Precocious, promiscuous and furiously bright, fifteen year old Mistyann is selected to attend a week's course in Wales with a leading American educational guru. Knowing that her struggling, alcoholic mother is unlikely to sign the permission form, Mistyann signs it herself. The female teacher who is supposed to be escorting her drops out at the last minute and is replaced by Jon Diamond, a forty-one year old Advanced Skills teacher and recovered addict. It is, of course, a recipe for disaster, but one that develops in dramatic and unpredictable ways. With a vivid and memorable cast of characters, Tag is a cracking story which also has important things to say about youth; about middle age; about what it means to be considered gifted. This acclaimed debut novel introduced Stephen May as a fresh new voice that can skips lightly even when the worlds he inhabits get very dark. A hugely compelling tale, full of warmth and humour and genuine compassion for our human frailties. Suzy Ceulan Hughes www.gwales.com Very funny and politically resonant Katie Popperwell, Manchester Evening News He succeeds brilliantly at offering us genuine insights... There's a palpable thrill to the language, and an unmistakable pathos. The Boston Globe -- Publisher: Cinnamon Press
