Face

Product Information

Even though the book did not meet my expectations of some crazy story (but that's not a problem with the book but with my assumptions) I still loved it when I realised it wasn't going where I'd assumed. I was only 11/12 and I loved it, the reality of perceptions, peer pressure and a character learning to be confident in his own skin - brilliant read. It was both believable and sad when Martin's girlfriend no longer wanted anything to do with him and instead hooked up with some other guy, and the scene when he confronted her nearly brought tears to my eyes. This would be an excellent prompt for discussion about prejudices regarding appearance and our reaction to those less fortunate than ourselves. You have to be careful what you say and who you say it to on the streets of Martin's neighbourhood - not that Martin is particularly racist: 'I ain't got nothing against blacks, they're just different, they dance different and everything.

If you are looking for something grounded in reality which manages to perfectly balance issues around discrimination and prejudice towards appearance, race, culture, and personal interest, then this is a MUST read. It follows the story of Martin, a British teenager living in east London, and how his and his friends and family’s life changed after a horrific car crash. It was a good base but there wasn't a lot of depth in the characters, there was a lot of telling and not showing (which was the biggest problem in my opinion. Stimulating activities in the book and a free downloadable scheme of work available to download on publication.Written in very simple language, Zephaniah brings the streets to life - I especially like the scene where Natalie misinterprets the three girls' smiles and gets ready for a fight, only to be asked if she likes clubbing. Before the accident he hated gymnastics at school and then on his second day back it was his favorite activity and two days later he was the captain! Even once I’d been absorbed into the story line, I didn’t enjoy it much, although I did appreciate that the large print made it easy for me to power through it. Benjamin Zephaniah is a British performance poet who travels on literary world tours for the British Council. Having listened to (and loved) another of Zephaniah’s audiobooks (also narrated by Bailey Smith) I was really looking forward to this one, and I was not disappointed.

Plot-wise, it follows the story of a kid who gets into a car accident and who badly injures his face. The book however did tell more than show the reader the events which made the book a bit less enjoyable. And then there was the part where Zephaniah said it was a Friday, and in the following scene it was “the next day” and still Friday, somehow. I just read it, then at the end, when I found out it was Benjamin Z and he was only 'up the road' in Birmingham, I loved it more.Fortunately, the burden helped Martin find his voice of reason and uncovered who his loyal and faithful friends really were. I've always enjoyed and looked out for Benjamin Zephaniah's poetry so I knew I had to read his books too!

He is the author of a number of acclaimed novels for young adults, including Refugee Boy and the upcoming Gangsta Rap.The holidays have started, he's got a gorgeous girlfriend and everyone agrees he's the coolest dancer around. Zephaniah is not just telling a story of a brave and inspiring young man, he is also teaching readers an important lesson through the voice of Martin.

Can you imagine waking up in a hospital, and not even knowing for sure whether you have still got all your limbs? He lives in the 'new East End' where there is a difficult brew of white, Caribbean, African and Asian families. Overall Face is a very good book I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a moving story that’s stand up against social norms.He has to come to terms with his new appearance, his parents' reaction to his injuries, and then his friends and the rest of the school. The other characters are additionally well written - with their portrayals remaining relatable throughout, thanks to Zephaniah's realistic youth dialogue. Brilliantly written with a real ear for dialogue, this is Benjamin Zepaniah breaking new boundaries. But when his world is turned upside down by a crash in a stolen car, he has to come to terms with more than his facial injuries….