The 10pm Question

Winner of the Book of the Year in both the Young Adult and General Fiction categories in the author’s native New Zealand, The 10pm Question by Kate De Goldi is a warm, surprising, witty, and intelligent novel that you will undoubtedly fall in love with.

Frankie Parsons is a twelve-year-old boy who seems to embody the wisdom of an old man. He is highly sensible and talented, but his mind is perpetually plagued with a drumbeat of worrying questions that only seem to gain volume with each passing day. These aren't just trivial worries; they reflect a deep-seated anxiety that affects his everyday life.

Are the smoke alarm batteries flat?
Does the cat, and therefore the rest of the family, have worms?
Will bird flu strike and ruin life as we know it?
Is the kidney-shaped spot on his chest actually a galloping cancer?

Frankie's mother, who he affectionately calls Ma, is the only person who takes his persistent catalogue of worries seriously. However, Ma herself is at the root of the most troubling question of all—the one that Frankie can't bring himself to ask. The arrival of a new girl at school brings even more questions, ones that are relentless and unavoidable, forcing Frankie to confront issues that unravel his meticulously controlled world.

The novel brilliantly captures the inner chaos of a young boy dealing with anxiety while navigating the tribulations of daily life. With its perfect blend of humour, compassion, and richer-than-life characters, The 10pm Question speaks to the common yet often unspoken struggles that young people face.

A perfectly crafted novel, funny, compassionate, rich in characters. Hot damn (it also has great swear words), it's good. – The Daily Telegraph

First published in the UK in 2010, the themes and preoccupations of The 10pm Question continue to resonate even more profoundly over a decade later, making it a timeless read that appeals to both young adults and general fiction enthusiasts.