Bali Rai’s short stories are very finely crafted in a series of linked vibrant narratives, each with a distinct teenage voice telling what life is like for Asian, African Caribbean or White adolescents on city streets in Britain today. The contemporary reality of life, with its dangers, thrills and imaginings are laid bare for readers.

The title story, ‘Dominoes’, captures how easily gang warfare mentality can escalate and lead to unforeseen outcomes. The main protagonist in ‘Johnny Too Lie’ reminisces to the point where reality and fantasy fuse in a tragi-comic tale. Not all the stories are quite so dark and raw; some are more light-hearted and humorous. ‘Carnival Day and Carnival Night’ is lively, hot and funny. ‘Bhangra girls and Bhangra boys’ conveys the reality of mixed-race relationships with the attendant issues of adult prejudice and assumptions.

The stories are cleverly connected as each of the first person narrators are known to each other in some way. However, their different racial viewpoints are skilfully presented in stories where versions of the same events are told from different perspectives.

Rai has a ‘feel’ for writing about the contemporary lives of young British people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and his authentic voice enables readers to connect the stories with their lives. His laudable objective is not to teach about ‘multicultural issues’ but to speak to, and for, his readers.

Any [or all] of these stories would provide an excellent starting point for KS3 pupils to explore issues and situations with which they are confronted through drama and role play, writing personal narratives or poetry as well as obvious links with the Citizenship / PSHE curriculum.

2007-12-30