1 / 6Wild East by Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Wild East by Ashley Hickson-Lovence is a YA verse novel about fourteen-year-old Ronny, who moves from East London after tragedy and struggles to find his place at a new school while pursuing his ambition to become a rapper. The listing presents spoken-word poetry as central to its approach and gives a reading age of 12 years and up.
At a glance
- A YA verse novel following Ronny as he adjusts to a new city and a mostly white school.
- Connects Ronny’s ambition to become a rapper with spoken-word poetry and a poet’s visit to his class.
- The listing reports awards including the YA Diverse Book Award 2025 and Carnegie Medal for Writing nomination in 2025.
Often bought together
Pros and cons
Pros
- The verse-novel format and music-related story may suit readers drawn to spoken-word writing and rap.
Technical specifications
10 specifications| Author | Ashley Hickson-Lovence |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Penguin |
| Publication date | 23 May 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 288 pages |
| Reading age | 12 years and up |
| ISBN-10 | 0241645441 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-13 | 978-0241645444 |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 1.8 x 19.8 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight listed | 230 g |
Who is it for?
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
80% 80% - 4 stars
11% 11% - 3 stars
6% 6% - 2 stars
3% 3% - 1 star
0% 0%
Aggregate ratings lean strongly towards the positive, with most ratings in the five-star category, but a smaller share are lower. Ratings alone do not explain what readers liked or disliked, so they offer limited guidance on whether the verse style or themes will suit an individual reader.
Frequently asked questions
What is Wild East about?
The story follows fourteen-year-old Ronny after he moves from East London following a tragedy. At his new school, he feels like an outsider while exploring how spoken-word poetry might connect with his goal of becoming a rapper.
What format is Wild East written in?
The listing describes it as a YA verse novel with a spoken-word style.
What age is Wild East listed for?
The product details give a reading age of 12 years and up.
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