Try this new writer

When I’d read two chapters of The Traitor Game by B R Collins, I emailed Ian at Bloomsbury to tell him how good it was, as though the man wouldn’t know. I usually wait until I’ve finished a book to say stuff like that. But anyone who has been tortured by Linda Newbery and Malorie Blackman must be good.

Sorry, that should be tutored. Bridget (that’s who B R really is, and I think J K R is enough, so no more of this initials rubbish) went on an Arvon course with Linda and Malorie, although Linda says Bridget had already written The Traitor Game by then, so won’t take any credit for the book.

Did anyone notice me saying what a good book this is? Sometimes I despair a little when the jiffybags keep coming (I’m grateful, really) and I see book after book I’m not desperately keen on reading. This time, however, the book spoke to me immediately, and I just knew it’d be good. Must be the witch in me.

The Traitor Game is about Michael and Francis. They have a secret fantasy world, which takes on a life of its own in this story. So, part of the book is fantasy, but most of it is boy problems in and out of school. Bullying and being gay, are right up there with betraying your best friend. This is set in a private school, so the background is “nice”.

And speaking of nice; Francis is very nice. It could be that real boys aren’t like him, but I do hope they are. I love him. Funny and intelligent and just wonderful. And his “twin” in the fantasy world is almost as lovely. It is a little weird with the fantasy elements, but I believe they helped make the story stronger in the end.

I hope boys will read this, whether or not it was written by a female. That must be what this initials game is all about. We all read Harry, so why not this?