The Devil's Angel by Kevin Brooks tells the tale of the unlikely friendship between two boys, Jack and Dean. Jack appears to be unremarkable, living the typical life of a teenager, when Dean arrives. He is rebellious and wild, completely disregarding any rules and living life at breakneck speed. Jack can sense there is something different about Dean, and they embark upon a close friendship, even forming a successful band together.
At first, Dean appears to be like any other teenage rebel, revelling in the freedom of drugs and drink and doing whatever he chooses. But it soon becomes apparent that this defiance is not enough for him, and that he craves a life more dangerous and exhilarating than his own.
The story is told from Jack's perspective, so the reader is given a clearer perspective of the consequences of their actions, and is fast paced throughout.
Brooks' use of unique and varied language when describing the characters, alongside his nonchalant attitude to breaking the law, ensures that the book has a youthful, realistic outlook. I also felt that the varying paragraph and sentence lengths helped to capture the reader's interest.
However, I found the book to be lacking in momentum, and the plot was slightly bare and rambling. I also felt it to be slightly repetitive in its language, and that the ending didn't do justice to the other, more positive aspects of the story.
I would recommend it to anyone over the age of 12 who wants a quick read and doesn't mind large font.
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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