★★★★★

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"A MUST-READ LGBTQ+ MASTERPIECE

In the literary landscape of 2021, a novel emerged that not only captured the hearts of readers but also garnered critical acclaim across prestigious platforms. "The Pebble Champion" by Alan David Pritchard is not just a book; it's a beacon of hope and resilience, shining brightly in the realms of LGBTQ+ fiction. Featured in the UK Talk Radio Best Books 2024 and lauded with awards and nominations, this novel has etched its mark as a narrative powerhouse.

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At the heart of "The Pebble Champion" lies the turbulent life of Christopher Elliot, a gay teen navigating the stormy seas of grief and betrayal. With the sudden death of his mother and the loss of his best friend, Christopher's world is irrevocably altered, thrusting him into a whirlwind of change and uncertainty. Pritchard masterfully captures the essence of Christopher's turmoil, rendering his journey with such honesty and depth that readers can't help but feel a part of his struggle.

Relocated to the Isle of Wight, Christopher finds himself in the care of a father he barely knows. It's here, on the shores of Shanklin beach, that he discovers a semblance of peace in the simple, rhythmic act of skipping pebbles. This quaint pastime evolves into a metaphor for Christopher's resilience, each stone skipped across the water symbolizing his defiance against the waves of despair.

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Alan David Pritchard's narrative is a beautifully written exploration into self-awareness, as praised by Rebecca Warner, an award-winning author. The novel transcends the traditional confines of LGBTQ+ fiction, offering readers a compelling look into the heart of a young man wrestling with profound loss. "The Pebble Champion" stands as a testament to the power of love and the unyielding strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

This novel is more than just a story; it's an experience—a journey alongside a character whose life's upheavals and triumphs resonate with us all. It's a reminder that in our most challenging moments, there lies the potential for immense growth and self-discovery.

Dave Smith for the Geoff Carter Breakfast Show, UK Talk Radio

 

"THOUGHT PROVOKING THEME AND A SUBJECT APPROACHED WITH TACT

In this modern-day, multilayered young adult fiction, where life’s unpredictability and grief are brought to light, along with the healing powers of self-discovery and self-acceptance, ‘The Pebble Champion’ is an ambitious tale of a gay adolescent, Christopher. While acknowledging his authentic identity, Christopher has to battle the profound pain of losing his loving mother and move in with an estranged father living on the Isle of Wight.

Author Pritchard expertly transforms a seemingly simple premise of a teenage narrative into a profound exploration of acceptance and self-discovery by mirroring the grieving process and adaptation to the new chapters life throws at him. With a writing style that is authentic and smartly peppered with an intricate tapestry of flashbacks, readers will experience and witness the overwhelming emotional turmoil of a son and the profound bond he shared with his mother. ‘The Pebble Champion’ is indeed a captivating exploration of human experiences and stands as a testament to author Alan David Pritchard’s nuanced approach, creativity, and storytelling prowess.

The richness of the narrative, coupled with its thought-provoking theme and the subject of LGBTQ+ approached with tact and consideration, makes ‘The Pebble Champion’ a must-read for those seeking a literary journey that will resonate long after the final page has been turned. It’s a standout, five-star-worthy addition to your reading list."

Untold Reads

 

 

"A SPECTACULAR COMING OF AGE TALE: The Pebble Champion by A.D. Pritchard is a spectacular coming of age tale of a young boy who, through the insurmountable love of his recently deceased mother, learns to love his estranged father while understanding the reasons for the unexplained distance in that relationship. As Christopher admits failings and questions his existence, he is surrounded by an assortment of individuals who are unconditional in their concern for one another. Chris comes to terms with his mother’s death, learns of various levels of love, and accepts his destiny in The Pebble Champion. The many intricacies of this novel make it difficult to fully summarize the importance of this powerful story. Major themes of mortality, sexual indoctrination, domestic violence, and the innocence of youth demand more than a single reading. I am enamored with the creativity of A.D. Pritchard as he weaves this story in a combination of flashbacks and narration amid the existing tale. Interesting format."

Lisa McCombs, Reader's Favorite

 

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"AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED STORY: Chris's pain and confusion is very evident in his words, thoughts and actions. I could not help but hope and pray that something would soon change - anything to lessen his pain and give him a new beginning. No 15-year-old deserves to deal with all he was dealing with. I especially loved that the author let Chris tell the story in his own words, allowing him to bring more depth to the raw emotions. The flashbacks to happier times and the dreams take the reader even deeper into the pain and emotional turmoil inside Chris's head. This is a story about loss, pain, healing, new beginnings and sexuality, as navigated by a 15-year-old boy. You might want to keep some tissues on hand for times when you decide to give in to your emotions."

Faridah Nassozi, Readers' Favorite

 

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​"WOW. THIS IS A STUNNER OF A BOOK: The Pebble Champion is a grand and glorious debut offering that had me smiling as I read and rueing the inevitable end of the story. I loved getting to know Marmaduke, Chris’s iconic and perceptive dad, and vicariously enjoyed every moment Chris spends out at the shore, including those suspense-filled moments as he competes in the Pebble Championships. Pritchard gets the loneliness Chris feels being gay and apart from the pairing off of his peers at school. He remembers the sting of rejection from his childhood friend after an innocent attempt to connect and fears similar rejections at his new school. Pritchard captures the added stresses and feelings of alienation that gay youths encounter in addition to those that accompany coming of age. The Pebble Champion is lyrical and beautifully written; Pritchard built a world that I just didn’t want to leave -- not for one moment. His characters fairly leap from the page and involve you in their lives, and it’s a grand thing to experience. Easily the best novel I’ve read in some time, The Pebble Champion is most highly recommended."

Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite

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​"BEAUTIFULLY AND SENSITIVELY WRITTEN:  I very much enjoyed reading it. Author A.D. Pritchard really gets inside the minds and emotional states of his characters and conveys this to his readers perceptively and brilliantly. With believable characters, this is a well-structured story with lots of depth and pace, and I found it a page-turner from start to finish. I especially like the method of using flashbacks to very gradually reveal Chris’s past and the build up to the tragic accident. This is more than a story of one boy dealing with profound loss and grief; it is also very much about growing up/coming of age, finding who you really are, your talents, and allowing yourself to be that person. I feel the author captures Chris's inner world perfectly and with empathy - his anger, heartfelt guilt and despair, and fear of further losses.

The imagined “pebble hopping championships” mirror Chris’s real life growing ability to let go of the past as he slowly builds the emotional skills to begin to do this. Chris grows through his pain and eventually realizes that he must also be true to himself to be happy. I liked his friend Evelyn’s gift of an acorn and wise words that no matter how much it may wish to be an apple tree, “it will always be an acorn” (oak). So The Pebble Champion is a story about grief and guilt, empathy and self-compassion/acceptance. As such I’d especially recommend it to teenagers, particularly those struggling with loss, personal identity or other growing up issues. An author and book you'll be glad you discovered."

Hilary Hawkes, Readers' Favorite

 

​"CAPTIVATING: An incredible read. I couldn't put it down. It made me laugh, cry quite a few times, reflect on my own personal relationships and wonder at the strength and compassion to be found in human beings. This is a book all young adults should read. It should be recommended reading at GCSE."

S Malcolm, Amazon

 

"BEAUTIFUL AND EMOTIONAL. A GREAT READ: I really enjoyed this beautiful book. It did not take me long to read because the language is so well-written that I just kept going and going! It was a pleasure to read a novel centred around an intelligent, eloquent, sensitive and honest teenage protagonist - and the issues and feelings explored in this book are perfectly relevant for adult readers too, because at the end of the day it is a thoroughly human story (I felt that though the main character is teenaged, this is not necessarily just a 'teenage book'). I haven't read a book that has made me have an emotional reaction, in the way this one did, for a very long time. Bravo to the author."

Sarah Ford, Amazon

 

"POIGNANT: For anyone ( young or old ) who has ever lost a parent, had their heart broken, or struggled to come to terms with who they are; this book is for you. Poignant, moving, strong and very very readable, ‘The Pebble Champion’ is one of those human stories which will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Its a page turner, a tear jerk-er and a smile maker :-) . Like all good novels, it deserves to be read and treasured."

Miss Frances Waller, Amazon

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"A TRULY CHAMPION OF BOOKS: As an experienced librarian, I have come across literally hundreds of books, but The Pebble Champion was a book I simply struggled to put down and I just looked forward coming back to it before bedtime. From the very first page, you feel transported inside of the mind of this young person going through drastic changes in his world while he experiences changes in his own persona...The narrative is simply captivating with a mixture of perfectly chosen words and a magnificent easiness in the flow of the story. I totally loved it and would recommend it to anyone!"

Vanessa Bandini, Amazon

 

"A WARM, RICH READ: This beautifully written coming of age and coming out tale has an intensity and emotional resonance which meant that I carried it in my mind throughout the day and looked forward to returning to Chris and his struggles to come to terms with seismic changes in his life. Although the book is easy to read in a couple of settings, the portrayal of people and place is vivid and lasting. Central characters like Chris himself, Marmaduke his dad and Thane, his self-appointed new best friend are entirely convincing but characters with smaller roles to play like Auntie Wendy and Evelyn have a depth and credibility that makes them jump from the page. This is a warm, rich read which I thoroughly enjoyed and strongly recommend."

Jane Kilpatrick, Amazon

 

"ENDEARING NOVEL; ESPECIALLY GOOD READ FOR TEENS: This was a lovely story and would be a very helpful read for any teens (or adults) struggling with a major life event, death of a loved one, or sexual identity. It was well-written, keeps the reader's interest, and successfully creates a personal interest in the characters."

Amazon.com

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​"A RAY OF HOPE: Heart-warming and captivating, this beautifully written book will capture your emotions and immerse you into a touching story of grief, love, and hope.

Chris, the main character, is so easy to relate with as many of us have experienced grief and loss at some point in our lives. His story is very uplifting, especially for those who are finding the courage to let go of their sad past and move on to the next chapter of their lives.

This story reassures the readers that it is perfectly okay not to be okay. It touches on the deeper meaning of many human emotions and how each can ripple and affect your course of action. I love how the character uses self-introspection to resolve his dilemmas and battle his personal demons. His story is like a ray of hope, and quite a few times it made me reflect on my personal experiences and relationships as well."

Amazon.com

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​"BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN EXPLORATION INTO SELF-AWARENESS: This book surprised me, and in a very good way. This is not my usual genre, but I saw it was a Readers' Favorite winner and the title and concept sounded good, plus it was available on Kindle Unlimited, so I thought I would give it a try.

First, this author can write! I was drawn into the story by the great writing and then became immersed in the story itself. I became invested in the characters, especially the protagonist, Chris, who was dealing with grief and displacement. But all of the characters were interesting and complex, without being overwrought. Each had a purpose in the story, and the backstories of the supporting characters dovetailed with Chris's need to sort out what he was feeling, and why.

There was humor that made me laugh out loud, and there were many poignant moments that made me think. The author infused such honesty in Chris's self-reflection and introspection, and his character arc, using the pebble-throwing contest in which the number of "skips" equivocated growth in the character's confidence and comprehension, was masterfully done.

Rebecca Warner, award-winning author, Amazon.com

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"BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK: The Pebble Champion by A.D. Pritchard is a great coming of age story that highlights the challenges and changes a teenager goes through as he accepts who he really is. The main character Chris, has recently lost his mother, and along with that he goes to live with his estranged father. There are plenty of important themes that populate this story from mortality to sexual orientation. Each of these are handled with sensitivity and care. The words are wrought with meaning and a unique ability to understand not only the vagaries of youth, but when that is combined with being gay, this novel graduates into laudable territory. The writing is lyrical and quite beautiful, scenes are lovingly created, pulling you in, getting you to understand the color and depth of the characters, each one with their own nuances and quirky ways. You will find strength and compassion within these pages. A must read, and highly recommend."

Amazon.com

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"A RADIANTLY IMPRESSIVE NOVEL!: British author A.D. Pritchard is a poet and playwright as well as novelist and author of educational materials. His works, both in poetry/plays and this novel, have been lauded by multiple awards. Originally published in 2013, THE PEBBLE CHAMPION won attention as an important LGBTQ novel and now that it is available in the Kindle format, it doubtless will become further recognized as an important contribution to literature, in both the gay sector and the general population.

Gentle, sensitive, intelligent and extraordinarily well written, THE PEBBLE CHAMPION at last offers a role model for young gay youths to emulate. This author is one of the finest sculptors of the human spirit writing today. Very highly recommended."

Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Reviewer

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"INSPIRING: The Pebble Champion by A. D. Pritchard was an unexpected emotional and wonderful read. The story was truly so beautiful, and I enjoyed reading every page of this book. Initially, when I heard what this book was about, I was not particularly thinking that it sounded like a good read, but I heard good things, so I decided to go ahead with reading it. I am so glad I did! Although I felt so emotional throughout the book, I found it very inspiring, and I really would like to recommend this book to many people. In fact, already I have recommended it to a dozen or so people. It was eloquently and honestly written. The words smoothly flowed, and I never had any trouble reading the story. This book is definitely one for young adults, but I would recommend this book to any person who enjoys LGBTQ type of books."

Celeste L, Amazon

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"SO MANY EMOTIONS: What more can be said about “The Pebble Champion” than a plain and simple, “wow”. This story is poignantly beautiful, breathtakingly sad, all the while providing a glimpse of hope amidst inner turmoil. “The Pebble Champion” will have you falling apart alongside the main character, 15-year-old Chris, who finds his life falling apart around him and he makes waves as he struggles to pick up the pieces. I adored this author’s writing style as he deepened the connection so eloquently between the reader and Chris, that is something that can be incredibly difficult to do. This book is all-in-all lovely and one that most certainly deserves a read, you will definitely not regret doing so. "

Amy Koller, Amazon

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"EMOTIONAL: When trying to think of a title for my review-emotional kept coming to mind. Why? Because this book is so beautifully written one can’t help but feel emotional. From the beginning to the end, I had tears of sadness, laughter and hope. Sadness for Chris’ loss and feelings of not being accepted. Laughter for Chris’ imagery in his pebble “championship”. Hope for Chris’s healing and acceptance of his self.

I honestly can’t tell you the last time I read a book that brought so many feelings forward. Having lost a parent, I felt Chris’ journey of grief through the writing And the message of not living as if it’s your last day but your first eases the pain from loss. Because all too often we are taught to live like it’s our last day and appreciate that we had it. Instead, we do need to live as if it’s our first and cherish the gifts to come. "

Heather Haddad, Amazon

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★★★★ 1/2

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"COMPELLING: A young man tries to find peace while navigating the troubled waters of trauma and self-discovery in The Pebble Champion by A.D. Pritchard. Stories about life-changing events are often compelling and relatable, as trauma and loss are universal for readers, and this coming-of-age story is no different. Laced with vivid snatches of flashback and memory, this emotionally charged novel is raw and vulnerable, but also told with the confidence of a skilled storyteller. From self-healing and grieving to sexual awakening and emotional growth, this novel fearlessly tackles delicate subjects with tenderness and valuable insight."

Self-Publishing Review

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"A STIRRING TALE: "Author A.D. Pritchard delves deep into trauma and loss, as well as identity and self-discovery in his new novel, The Pebble Champion, a stirring tale of sadness and self-discovery.

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After the tragic loss of his mother, 15-year-old Chris Elliot finds his world turned upside-down, and his sense of home torn asunder. This novel traces his path forward, and details the nuances of teenage life and development with remarkably clear and agonizing accuracy. Not only is the story touching, but also widely relatable; though no reader will have experienced exactly the same struggles, the humanity on display as Chris muddles through, suffers, and survives is poignantly captured.

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Watching a young person go through trauma, periods of self-discovery, and significant emotional growth is not always pretty, but it is a social equalizer in many ways. Giving young readers this type of perspective is invaluable, as everyone encounters conflicts of their own as they grow up. The regular flashbacks to memories of his mother and moments from childhood help to fill out the picture of Chris as a character, further investing readers in his emotional wellbeing and fate.

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The exploration of family is perhaps the most impressive aspect of the prose, specifically the unexpected relationship with his father, Marmaduke, a veritable stranger. Bonding for the first time over shared grief makes for powerful writing, and as the pair discover they have more in common than one might expect, the most powerful emotions and revelations of the story come to light. While the scenes of school are interesting, and the development of relationships with school chums and other relatives is important to the plot, the link between this father and son is the golden heart of this novel.

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The titular subject of skipping stones is also a potent recurring symbol – of perpetual improvement, of self-soothing, of disappointment and blind luck, and so many other compelling themes that weave throughout the plot. The simple innocence of this pastime, juxtaposed with the repeated losses of innocence faced by the main character, gives the story a sense of profundity and wisdom, despite Chris’s age.

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On the more technical side, there are some thin narrative areas, which could be padded with more visceral or engaging description.

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In other moments, however, the unique thought patterns of the narrator are brilliant, reflecting the tangential nature of the mind, and the way ideas bubble and brew, changing and growing as they twist in our internal monologue. To capture a period of change and self-discovery so beautifully, so tenderly, is no easy feat, and Pritchard taps into those truths with ease.

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Overall, this novel hums with youthful vigor, exploring sensitive subjects with honest, raw emotion through the eyes of a truly captivating young protagonist."

Self-Publishing Review

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★★★★

 

"GRIPPING: I was gripped throughout by this beautifully written coming-of-age story, which accurately conveys the anxieties of being a teenager through clever plotting and very realistic dialogue. The setting is portrayed with skilful imagery and the characterisation of the protagonist is strong; I cared about Chris's fate from the first page. I strongly recommend this book to readers of all ages from 12 upwards."

Anna L L Jeffrey, Amazon

 

 

"A BRILLIANT READ: I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read The Pebble Champion, but it certainly met every expectation I may have had. While reading this book, I smiled, I cried and I wanted to spend more time with the characters in the book. I was disappointed when I turned the page & realised it was the end. I was left wanting to know what happens next. Hopefully I will get to find out!"

Varina Earl, Amazon

 

 

"WELL WORTH READING:  A good coming of age tale, told with sensitivity and without the lurid sexual scenes so depressingly common for this genre."

Coffee Lover, Amazon

 

 

"CAPTIVATING: There are many books written that hold your interest as you read them, but not many captivate you like The Pebble Champion. I held my breath, I cried, I laughed out loud, and fell deeply in love with Alan's characters. I have read this book more than once and I shall always wish there was more. The Pebble Champion is a marvelous read. Fall in love with Alan Pritchards writings. This book will hold you tight until the end."

Katee Parker, Poet, Amazon

 

"A great read!"

Leroy, Amazon

 

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"WOW! It is not often that I read a novel by an author I had never read before and sit up and say “WOW”! But this beautifully written coming-of-age story that made me do just that. I was pulled in on the first sentence and then did not stop reading until I finished the book and closed the covers. Chris Elliot is a character that I will not likely forget. His story of self-acceptance and navigating the world is beautifully written."

ReviewsbyAmosLassen.com

 

 

"A WONDERFUL STORY: The story of finding first love is never going to be an easy one. Add in the loss of what was essentially your only parent and you will be understandably upset and confused. The Pebble Champion is such a wonderful story of a 15 year old boy, you want to cry with, you want to laugh with and you want to feel with... an entertaining narrative that you can’t put down."

​Greedybugbookreviews.com