From the acclaimed author of THE SAVAGES comes a riotous black comedy and brand new breed of outcast.
Uptight schoolboy, Maurice, struggles in a world that’s taken a feral turn. Ever since a human subclass crept out of the sinkholes and hid among us, just one thing gives them away. Their offspring hit adolescence and boom! They transform into seriously anti-social monsters.
The trolls, as they're less-than-affectionately known, are everywhere: in the streets, our classrooms and all over the internet. The solution? To contain these incurable troublemakers in vast, secure settlements.
A school bus tour through one such sprawling urban zone is intended to be educational for Maurice and his classmates, but an unexpected event unwittingly turns the schoolboy into a wanted troll freedom fighter. Together with Wretch, a habitual fire starter with a heart of gold, and with reluctant support from social worker Candy Lau, Maurice is forced to go on the run and even shake up the system while he’s at it.
In this unique celebration of unlikely friendships – teeming with unacceptable behaviour - BAD APPLE takes trolling to another level while inviting us to take a long, hard look at ourselves.
Whyman's characteristic high-energy black comedy is at the fore in this clever social satire on 'undesirables'. Topical and thought-provoking, this book is also tremendous fun. Daily Mail
All rejoice in the return of Matt Whyman and Bad Apple. A jailbreak road-trip adventure with trolls – you know you want to read it. Luna's Little Library
Matt Whyman has written a book that is fast-paced without feeling rushed and fun without losing track of his plot and characters. Following the delightful mishaps and gloriously awful behaviour of Maurice and Wretch is awesome. It’s hard to not read in one go. Booksellers New Zealand
Published in the UK by Hot Key Books
Nominated for the 2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal
Shortlisted for the Coventry Inspiration Book Award 2017
Shortlisted for the Ealing Teen Reads Award 2017
Shortlisted for the Hounslow Teen Reads Awards 2017
Longlisted for the Oxfordshire Book Awards 2017