"Bernard Ashley's great gift is to turn what seems to be low-key realism into something much stronger and more resonant. It has something to do with empathy, compassion, an undimmed thirst for decency and justice."
- Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials
Break in the Sun tells the story of Patsy, a young girl who runs away to Margate from Deptford, fleeing her abusive stepfather. It is a remarkably sensitive portrayal of growing up in tough circumstances, with the heroine portrayed not as a victim but as a survivor.
First published in 1980, this book was instantly praised for its realistic portrayal of working-class children, and the following year it was serialised for the BBC as a gritty and rather controversial children's drama. The book and its adaptation are now regarded as standout pieces of children’s drama from the 1980s (director Roger Singleton-Turner would later work on the kids' TV series Grange Hill).
No one has written a review for 'Break in the Sun'
Why not be the first to share your opinion?
Bernard Ashley is a former head teacher who worked in London schools for many years. He has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal on three occasions and has also written for television.
More about Bernard Ashley
