The Beck
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The Beck
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Narrated by:
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Joe Pitts
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By:
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Anthony McGowan
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 listeners aged 11+ with a reading age of 9.
©2025 Anthony McGowan (P)2025 HarperCollins PublishersCritic reviews
"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
"A sharply observed book about the power of nature. Fun, hopeful and wise." — Hannah Gold
"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
"Such brilliant, immediate story telling; one of those books that takes you into the landscape and along with the characters. I was right there with Kyle, the reluctant hero, as Karthi and Grandad prodded him from behind … Absolutely brilliant" – Hilary McKay
"A gorgeous story, told with McGowan’s signature wit and tight, spare prose. I cried. I laughed. I crossed my fingers for Kyle and Karthi and Rude Word too" – Joanna Nadin
"Love, love, love this . A boy’s relationship with his grumpy grandpa in Leeds, a three-legged dog, a terrific heroine, bullies and a battle to save an urban stream. It’s like Kes, but funny, warm and hopeful. Another winner!" – Amanda Craig
"Anthony McGowan's novels are always ones to look forward to – books for children that go beyond the usual suspects. Books that make children think" – Vaseem Khan
"The glorious, heartwarming story of Kyle, whose life changes when his grandad shows him the wonders of the stream that runs at the bottom of his garden." — Mrs Sydney's Famous World's Smallest Library, blog
"A little book that packs so much in and does what it set out to do brilliantly. Loved the relationship between the main character and his granddad. Loved the setting and what it had to say about the natural world and how we need to value and treasure it more" – The Overflowing Library, blog
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