Matt Greene – 'Ostrich' book review

Alex Graham is a charmingly quirky 12-year-old who is trying to make sense of his parents’ increasingly suspicious conduct which, he fears, might be linked to the recent changes he has observed in the behaviour of his pet hamster. He is also trying to cope with the frequent seizures he has been suffering at particularly inopportune moments, most poignantly when he finally kisses his white-faced goth girlfriend Chloe.

This is an endearing debut novel from Matt Greene, with an inspired and hilarious take on adolescence – a time when ‘you understood the world so much better than it understood you’– which covers the familiar ground of exam stress, embarrassing families, the discovery of internet porn and social insecurities. Greene’s unusual style and his enchanting wordplay will not only gain him favourable comparisons to Mark Haddon, but potentially earn him a place in the bestseller’s list.

Matt Greene's novel 'Ostrich' is published by W&N on September 5 priced £12.99. Click here to buy a copy.