When Mr Dog Bites

Dylan Mint has Touretteâs. His life is a constant battle to keep the bad stuff in â" the swearing, the tics, the howling dog that seems to escape whenever he gets stressed. But a routine visit to the hospital changes everything. Overhearing a hushed conversation between the doctor and his mum, Dylan discovers that heâs going to die in March. So he makes a list of things he must do before he dies: first, he wants to have real sex with gorgeous Michelle Malloy; second, heâs got to find his autistic best friend Amir a new best bud; third, heâs got to get his dad back home from the army so they can say goodbye properly. Itâs not a long list, but itâs ambitious, and he doesnât have much time. Sometimes youâve just got to go for it â" no holding back â" and see what happens . . .

Brian Conaghan makes you travel every step of the way in Dylanâs shoes, laughing and crying â" often at the same time â" as Dylan faces the twists and turns of an unfair world with glorious optimism and wit, raising important questions of inclusion, marginalisation and neurodiversity with sensitivity and insight. This barnstorming debut was shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal, and Brian has gone on to write many stunning, award-winning novels for teens and younger readers, including the Costa-winning The Bombs that Brought Us Together.