Not In our Hands

Author(s): Charlotte Gringras

Genre(s): Fiction

Era(s): Modern

Location

Content

In an idyllic town in the Umbrian hills, young Jake Taylor is studying Italian and hoping to take control of his life. But as he makes new friends and soaks up the language, scenery and cuisine, Jake is about to learn a lot more than he bargained for.

From violence on the football terraces, to the secret past of the Tuscan Jews, Jake’s journey of discovery takes many turns. But the biggest lesson of his life is what to do when he falls in love with the wrong girl.

Not in Our Hands is an engaging coming-of-age tale for anyone who remembers being twenty-two. Previously seen as a boy of twelve in Charlotte Gringras’s first novel, The Purple Rose, Jake is now all grown up but not quite ready to cut the ties to home.

‘I loved the way the novel integrates fascinating historical and cultural issues into the story in a natural manner. The characters are well drawn and interesting, and the reader quickly becomes absorbed by the story and the drama.’ Janet Wolff, Professor Emerita, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, University of Manchester

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