15 Days Without a Head

By Dave Cousins

Fifteen-year-old Laurence Roach just wants a normal life, but it’s far from easy with his little brother who acts like a dog and their depressed alcoholic mother. If Laurence can win the luxury vacation in a local radio contest, he’s certain his mum will finally be happy again. Then one night she doesn’t come home from work, and Laurence must face the reality that she might not come back at all.

Terrified that child services will separate him from his brother, Laurence does whatever he can to keep their mother’s disappearance a secret. For two weeks, he spins a web of complicated lies to friends, neighbors, and the authorities—even dressing up in his mother’s clothes to convince everyone she’s still around. But Laurence can’t hide the truth forever. He begins a desperate search for her, and that’s when the real trouble starts in this powerful story about family, forgiveness, and hope.

Praise:
“Incredible lightness of touch and humour, but also seriously weighty…reminded me a lot of Frank Cottrell Boyce.”—Anthony McGowan, author of The Knife that Killed Me

"A teenager holds his crumbling family life together in this finely crafted debut that strikes a delicate balance between humor and pathos."—Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
• Release date: May 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9780738737379

Dave Cousins

Dave's short story 'The Floodlight Man' was broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live, and an extract from FIFTEEN DAYS WITHOUT A HEAD was one of the winning stories featured in the SCBWI Undiscovered Voices Anthology in 2010. He is the author of the CHARLIE MERRICK series and WAITING FOR GONZO. Originally from Birmingham, Dave now lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and family, in a house full of books and records. Visit www.davecousins.net | @DaveCousins9000

Reviews for 15 Days Without a Head

[martyallen_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Laurence is forced to take care of his brother when his depressed and alcoholic mother disappears. The characters are amusing and the relationships are true to life--Laurence is frequently annoyed by his brother, but events show the depth of their relationship. There is only one exception, a one dimensional token love interest. Laurence's solutions are unique and entertaining, and readers will be on the edge of their seats waiting to see if they work. This is a gem of a book that should be included in any young adult collection.

[amiebeamer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mrs. Beamer's Review:I read this book straight through in one sitting. It's a solid 3.5 stars for me. I thought the writing was superb. While the subject matter is depressing, I felt the author did a good job providing a few lighthearted moments. I never felt like I needed to put the book down to give myself an emotional break. Two things I wasn't sold on...Mina. I liked her well enough. BUT...I never felt I really knew her. I wanted to know about her background. Why does she interact with Laurence the way she does? What is she all about? I wanted to know more.The Game Show. I just wasn't that interested in this part of the storyline. I understand its place in the story...but I found myself skimming most of those scenes.What I loved loved loved about this book was the relationship between Laurence and his younger brother. THAT hit me in my gut. Mr. Cousins created such a complex and beautiful character in Laurence. In fact, the book read more like a character study than a novel at times. I highly recommend this book to all my high school students. This book tackles some serious topics while keeping the material teen-appropriate. And, the writing is SO GOOD I'm certain anyone who starts this book will not be able to put it down until they are done :) Amazing debut novel Mr. Cousins.Mrs. Beamer’s advisory rating: 0-5 (0=none, 5=lots) Language: 0Violence: 0Sexual Content: 0Drugs/Alcohol: 1Potential Controversial Topics: none

[refpenny · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When his alcoholic mother goes missing, Lawrence does his best to look after his little brother but with little money, few friends and no food in the house, it is a struggle. Lawrence is scared that Social Services will find out and take his brother into care so weaves a web of lies and even dresses up as his mother to foil a nosy neighbour. Despite the bleakness of the story there are many humourous moments and the ending is positive.This book is a great read as it draws you into Lawrence's world, painting a realistic picture of a teen struggling to get by.

[candygourlay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Funny, brave, surprising with a whiff of rock and roll. Slumdog Millionaire in a British tower block. A brilliant debut.

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this book in a little over 90 minutes; the premise is quite engrossing and with a similar personal background, I could relate to the main character. I became invested in Laurence and irritated when he kept giving his mother chances to "try again" as a mother, so I think, even though I disagreed with his final decision, that is a hallmark of some good writing. Definitely a good read and very timely. This would be a good addition in all middle school libraries!

[kissedbyink · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't sure about this book in the beginning, but in the end I truly enjoyed it. Definitely shows how alcoholism effects children and the mind of the one who is drinking. Crazy that people live this way, leaving their children to fend for themselves, but it does happen. I think this is the first book I've read where the children are depicted in a more normal fashion. Not every teen is an adult and responsible.