Being a teenager is never easy – but for Jake, it’s harder than most. His dad, known locally as the “chicken and chips man”, is a hopeless drunk, the town’s running joke, and Jake’s biggest embarrassment.

At school, things are no better. Darius, the resident bully, seems to take special pleasure in tormenting him – especially about his father. And then there’s the chaos of adolescence itself: a whirlwind of hormones, confusion and new desires. Jake finds himself daydreaming about Kelly, while fending off the unwanted attention of Rosalind, the headmaster’s interfering daughter.

Between dodging bullies, managing crushes, and dealing with his chaotic home life, Jake must summon all the courage and quick thinking he can muster. But will his wit and grit be enough to face the challenges that lie ahead?