KING OF NOTHING

A teen is caught between the actions of his friends and the way his mother wants him to conduct himself.

Fourteen-year-old Anton Charles is growing up in multicultural South London, hanging out with his friends, who make sure they’re the toughest in school. He already has some notoriety because his dad’s in prison. The boys often end up in detention, and this latest time Anton’s mum imposes consequences: She makes him join the Happy Campers, volunteers who are assisting with her work project. For Anton, spending time with the group renovating the community center feels like the worst thing that could possibly happen. He’s even more upset to learn he’ll be partnered with Matthew, a loner whom he and his friends bully at school. During the Happy Campers’ annual weekend camping trip, the boys, who are cued Black, get separated from the group, and Matthew’s quick thinking saves Anton when he has a serious allergic reaction to a bee sting. Despite knowing he’s indebted to Matthew, Anton tries to keep their friendship secret—but he gradually gains the perspective his mother was hoping for. This highly entertaining coming-of-age novel won awards when it was originally published in the U.K. in 2024, and its humor, universal themes, and diverse, well-rounded characters will appeal to American readers. Anton’s hilarious and disarming voice makes the explorations of masculinity, image, and emotional vulnerability accessible and engaging.

An accomplished mixture of wit, poignancy, and adolescent insight with an appealing cast of characters.