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Dan Tunstall was born in Leicester, UK in 1969. In addition to teaching for several
years, Dan has worked in a factory making fridges, in marketing, as a gardener and
as a market trader. He now lives in the West End of Leicester with his wife, their
daughters and an ever-growing collection of pets. He enjoys playing and watching
sport, particularly football and boxing. Dan likes reading, watching old films and
listening to music. At the moment he is trying unsuccessfully to master the intricacies
of playing the guitar.
BIG AND CLEVER is Dan’s first novel for Young Adults. He wants to write page-turning,
accessible books, what he calls “meat and two veg” fiction.
BIG AND CLEVER 12+
Tom’s whole life is straight out of Crap Towns. Mum died, Dad’s a waster and school
is tough. Tom and Raks are bottom of the pecking order, surviving on their sense
of humour, and it just shouldn’t be that way. Then they befriend ‘ASBO boy’ Ryan
and go to Letchford Town game with him. When it kicks off outside the ground with
the Castleton fans Tom and Raks are ready and up for it. Tom is hooked and can’t
wait for the next home game. Suddenly everyone at school notices them. Tom and Raks
have an identity, they have power — but inevitably, at what cost?
A gritty and exhilarating Young Adult debut
UK: Five Leaves 2009
‘The novel captures small town teenage life with conviction’ - The School Librarian, Autumn 2009
‘Dan Tunstall’s first novel is violent, frank and really well grounded. It’s completely convincing.
Not for the fainthearted’ - The Book Doctor, Leicester Link Autumn 2009
‘For once the words 'gritty' and 'real' are not wasted… if you want to read about other people's lives,
enjoy exciting plot lines and a gripping story, then this is for you.’ - Armadillo Magazine, Autumn 2009
‘very much in the same style as Melvin Burgess, Big and Clever is a modern morality tale about loyalty
and belonging, which cleverly sidesteps any clumsy moralising.’ - CHIMP magazine, Manchester September/October 2009
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