Smart: Kim Slater

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children`s Book Prize, the Federation of Children`s Book Groups Prize and longlisted for the 2015 Carnegie Medal, Kim Slater`s outstanding debut, Smart, is moving and compelling novel with a loveable character at its heart.

`I found Jean`s friend dead in the river. His name was Colin Kirk. He was a homeless man, but he still wanted to live.`

There`s been a murder, but the police don`t care. It was only a homeless old man after all.

Kieran cares. He`s made a promise, and when you say something out loud, that means you`re going to do it, for real. He`s going to find out what really happened. To Colin. And to his grandma, who just stopped coming round one day. It`s a good job Kieran`s a master of observation, and knows all the detective tricks of the trade.

But being a detective is difficult when you`re Kieran Woods. When you`re amazing at drawing but terrible at fitting in. And when there are dangerous secrets everywhere, not just outside, but under your own roof.