The Beck
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The Beck
Buy Now for $16.99
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Narrated by:
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Joe Pitts
About this listen
From Carnegie Medal winning author Anthony McGowan comes an environmental tale packed full of his signature grit, heart and humour, as Kyle and his grandad execute a plan to save the local beck.
Kyle is less than happy about getting dumped at his eccentric old grandad’s on a Saturday afternoon. Embarrassed by his grandad’s ratty old Elvis wig and his weird three-legged dog, Kyle thinks the day is going to be a nightmare until his grandad introduces him to the marvels in the beck at the bottom of his garden.
Once filthy and full of rubbish, the stream has been cleaned up and is now home to some amazing creatures. But this magical world is under threat from a new development.
Kyle’s grandad is determined to stop the builders and has an audacious plan to save the beck, but when he falls ill, will Kyle find the courage to carry it out by himself?
Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.
©2025 Anthony McGowan (P)2025 HarperCollins PublishersCritic Reviews
"McGowan's short and accessible novels have made him the fairy godfather of less confident readers … another masterclass, telling the story of a boy and his grandfather who conspire to save a local stream from property developers." – The Telegraph
"Witty, wise and occasionally wicked, nobody tells a story like the great Tony McGowan" – Phil Earle
"The Beck is constantly entertaining, equally thought-provoking, and proof yet again of Anthony McGowan’s wonderful storytelling skills. Full of hope and humour, there’s heart and soul on every page" – Keith Gray
"Anthony McGowan is a miraculous storyteller. He has the power to move you, make you laugh out loud, cringe in embarrassment and recoil in disgust in a single page. This book is a small piece of magic from the mind of a very great writer" – Katya Balen
"A funny, poignant, heartfelt and hopeful 11+ story, from a Carnegie-winning author and a dyslexia-friendly press." – The Guardian
"This powerful story from Carnegie-winning Anthony McGowan connects you with its characters immediately. The dynamic between Kyle and his sharp-tongued, restless grandad is a driving force and is outrageously funny – the wig’s funeral will have you in stitches!" — BookTrust
"From fire to water: returning to the environs of Leeds, Anthony McGowan has in The Beck written a thoughtful study of intergenerational friendship and mankind’s relationship with the natural world … McGowan’s simple but gripping plot, allied to an understanding of the trials teenage boys face, makes this a fine read." – Literary Review
"A timeless, exquisitely crafted tale of resistance and standing up for what's right, McGowan's environmental tale revolves around a boy and his grandfather's determination to save their beloved beck from developers." — Waterstones
"There is not a word out of place in this perfectly crafted, wise and extremely witty novella about caring for the natural world." — Highlights of the Season, Children's Buyer's Guide