Our Year 8 Library Leader, Rozaan took part in an amazing opportunity for the Young Writers to review one of the 10 proof copies of Dead Straight Line, the latest Young Adult novel from author Malcolm Duffy, published by Zephyr Books at Bloomsbury. Young Writers work with schools to celebrate and publish children’s writing and creativity. Rozaan’s review has been published on the Young Writers blog on Tuesday, 9th June 2026: https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/blog/dead-straight-line
Rozaan volunteered to read the book over half-term and had to write the review before the deadline of Monday, 1st June 2026. In this task, she showcased great writing and organisational skills. Here is Rozaan’s review in full:
“I really enjoyed reading Dead Straight Line because it made me think about how one decision can change lots of people's lives. At the start of the book, I felt quite frustrated with Rory because some of his choices seemed careless and immature. But as the story went on, I started to understand how guilty and confused he felt after the accident. This made me feel sorry for him because he had to deal with the consequences of what happened.
One of my favourite parts of the book was Rory's friendship with Tanker. I liked how they came from different generations but were still able to help each other. Tanker gave Rory good advice and helped him realise that running away from problems doesn't solve them. I thought Tanker was kind, patient, and wise, and he played an important role in helping Rory become a better person.
I also liked Elliot's character. Even though he made mistakes and lied to Rory, he was brave enough to admit it and say sorry. I thought that showed kindness and honesty. One of the most meaningful parts of the story was when Elliot forgave Rory. It showed that forgiveness can be difficult, but it can also help people move forward and heal after something painful has happened.
The book also made me think about responsibility and forgiveness. I could understand why some people found it hard to forgive Rory because it can take a long time to trust someone again after they make a big mistake. At the same time, I felt that Rory deserved a chance to learn from what happened and improve himself.
I liked the way Malcolm Duffy wrote the story because the characters felt real and believable. Their emotions seemed genuine, which helped me connect with them and imagine how I would feel in the same situation.
I'm really grateful that I read this book because it taught me important lessons about making good choices, taking responsibility for your actions, and learning from mistakes. It also made me think more carefully about how my decisions can affect other people.
Overall, I found Dead Straight Line to be an emotional and thought-provoking book. I would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy stories about real-life problems, friendship, and personal growth”.