Winner of the Guardian Children Fiction's Prize 2016
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2017

WELCOME TO CRONGTON, WHERE YOUR LOYALTY AND WITS WILL BE TESTED ...

Living on the South Crongton council estate has its worries - and life for McKay has been even tougher since his mum died.

His dad has been working all hours to keep the bailiffs from their door.

His brother is always out riding the streets at night, tempting trouble.

And now, having strayed off his turf on a 'heroic' (if misguided) mission to help out a girl, McKay finds himself facing a friend's crazy ex-boyfriend, some power-tripping hood-rats and a notoriously violent gangster with a vendetta which hits too close to home.

Poor McKay. He never asked for trouble . . . But during one madcap night of adventure and danger, he will find out who his true friends are, what it means to stick with your family and that, sometimes, the lessons learned the hard way are the ones you'll never forget.

'... powerful writing by an author with great talent and great heart.' David Almond

Prizes

Winner of Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016 (UK),Short-listed for YA Book Prize 2017 (UK),Short-listed for YA Book Prize 2017 (UK),Long-listed for Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016 (UK)

[This] will soon be on school reading lists and examination syllabuses everywhere, as it has "classic" singing from every page ... A joyous shout of youthful exuberance ... Wheatle's Twain-like command of patois never falters ... Enriching and life-affirming ... A total gem for any age. * Independent *
I love this book. It's elegant, authentic and humane. It hums with the beat of real life and the language sings from the page. This is mature, powerful writing by an author with great talent and great heart. * David Almond, Guardian Children's Fiction Prize judge *
Brilliant, tough, heartbreaking read. * Tanya Landman, author of Buffalo Soldier, Carnegie medal winner *
A fast-paced, funny ride. * Metro *
Hopeful, warm and, above all, funny * Guardian, Picks of the Year 2016 *
Wheatle's writing is poetic, rhythmic and unique, remaking the English language with tremendous verve. Though Crongton is his invention, it resonates with many urban situations, not only in Britain but around the world. Crongton Knights is a major novel from a major voice in British children's literature. * SF Said *
Written in an energetic, rhythmic vernacular, Alex Wheatle's award-winning Liccle Bit and Crongton Knights were funny, profane, well-observed accounts of life on an urban estate * Sunday Times *

Alex Wheatle (3 January 1963 - 16 March 2025) was an author of several acclaimed novels, many of them inspired by experiences from his childhood. He was born in Brixton to Jamaican parents, and spent most of his childhood in a Surrey children's home. Following a short stint in prison following the Brixton uprising of 1981, he wrote poems and lyrics and became known as the Brixtonbard. Alex was shortlisted for numerous awards including the Carnegie Medal and the YA Book Prize. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award and was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008.