Beautifully crafted short story, lovely relationship build in a tale of environmental activism.

I loved McGowan's other tales set within this world - Brock, Rook, and already loved the author's longer works. He's a name I see and barely question - I'll read him.

This could have been a full-length novel, but stripped down to this short page count still works perfectly as a short story.

Young teen is shipped off to his grandfather's house reluctantly while his parents head off to an appointment. Kyle is embarrassed by his relative's Elvis wig, and now even his new dog is weird - who calls their dog Rude Word for heaven's sake (readers of the author may recognise this character from other stories). Oh and he has three legs too.

But Granddad takes Kyle off outside to stop him from getting bored, and Kyle almost immediately feels wonder and a protective sense of the beck, the stream nearby, and all its animal life, when he is shown what's under the surface.

Discovering that the land is likely to be developed, the beck and its wildlife destroyed sends Kyle down a path he would never have expected, wanting to help his granddad fight back.

The author manages to give us both backstory to Kyle and a growing respect and love between the two main characters in just a few pages, and add a second storyline within the family that Kyle is trying to ignore. There's even a friendship/budding crush story with granddad's new young neighbour.

Full of love for the natural world, a brief but full tale of family, standing up for yourself and your passions, and some lovely characters created so sparingly but well.

For ages 11-14.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

What a wonderful story packed with so much to interest the reader.

The book shows relationships develop and form. We see conservation concerns, an immigration story, real risks, ill health, fear of losing aomeone you love and a cute, smelly wee 3 legged dog called Rude Word.

I am incredibly impressed with how much is packed into such a short book. I adore Barrington Stoke and the work they do, these books could make all the difference to upper Primary and lower Secondary class rooms. They're packed with contemporary issues, wonderful writing, yet are around 100 pages so give children the chance to read deeply rather than necessarily at length. I will be recommending this book to all the teachers and older readers at my school.

As with many of McGowan's other books, this story has nature and family at its core. In The Beck, Kyle's grandad introduces him to his local nature area - the beck - and together, they come up with a plan to save it from development. It also addresses the themes of school life, being an outsider, parental issues, friendships, etc. I really enjoyed. The style of writing is also excellent, with it making me want to try and read Lark again (I stopped only due to finding some of the themes difficult to read).
This is a fantastic short book aimed at 11+ readers that have a slightly lower reading age. I will also be recommending it to some of my Year 6 children, who like the idea of reading books about teenagers but who haven't built up their reading stamina yet.

A wonderful reminder that books encourage empathy and inspire you to look and engage with the world around you.

The author's writing style has always been very down-to-earth and that makes the characters seem so real. I love the chemistry between Kyle and his grandad who is an absolutely endearing character. Odd enough, he reminds me of Victor Meldrew, but a tad less grumpy. Grandad has a wig and Victor has a strange looking doll for his ventriloquy show...

It is a book that is both heartwarming and humorous.

Kyle dreads staying at his grandfather's house, even if it is only for two hours as his parents promise. There is a running joke in the family about Grandad's past as a Elvis Impersonator - mainly to do with his wig. It's black and resembles a dead animal, but he still insists on wearing it.

Grandad is just the same when he opens the door, but he has a surprise up his sleeve. Kyle is amazed at what has been at the bottom of Grandad's garden his entire life. Amongst the trees is a small stream. Grandad calls it a beck, and it holds many wonders.

For once, Kyle enjoys his grandfather's company and all there is to learn about the beck. He soon spends more and more time there, meeting a new neighbour his own age. The beck helps Kyle forget about other things in his life that are troubling him, and he understands Grandad's love of it.

There are others however who do not share their wonder or respect of this piece of nature. Kyle is quickly alongside Grandad in his plan to make them understand.


Once again, Anthony McGowan has written a perfect story, effortlessly making me wonder, laugh out loud and hold my breath as I read.

I always enjoy intergenerational stories and The Beck is a fantastic read. Perfect for reluctant or especially boy readers, the humour woven through Grandad's Yorkshire character and an authentic portrayal of 13 year old Kyle is brilliant.

Dealing with feelings of embarrassment at his grandad, fear in an ongoing bullying situation and shyness at meeting a girl is all perfect on the page and the exciting but heartbreaking conclusion made me want to start reading it all over again.

The Beck from Barrington Stoke is another great read aimed at Dyslexic Readers, but as always their books can and will definitely be enjoyed by all. I read it in one sitting.

Decently charming, this light-hearted drama has a lad bond with his Leeds-as-Leeds-come grandad, who at first he's reluctant to spend even a couple of hours with. But when the old fella shows Kyle the beck that flows past the bottom of the garden, he's hooked – fascinated by the odd little fish, the crayfish and anything else that is only now calling the water home after decades of pollution and crud. There's also a nice girl next door, too. But just because the crud has finally been cleared away from the stream, doesn't mean the place is free of threat…

This is a fine love letter to the actual waterway, in Leeds, that the author clearly knows well. It's an eco-lesson, it's an urge to get out and explore – with all due respect – the local wildlife, it's a thumbs-up for bonding across the generations, and it's a demonstration of how the ugliest three-legged mongrel can end up a beloved pet. Almost. The darker themes – and there's also bullies, medical issues and more – are worn lightly, and the whole makes for a satisfying, rounded drama. It's not perhaps this author's best (Lark was close to outstanding) or richest read, but for an engaging slice of story, peppered with many different narrative elements and delivered in charming manner, this is still to be recommended. A strong four stars.

Having loved Anthony McGowan’s writing for a while, I was really looking forward to this and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
I loved it. Bringing grandfather and reluctant grandson together to highlight the changing environment and how humans impact it, both positively and negatively. The Beck takes us on a journey of exploration of both nature and human nature.
Another hit from both Anthony McGowan and Barrington Stoke.

The Beck is a more lighthearted diversion from the hard-hitting books that McGowan has written in recent years but it's full of his usual charm, swagger and well-drawn characters. The story follows a boy, his Grandad and his Grandad's neighbour who is also a teenager as they try and stop their beloved beck from being built on. As ever McGowan manages to write relationships that are nuanced and poignant without ever crossing into schmaltz or cliche. It's a short book and is so well written and so well pitched that I think many young readers will enjoy it. I also very much appreciated the 'no dog dies in this book' disclaimer at the start of 'The Beck'!

Another Anthony McGowan book that I will definitely be buying for my school library. The Beck is rather more light-hearted than some of his previous works but still touches on very real issues. Stressed parents with appointments that aren't discussed, an elderly relative finding life difficult after the death of his spouse, bullying and a family fleeing persecution.

But gritty reality takes a back seat here to the joy of a boy discovering the natural world and beginning an adventure which helps him find a way to bond with his usually surly grandad. Grandad introduces Kyle to the beck which runs near the former's house in Leeds and shows him the wonderful wildlife which lives there. The beck is only just recovering from years of neglect and pollution but the wildlife which has returned is now threatened by development.

The characters work together, along with a unexpected ally, to protect the beck. The happy ending might be what you expect but there are still surprising events along the way. Anthony McGowan is fantastic at writing short books, especially ones which will appeal to reluctant readers. This book (which is also dyslexic-friendly) is only 130 pages but it manages to fit a lot in. Alongside an appealing plot and developed characters there is also plenty of humour and I like that it is a book set in Yorkshire, both of which will appeal to my students.

Anthony McGowan is a superb writer and The Beck is another winning story.

This is the story of Kyle; a thirteen year old who finds himself spending time with his grandad after his parents have to attend hospital appointments .
Kyle perceives his grandad as a fusty old man but upon discovering he is now the owner of a rescue dog called "Rude Word" and then is taken on walk to the 'Beck' - a ancient local stream, he begins to see his grandad in a different light.

Beck is introduced to the delights of the Beck- crayfish, slowworms, water voles and bullhead fish- and also makes friends with his grandad's new neighbour Karthi; but after years of no life in the Beck and now signs of recovery the trio are shocked to find that a potential development could once again pollute the Beck. And so begins the challenge to save the Beck.

Encounters with security guards( Bumface and Dried Bogey) and school bullies Dredge, Bullet and Whetstone along with a race against time when grandad falls ill lead to a great paced adventure and push Kyle out of his comfort zone to assert himself
The magic of this book is twofold; the bringing together of young and old - cross generations - especially in a world where there seems a division between them and also the discovery of the natural environment by Kyle and all its beauty and diversity. The humour/ teasing between Kyle and his grandad is brillian t( an Elvis wig, a dog's bone ..)

Anthony McGowan's prose is pitch perfect for 11-14 year olds - humour, adventure, comradeship and family love are central to the plot.

A fantastic read which would be good for year 6-9s - an absolute delight from start to finish and it's dyslexia friendly too