Locks

A coming-of-age comedy of errors, this electric debut novel about growing up, wising up, and finding your place in the world. Aeon is on a quest for belonging. What could possibly go wrong? Locks is the story of Aeon, a mixed-up, mixed-race teenager from a leafy Liverpool suburb, who is desperate to find his Black roots and understand the Black identity foisted upon him by his community. To his growing shame, the only Black people in his life are his dad and his cousin, Increase - but they don't count. Aeon's dad is intent on ignoring race and climbing the social ladder. Meanwhile, Increase has taken to demeaning Black culture since the shady and unresolved death of his own father, a 'Yardie' gangster. Aeon's quest seems set to be fulfilled when he and Increase travel to Jamaica. But Aeon soon finds that smoking loads of weed, growing messy dreadlocks and wearing massive red boots don't necessarily help him to fit in. Within days of his arrival he is mugged, stabbed, arrested and banged up in a Jamaican detention centre. Seen as the 'White boy,' he finds that his journey of self-discovery has only just begun, and he's going to have to fight for the respect and recognition he deserves.