Five Hundred Miles

Two brothers take off in a stolen car with a mysterious girl in this tense road-movie story, shot through with playful hopefulness and all the hallmarks of a classic Kevin Brooks.

For brothers Cole and Ruben it's another rainy morning in the badlands of East London, selling dodgy paperwork for even dodgier motors. But arriving in a grimy pub on their latest errand, the brothers stumble across a trio of gangsters, a beautiful young girl and a monkey in a cage – and their entire day is knocked off course. They soon find themselves fleeing in a hot-wired car, girl and chattering monkey in tow, surrounded by police. Their final destination: Oban, five hundred miles north, where they hope to find sanctuary.

Particularly suitable for readers aged 13+ with a reading age of 8.