COP & ROBBER BY TRISTAN BANCKS

Nash Hall is having a hard time. His situation is unique and it’s giving him more than a little grief. In a nutshell, his divorced parents represent two ends of the spectrum — his mum is a cop and his dad is a criminal. He loves them both equally, but is torn between telling the truth or loyalty, when his dad involves him in one of his robberies.

 Nash’s dad is in big trouble. He owes some really shady people serious money and they are coming to get him. He has been arrested by his ex-wife and is waiting for his court appearance and this time he could be put away for years.

Nash is struggling to cope with these dilemmas and the only thing that helps him is his cross-country running. By a stroke of luck, he has made it into the regional finals but the joy of that is tempered by the arrival of two bad guys, Tattoo and Worm.

 Can Nash’s dad pull off a heist that he has pulled his son into helping with? Can Nash live with his conscience, knowing what his his dad is about to do? Should he tell his mum? All this comes to a tremendous climax on the day of the school fair, Nash’s big race and the worst dust storm the town has seen in decades.

 Tristan Banck’s Cop and Robber starts with a bang and continues with a great mixture of tension and emotional turmoil. Nash’s character, as he tries to deal with this impossible situation, gives the reader a glimpse into someone who is torn between loving his parents and just wanting a normal life. Who do you trust to do the right thing when you’re not sure exactly what the right thing is? This novel is a wonderful combination of adventure thriller and an exploration into family dynamics. Middle Grade readers will love this fast-paced tale of redemption and honour.

 For Ages: 10-14 years

Number of Pages: 256

Published: July 2022 Penguin Random House Puffin Books

Themes: forgiveness, resilience, ethical dilemmas and family