Changes

|title=Split Second

|author=Cath Staincliffe

|publisher=Robinson

|date=July 2012

|website=

|video=

|summary=A split second is all it takes to make a decision that will have a devastating impact on many lives. That is what happens in Cath Staincliffe's novel, 'Split Second', when teenager Jason Barnes challenges three youths who are attacking another boy. The incident ends in tragedy; Jason is dead and the other boy, Luke, is in a coma. Jason's parents and Luke's mum are left to make sense of what has happened and also to seek justice.

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On a late December evening, Emma Curtis is on a bus travelling home from work when she becomes aware of a young lad being picked on by three others. Too scared to intervene, she sits alone feeling guilty but taking everything in. To her shame, nineteen year old student, Jason Barnes, comes downstairs on the bus and immediately challenges the three youths. Luke, the young victim, leaps off the bus and a chase follows. Jason continues to try and defend Luke, and they end up in Jason's front garden where his parents witness the brutal attack. Eventually the trio run off leaving Luke unconscious on the snowy ground. Worse still, is the realisation that Jason has been stabbed and tragically it turns out to be fatal.

It is difficult to describe this book as enjoyable as it is quite traumatic and disturbing. As a parent, I found myself reading about the worst thing imaginable and because of that I found it quite upsetting. However, although I felt like that, I was also gripped by the story and couldn't bring myself to put the book down. Although there is violence at the start, it is not a violent book overall as it is more about the aftermath of a tragic incident rather than the event itself. It is incredibly moving to read about the characters affected and how they deal with their feelings.

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