional debut floats like a butterfly, stings like a poet.”
—Keith Gray, author of Ostrich Boys and The Climbers

“Brave and bold, a proper right hook to the senses.”
—Phil Earle