Ashley Hickson-Lovence

When 14-year-old Ronny’s life is struck by tragedy, his mum decides it’s finally time they move out of London. In his new city, as a Black teenager in a mostly white school, Ronny feels like a complete outsider and struggles to balance keeping his head down with his ambition of becoming a rapper. But when a local poet comes into class, Ronny discovers a world he’s never considered before.

Ashley Hickson-Lovence loves British hip hop, and it shows in his first Young Adult verse-novel. Wild East has been inspired by Ashley’s time as a secondary school English teacher, his own move from London to Norwich, and tutoring a group of asylum seekers.

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