Push - Softcover

"An inspired and inspiring debut, a The Color Purple for the nineties" (Vogue)

"Sapphire's vibrant, unindulgent first novel has you cheering the awesome Precious on until the last page: her voice is true and the book is cool" (Mail on Sunday)

"A harrowing but ultimately uplifting book which stays in the mind long after the final page" (Daily Telegraph)

"A powerful cri de coeur, part wishful prayer, part manifesto, mingling poetry and humour...her novel, while heavily weighted with adversity, is buoyant, cresting wave after voluble wave of splendid, turbulent, bracing language...its voice demands attention, perseverance and concentration, then its music takes you over, its story grips, its current and undercurrents mesmerise, depress and then uplift... A voice to remember" (Scotland on Sunday)

"Harrowing yet hilarious...packs a powerful punch... The powerful writing makes the book a cracking read... A tour de force" (Guardian)

Winner of Mind Book of the Year Award 1996

'Precious is sixteen, black and pregnant by her father for the second time in four years. Overweight, illiterate and ritually abused by her mother, Precious is kicked out of school when her pregnancy becomes obvious...Sapphire's vibrant, unindulgent first novel has you cheering the awesome Precious on until the last page: her voice is true, and the book is cool' -Mail on Sunday

'A harrowing but ultimately uplifting book which stays in the mind long after the final page' -Daily Telegraph

'A powerful cri de coeur, part wishful prayer, part manifesto, mingling poetry and humour...her novel, while heavily weighted with adversity, is buoyant, cresting wave after voluble wave of splendid, turbulent, bracing language...its voice demands attention, perseverance and concentration, then its music takes you over, its story grips, its current and undercurrents mesmerise, depress and then uplift...A voice to remember' -Scotland on Sunday

'The powerful writing makes the book a cracking read...Push is a tour de force' -Guardian