Roo Kickkick & the big bad blimp - Ryan Gattis

This extraordinary, edgy novel follows the lives of the young residents of Barguss, a small town in western America, made famous because of an unfortunate accident involving a knife-wielding maniac and a runaway blimp.

'Roo Kickkick & the Big Bad Blimp' is by turns wildly funny and warmly affectionate; it's a story of Hollywood stars and punk bands, teenage crushes and beauty pageants, nobility lurking in unexpected places and the boredom, comedy and violence of small-town life. Ryan is an exceptionally talented writer and this novel reveals his ability to blend the comic and the poignantly tragic to devastating effect.

This is a novel that will surprise and entertain, and resonate with readers long after they have finished it.